The Saving Death and Resurrection of Christ

“The Paschal Mystery”

Outline• Why do we need a savior?• Why did Jesus have to suffer and die?• Who is responsible for the death of Christ?• What did Jesus accomplish by His death?• What is the significance of the Resurrection?

Why do we need a Savior?

The Consequences of Sin• Sin separates us from God

– Sin is the choosing of ourselves and our desires over God and His perfect will

• Sin causes disorder– The original harmony that man was created in

needed to be restored• Personal harmony

– body, soul, & spirit• Relational harmony

– God and fellow man

Why did Jesus have to suffer and die?

The Fulfillment of Prophecy• Isaiah 53:5-8

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people?

God’s Solidarity with Humanity• He was like us in all things except sin

– 2 Co 5:21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

• The greatest way that God could demonstrate His love for us was to assume our nature and take upon Himself the most horrendous torture and suffering and death that any man has ever experienced.

The Cross Gives Meaning• The Cross is the only answer to the

suffering of this life• Rom 8:28

We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose.

• Through the greatest evil that has ever been committed God was able to bring about the greatest good that the world has ever known; the salvation of the human race

The Father’s Love for Us• John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

• John 15:13Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Who is Responsible for the Death of

Christ?

Everyone• Everyone of us from the dawn of history to

the end of time who in pride and disobedience has sinned is in some way responsible.

- USCC for Adults, pg.92

• “The Church does not hesitate to impute to Christians the gravest responsibility for the torments inflicted upon Jesus, a responsibility with which they have all to often burdened the Jews alone.”

- CCC, no. 598

What did Jesus accomplish by His

death?

The Theology of the Cross• Act of atonement

– Makes us one again with God by the power of divine mercy extending to us the Father’s forgiveness of our sins

• Act of satisfaction or reparation– Jesus lives out fully the Father’s call to human

beings to be faithful to His plan for them, thus overcoming the power of sin

• Expiation for our sins– The act of redemption and atonement for sin

which Christ won for us by the pouring out of His blood on the cross, by His obedient love ‘even to the end.’

The Theology of the Cross• Reconciliation

– Romans 5:10For if while we were enemies we

were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are

reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

What is the significance of the

Resurrection?

Christ’s Resurrection Conquers• It was not enough that Jesus died to take away our

sins– The Paschal mystery has two aspects: by his death,

Christ liberates us from sin; by his Resurrection, he opens for us the way to a new life.

- CCC 654• By rising from the dead, Jesus conquered death,

which is the penalty for sin– Romans 5:12

Therefore as sin came into the world through one man and death through sin, so death spread to all men because all men sinned

– 1 Corinthians 15:56The sting of death is sin, …

The Relationship of the Cross and the Resurrection

• The Cross and the Resurrection are one event– What does this mean for us?

• Romans 6:5-85 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.…8 But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him.

• There can be no Easter Sunday without Good Friday, but without the Resurrection the Cross is meaningless.

Glorified Bodies• Christ not only shows us how to live and gain

eternal life, by way of His Cross, but He makes it actually possible.

• He is not just a teacher. • The Resurrection is our hope

– 1 Cor 15:17-2017 If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins…. 20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

– Rom 8:22-2322 We know that the whole creation has been groaning in travail together until now; 23 and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

• Christ received His glorified body at the Resurrection. This is what allows our souls to be reunited with our bodies on the Day of Judgment.

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