An Inadequate Jesus
The words above would be blasphemous if we were speaking of Jesus, but the words apply to “another Jesus”. 2 Corinthians 11:4.
In the Roman Catholic Church, men and women believe Mary “is eager to help them, in troubles of soul and body, as every natural mother is eager to promote the welfare of her child.” John N McCormick. C.SS.R. Redemptorist Fathers. May 2. 1960.
It is said Catholics do not pray to Mary, but “to Jesus through Mary”. This means that “Mary is an intercessor who prays on behalf of mankind.” www.catholicdoors.com “Catholics do not perceive Mary as a god… They accept the fact that Mary is the most successful Saint at obtaining Divine favours through her intercession.” Ibid.
“Jesus is the King of kings and Mary, as the mother of the King, is the “queen mother’…. So important was the function of the queen mothers in the days of the Old Testament that their names were listed in the succession records of the kings of Judah. Similar to the intercession of the Queen Mother, when a child desires a favour and cannot obtain it from his/her parents, frequently the child will make the request to the grandparent to intercede on his/her behalf, therefore obtaining the favour that was being sought…. Catholics pray through Mary to Jesus, taking advantage of her blessed position as the Mother of God.” Ibid.
Of course for a Catholic this is all possible, as the dead are still living, whether in heaven, purgatory or hell. Those in heaven are the saints, believed to coexist with our world. “There is a connection between the Body of Christ that is already in heaven and those who are still on earth. Though a person is no longer living on earth, that does not mean they are not living. Catholics understand that we have a relationship with those who are living in heaven, and that during the Mass heaven and earth connect.” www.biblestudyforcatholics.com
Prostestants ask why Catholics do not go straight to Jesus instead of to Mary. Their answer is, “You go to your pastor or to your friends. Why should we not go to Mary, the greatest of the saints?” www.catholicbridge.com
Believing heaven to be a place of the living, Catholics ask many of the saints to intercede for them -- St Christopher, St Joseph, St Jude and others.
Another site said Catholics ‘pray with’ Mary, rather than ‘to Mary’, as there is a “vast cloud of witnesses” in heaven – the saints -- who are also praying. “Mary is Queen of that army of prayer warriors.” However, he said the word ‘pray’ is used in its ancient sense, ‘to ask or request’, as in Shakespeare, ‘I pray thee good sirrah, lend me a ducat.’ So Catholics are simply asking a request that Mary pray for them. www.patheos.com
The above may be tedious reading for those who believe the dead are dead and not in heaven, and that praying ‘with’ (in actual fact ‘to’) the saints in heaven is useless, however, we need to realise that the Jesus to whom they claim their prayers ascend ‘through Mary’, is not the Jesus of the Bible.
Why? Because the true Jesus is not inadequate as He is portrayed in this belief. Of course a Catholic would not agree with this statement.
In this belief:
- Jesus is not powerful enough to answer prayers Himself.
- Jesus’ will is not accepted, and Mary is needed to try and persuade Him otherwise.
- Jesus’ is not as approachable as Mary.
- Jesus’ love is not as kind and as compassionate as that of a mother.
The real Jesus is all-powerful, compassionate, loving, kind and understanding, and we need have no fear of coming to Him in prayer. He will hear our prayers.
Our prophet said, “Amid the anthems of the celestial choir, God hears the cries of the weakest human being. We pour out our heart's desire in our closets, we breathe a prayer as we walk by the way, and our words reach the throne of the Monarch of the universe. They may be inaudible to any human ear, but they cannot die away into silence, nor can they be lost through the activities of business that are going on. Nothing can drown the soul's desire. It rises above the din of the street, above the confusion of the multitude, to the heavenly courts. It is God to whom we are speaking, and our prayer is heard. You who feel the most unworthy, fear not to commit your case to God.” HP 82.
“The arch-deceiver hates the great truths that bring to view an atoning sacrifice and an all-powerful Mediator. He knows that with him everything now depends on his diverting minds from Jesus and His truth.” 4SP 312.
How important it is we understand that Jesus is the Mediator and Intercessor. Mary is not the mediator or intercessor, neither the dead saints. “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and man, the man Jesus Christ.” 1 Timothy 2:5.
Believing this statement of Paul to Timothy, how do we see Paul’s words in Romans?
“…the Spirit maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” Romans 8:26.27.
Is this the same Mediator? Intercessor? Is a Mediator different from an Intercessor?
Many Adventists see the Spirit as a separate third divine Person and in Romans Paul is speaking about the Spirit and not Jesus. However, our prophet used both words in one sentence.
“Go to Jesus as He has invited you. There is but one Mediator, one Intercessor, who can help wisely and not make one indiscreet move.” 14MR 196.
Jesus Himself said, “All power (authority) is given unto me, as Mediator between God and man.” 16 Manuscript Release. 15.16.
“Christ your Mediator stands before the Father to present your prayers as fragrant incense, mingled with His own merit and spotless righteousness.” CEd 127.
“Jesus is a compassionate intercessor, a merciful and faithful high priest.” CEd 160.
It seems the Mediator and the Intercessor are the same person, Jesus Christ.
“Christ… is the one Mediator between God and man. Bearing the marks of His crucifixion, He pleads the causes of our souls.” Letter 35, 1894.
“….your manifest duty is to confess your sin to Jesus Christ, your intercessor… You have one mediator, Jesus Christ the righteous.” ST, January 3, 1895.
“… His (Christ) offering is complete, and as our Intercessor He executes His self-appointed work, holding before God the censer containing His own spotless merits and the prayers, confessions, and thanksgiving of His people...” COL 156.
But if Jesus is the Intercessor and Mediator, who then is the Spirit?
Is the Spirit someone we ‘pray through to Jesus’?
If the Spirit, who Paul calls the Intercessor, is not Jesus, then we have a false spirit. Either the spirit is counterfeiting the work of Jesus as Intercessor, or the Jesus who is claiming to be the Intercessor and Mediator is inadequate, and cannot receive the prayers of His people Himself. He needs another spirit to do it for Him.
If either of these are true, we have “another Jesus” and/or “another Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 11:4.
Let us ask Paul again. Who is the true Spirit?
Speaking of the Jewish people who had a veil over their faces when reading the Old Testament, he said that when they “shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord, is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." 2 Corinthians 3:16-18.
His words are clear.
Now to the prophet. Who does she say the Spirit is?
“We want the Holy Spirit, which is Jesus Christ.” Lt 66 1894. (Apr 10.1894) par 18.
God’s people “have one God and one Saviour; and one Spirit -- the Spirit of Christ -- to bring unity into their ranks.” 9 Testimonies 1909. 189.
“The impartation of the Spirit is the impartation of the life of Christ.” The Desire of Ages. 805.
Thankfully we do not need to deal with dead saints praying for us, but we must think about whether we have the real Spirit and the real Jesus. Otherwise our faith is no different to that of the Roman Catholic, perhaps worse because we should know better.