ARTICLE – The Message of Jesus: An Invitation to New Life

February 11, 2025 by Pierre-Alain Giffard News, Recommended Texts

To genuinely appreciate Jesus’ teachings, we must grasp what he held as most important. By focusing on the heart of his message, we can better understand its profound beauty and communicate it more effectively to others.

Jesus’ core message resonated deeply with both those who were far from faith and those entrenched in religious practice. To those who did not live according to God’s will, Jesus offered an open invitation, fueled by love and truth. He did not impose himself or his teaching but gently extended grace, forgiveness, and the promise of eternal life to anyone willing to receive him. His call was universal, reaching beyond cultural, social, and religious boundaries.

Jesus declared, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). The invitation embraced not only the righteous but also sinners. outcasts, and the marginalized. He spent time with tax collectors, sinners, and Samaritans, demonstrating that God’s love knows no limits. His encounter with Zacchaeus is a striking example of this love: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). Jesus’ willingness to engage with those who were considered unworthy reflected the boundless mercy of God.

Jesus’ call to repentance was not one of condemnation but of transformation. He urged people to turn away from sin and embrace a relationship with God, emphasizing that faith in Him brings forgiveness and a new beginning: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Matthew 4:17). He illustrated this divine mercy in the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32), revealing a God who eagerly awaits the return of His children with open arms. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 545) affirms “Jesus invites sinners to the table of the kingdom: ‘I came not to call the righteous, but sinners’ (Mk 2:17). He invites them to conversion, without which one cannot enter the kingdom.”

While Jesus extended an invitation of love and mercy, He also spoke openly about the consequences of rejecting this offer. He warned, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them” (John 3:36). Yet, even these warnings were acts of love, meant to guide people toward the truth. The Church teaches that Jesus is the only way to salvation: “there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12). In calling people to Himself, Jesus did not merely ask for religious adherence but offered a transformed life, one lived in the fullness of His grace and truth: “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).

Jesus’ message also focused on the spirit of the law rather than rigid legalism. He taught that true righteousness flows from the heart, not merely from external observance. When asked about the greatest commandment, He responded, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39). In this teaching, Jesus highlighted that all religious laws should serve the purpose of leading people closer to God and fostering love among one another.

Jesus challenged religious leaders who prioritized laws over compassion, condemning their hypocrisy: “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill, and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy, and faithfulness” (Matthew 23:23). He rebuked those who imposed heavy burdens on others while failing to live by their own standards. The Catechism affirms this: “The works of penance must not be ostentatious; they must lead to interior conversion” (CCC 1430). True faith, as Jesus taught, is not about outward displays of piety but about a heart transformed by love and humility.

One of the clearest examples of Jesus’ teaching on the law is found in His approach to the Sabbath. When criticized for healing on the Sabbath, He reminded His listeners, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27). This statement underscored that religious observance should serve human dignity and well-being rather than become a burdensome obligation.

Additionally, Jesus emphasized that salvation is a gift of grace, received through faith, rather than something earned through strict adherence to the law. St. Paul later affirmed this, writing, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). However, this grace calls believers to a response of love and good works, as James reminds us: “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2:17). The Church echoes this balance, teaching that faith and works must be united in the Christian life: “’faith apart from works is dead’: when it is deprived of hope and love, faith does not fully unite the believer to Christ and does not make him a living member of his Body” (CCC 1815).

In conclusion, Jesus’ message was a profound and transformative invitation to all, transcending boundaries and offering a path to eternal life through love, grace, and truth. His teachings emphasized the spirit of the law over legalism, calling for a faith that is lived from the heart and expressed through love for God and neighbor. This message, rooted in divine mercy and compassion, continues to resonate today, inviting all to embrace a life transformed by the boundless love of God, as embodied in Jesus Christ.

Pierre-Alain Giffard, Director of Pastoral Work
Email: pierre.alain.giffard@gmail.com

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