Welcome to the worst catechized generation in the history of Christianity.
Not only is the Western World living through a Post-Christianity reality, an uncomfortable percentage of us don’t even know what the word “catechized” means. Add the two together, folks become rather easy pickings for slick talking street preachers.
What I’m getting at is one of the favorite tactics of Muslim missionaries/street preachers, especially over in Britain.
Specifically, Muslims pointing out that Jesus never came right out and proclaimed Himself as God.
Even their koran takes a rather cheap shot at Christ and His Blessed Mother. As seen in Surah Al-Ma’idah – 116;
And ˹on Judgment Day˺ Allah will say, “O Jesus, son of Mary! Did you ever ask the people to worship you and your mother as gods besides Allah?” He will answer, “Glory be to You! How could I ever say what I had no right to say? If I had said such a thing, you would have certainly known it.
In full disclosure, I happen to be one of those dangerous “Traditional Catholics” that both Francis and the FBI warned you about. I for one, happen to find this passage more than simply repugnant.
Yet I do have the satisfaction of knowing this so-called “conversation” never really happened… except for existing in the fertile imagination of some unknown clerk working for Mohammed.
But with that aside, I’ll come right out and say it, “No, Christ never did use those specific words of ‘I am God.'”
He didn’t have to. Christ recognized, reinforced, and respected the fact that we mere humans have something called free will.
Granted, Jesus sure did drop more than a few hints. Here’s just a handful;
- I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.
- He that seeth me seeth the Father also.
- Going therefore, teach ye all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
But here’s the instance from the Holy Gospel of St. John (Chap 9, verses 6-7) when Jesus gave sight to the blind man.
Now please consider this — here’s this poor blind guy, all he’d like is the ability to see. So what does Jesus do? He spits on the ground, makes some paste of the spit and dirt, then rubs it on the poor guy’s eyes.
To make things even worse for the blind man, Jesus tells him to work his way to the town’s water fountain to washing mud off.
Here’s the kicker, the blind man could have thought to himself, “Things are bad enough with me being blind and all, but now I have mud all over my eyes. Now You want me to fumble and stumble my way to the other side of town to wash this mud off? Forget about all this nonsense. I’ll stick to begging.”
After all, who could blame the guy? He certainly could have chosen that path. Ahh… but the blind man had faith. He had a choice.
That’s what I find particularly cool about Jesus. That, and He doesn’t expect us to behead those who disagree with us.