As Pope Benedict XVI reminds us in his Encyclical Letter “God is Love”, “Being Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction.”
This is the question that stands before us as we approach Easter: Who is Jesus for me? This is not merely a question of theology, but one that touches our life, our faith, and our hope.
One week before Easter, the Gospel leads us to reflect on one of the central reasons for the persecution and death of Jesus: the revelation of his identity as the Son of God.
His Good Works reveals his identity
Throughout Lent, we have encountered Jesus through the Scriptures, especially through his actions and deeds. These are not simply random acts of kindness. They are signs. They reveal something deeper about who he is and about his unique relationship with the Father.
Through his works, Jesus shows us what God is like: merciful, near, and active in the world. His actions are meant to open our minds and draw us into a deeper relationship with God. Anyone who is willing to see with an open heart can understand who Jesus truly is.
The Growing Tension regarding his identity
And yet, the question of his identity was not easy—even for those closest to him. John the Baptist himself once sent his disciples to ask whether Jesus was truly the one who was to come. In response, Jesus pointed not to arguments, but to his works.
His critics, however, reacted differently. They had seen his deeds, they had heard his words, and still they struggled to believe. When Jesus spoke of himself as the Son of God, they considered it blasphemy. Their difficulty did not lie in a lack of evidence, but in the greatness of his claim.
Jesus appealed to reason, to Scripture, and to the witness of his works. Yet their hearts remained closed. This reminds us of an important truth: it is possible to know much about Jesus and still not truly believe in him.
In the end, Jesus is rejected not because he has done wrong, but because he has revealed the truth about himself. And it is precisely on the Cross that this truth becomes most visible: a love that remains faithful to the end, a love that gives itself completely.
Jesus fully reveals man to himself
Jesus does not only reveal who he is—he also reveals who we are called to become.
His life shows us what it means to live in truth, to remain faithful to our calling, and to give ourselves for others. To follow him means to walk this same path: to act with goodness, to seek truth even when it is difficult, and to love without measure. In this way, our lives too can become a witness, revealing him to others.
As we continue our journey toward Easter, knowing who Jesus is as the Lord of life and death remains very essential. Allowing what we know impact our daily lives and give us peace amidst the worries of life is also very important. In so doing, we make visible our relationship with him.
