5 Saints Who Totally Had Superpowers

alma73

Superpowers of the Saints.

https://churchpop.com/2015/01/27/5-saints-who-totally-had-superpowers/

Delirium

St. Joseph looks like he has the power of clumsiness/falling tbh :pac:

syklops

She would also allow herself to be ravaged by dogs

Ooo-er.

homer911

syklops wrote: »

Ooo-er.

http://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/6-16.htm

Michael OBrien

Christina would have fitted right in with the X-men Apocalypse film. A bit of Archangel mixed with Wolverine mixed with Jean Grey with a side order of Apocalypses insanity.
Also from wiki on modern interpretations of what happened.
"Sallie Baxendale notes that "[f]rom a medical perspective, the analysis of contemporary accounts of her afflictions provide compelling evidence of status epilepticus, olfactory auras, and probable frontal lobe epilepsy, with frequent secondary generalization."

solodeogloria

Good evening!

What exactly are these "superpowers" meant to convey? What are we meant to understand them? How do they strengthen our understanding of the Lord Jesus?

Admittedly, as others have suggested, they simply seem bizarre to me.

Much thanks in the Lord Jesus Christ,
solodeogloria

looksee

Solodeogloria, you have said that you accept Jesus' teachings because they were written down, so what is so different about accepting these events? How are they any different from powers that Jesus demonstrated - he raised people from the dead, he walked on water, he performed miracles of cures and of such frivolous matters as turning water into wine. Padre Pio is within recent years, surely that can be checked out and confirmed? They claimed, as Jesus did, that their powers - or afflictions - came from God, they were sincere in their belief, so why is it so improbable?

Rightwing

Did Jesus ever exist? Maybe so.

Was he any different to the thousands of other prophets/bluffers/scholars the world has seen? No.

solodeogloria

looksee wrote: »

Solodeogloria, you have said that you accept Jesus' teachings because they were written down, so what is so different about accepting these events? How are they any different from powers that Jesus demonstrated - he raised people from the dead, he walked on water, he performed miracles of cures and of such frivolous matters as turning water into wine. Padre Pio is within recent years, surely that can be checked out and confirmed? They claimed, as Jesus did, that their powers - or afflictions - came from God, they were sincere in their belief, so why is it so improbable?

Good evening!

This is a very good question.

I think it is bizarre for a couple of reasons. Miracles Biblically speaking are extremely rare, but do happen usually for one of two reasons. To further the fulfilment of God's plans and God's promises. For example the birth of Isaac to Sarah and Abraham. The other is to convey a deeper message. For example Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead to show that there is life beyond the grave for those who trust in Him, or healing the blind man in John chapter 9 to demonstrate that God can both harden hearts and soften them.

The problem with declaring that humans have superpowers is two fold:
1) The glory goes to the individual rather than to God. It creates a class of praiseworthy individuals where there are none. Miracles only occur to bring glory to God, where they fail to do so it is right that someone is skeptical. Only God is deserving of our praise, and miracles bring glory to God alone.
2) It is a break with the Biblical model of revelation. We should expect to see that miracles are used to fulfil God's promises or to explain a deeper truth.

Edit: Turning water into wine wasn't a frivilous miracle, it makes a hugely significant point if one looks at it's foundations. It was there to demonstrate that Jesus was God Himself bringing good things to His people. It fulfils Isaiah 25 in the Old Testament. This feast is a sign that points towards death being swallowed up forever:

Isaiah 25:6-9 ESVUK wrote:

On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples
a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine,
of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined.
And he will swallow up on this mountain
the covering that is cast over all peoples,
the veil that is spread over all nations.
He will swallow up death for ever;
and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces,
and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth,
for the Lord has spoken.
It will be said on that day,
“Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us.
This is the Lord; we have waited for him;
let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”

Much thanks in the Lord Jesus Christ,
solodeogloria

looksee

I was going to ask several questions there Solodeogloria, but I kept coming up against a basic question, what do you mean by God?

Do you think in terms of an actual physical being (after all Adam was made in the image of God), or of something more intangible but still with thought processes and reactions that can be understood by humans, or of a concept that is beyond our imagining - in which case how can anyone be confident of what it wants?

This question arises from your statement

The other is to convey a deeper message. For example Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead to show that there is life beyond the grave for those who trust in Him

How do you know that? It is not clear from the biblical that Jesus was commenting on life beyond the grave. He did have a discussion with Martha about the Resurrection, but that does not appear to have been the main purpose. It is very clear that he did it for love and friendship, and used the occasion to demonstrate that he was the son of God.

solodeogloria

looksee wrote: »

I was going to ask several questions there Solodeogloria, but I kept coming up against a basic question, what do you mean by God?

Do you think in terms of an actual physical being (after all Adam was made in the image of God), or of something more intangible but still with thought processes and reactions that can be understood by humans, or of a concept that is beyond our imagining - in which case how can anyone be confident of what it wants?

This question arises from your statement How do you know that? It is not clear from the biblical that Jesus was commenting on life beyond the grave. He did have a discussion with Martha about the Resurrection, but that does not appear to have been the main purpose. It is very clear that he did it for love and friendship, and used the occasion to demonstrate that he was the son of God.

Good morning!

I agree with you that Jesus' love for Lazarus is key. That is a key theme.

There are some bizarre themes in that passage. In verse 4 He claims that the illness doesn't lead to death and says that it is for the Son of God will be glorified through it. Another way the language of the Son of God being glorified being used is in respect to His crucifixion.

However what's even more bizarre is verse 6. He intentionally stays two days longer where He was before seeing Lazarus despite His disciples suggesting going to see him.

In verses 14 and 15 He says He was glad that He wasn't there so that they might believe.

At a first glance Jesus actually appears callous.

So what does Jesus want them to believe? That He has power over death and the sin that leads to it.

That's what He tells Martha. Also in verse 40 we see Jesus say didn't I tell you that the Son of God would be glorified through this? How?

Jesus loves Lazarus but we see the anger that Jesus has at the scourge of death and the hope that He provides for those who believe in spite of death. It also points to how He is supremely glorified in His death on the cross.

I hope that helps with your question.

Much thanks in the Lord Jesus Christ,
solodeogloria