"We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.
Because by your holy cross and resurrection,
you have redeemed the world."
Because by your holy cross and resurrection,
you have redeemed the world."
Introduction
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Everything we say to others needs proof to be considered genuine and true. A man cannot just say "The Big Bang Theory was the time when all the dinosaurs died because of a mega meteor shower" without any validation to prove his theory. This man must be able to look for evidences to prove the theory he's interpreting is real.
Similar to Jesus, he had a very miraculous and heart changing life. When we talk about his life, it will be hard to believe everything that happened during his existence. One example would be when he made so much wine appear at the Wedding at Cana. This was a miracle he did to relieve the thirst of the people. Another one would be when he healed sick people and lepers, putting them in good health. The main question is, how would we know if all these events actually happened? Were they true or just made up stories? Where was the proof of all these to be considered true? Moreover, what did his greatest miracle, his resurrection, really mean?
Similar to Jesus, he had a very miraculous and heart changing life. When we talk about his life, it will be hard to believe everything that happened during his existence. One example would be when he made so much wine appear at the Wedding at Cana. This was a miracle he did to relieve the thirst of the people. Another one would be when he healed sick people and lepers, putting them in good health. The main question is, how would we know if all these events actually happened? Were they true or just made up stories? Where was the proof of all these to be considered true? Moreover, what did his greatest miracle, his resurrection, really mean?
The Gospel of the Lord
The Resurrection of Christ
Jesus Has Risen
24 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them.5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ”8 Then they remembered his words. 9 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves,and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened. On the Road to Emmaus 13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles[a] from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him. 17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 “What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet,powerful in word and deed before God and all the people.20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel.And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place.22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.” 25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?”27 And beginning with |
Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. 28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” 33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread. Jesus Appears to the Disciples 36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” 40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet.41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in their presence. 44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” 45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day,47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” The Ascension of Jesus 50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God. |
Story Analysis
A quick look at the gospel
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We need to put into mind the resurrection of Jesus after his death. His resurrection was the greatest manifestation of the Kingdom of God because it made non-believers and doubters believe in God and his teachings. His resurrection concludes that all he did and said during his incarnation, public ministry, passion and death, and resurrection were true and real. This also gives us a wider glimpse of the Kingdom of God, because we learn more about Jesus and his purpose on Earth - to bring us closer to God and be in his kingdom.
Jesus' apostles were indeed doubting Jesus and his Ministry at first. But after the apostles witnessed his resurrection in the form of Jesus coming to them, they started to have this spark of courage in them, because Jesus rose from the dead and this showed that Jesus had power over all, even death. Knowing that Jesus had power over everything after resurrecting and appearing before them, they started to believe that the teachings about God was actually true. This proves that Jesus' resurrection fulfilled all his teachings and accomplishments while he was still on Earth. It confirmed all that he had done and all his teachings were real.
Since the apostles started to believe in the teachings and sayings of Jesus Christ, they also started to have stronger faith in him, strengthening their bonds with him. It was the point wherein the apostles experienced a change of heart. They gathered enough courage to transform from being doubtful disciples into martyrs, preaching the good news of Jesus Christ despite being prosecuted. The apostles developed their bond of love and friendship with Jesus, enabling them to witness the Risen Christ. This shows that a change of heart is needed to see the Risen Christ. Jesus only appears to those who have a special bond of love and faith with him
To be able to bring Jesus Christ in our lives today, we must have a change of heart. A change of heart meaning one has to establish a bond between our self and Jesus to bring us closer to God. A way to do this is to pray often, to strengthen our friendship and faith in God. Praying is a way of conversing with God, a way of making friends with him.
The resurrection was also meant for another reason. Jesus shows us through his resurrection that death is not the end of everything. He rose from the dead to prove to us that there will always be another opportunity for us to keep going on. There is an expectation we can look forward to when we experience death. This expectation is HOPE. Hope gives us the courage to do things we won't do because we give up. There is a truth that everyone must know, this truth is that everyone is capable of accomplishing tasks despite how difficult they are. Hope will bring us to that point where we will have no worries about having problems.
When we suffer or go through different kinds of problems, we tend to just give up and not even try to solve these problems. We lose HOPE when we face difficult obstacles in our lives. But the thing is that we shouldn't lose hope when we face the impossibly solvable problems. We need this hope to help us accomplish what there is to do to remove our problems. Just as Jesus had shown when he resurrected from the dead, he came back to life even though he had just died. This explains that death is not the end of everything. Hope was what made Jesus come back to life. No matter how hard the situation is, hope can still lead you to this destination where your problems will be solved.
Was there a single point in your life which can relate to the experience of the disciples, when you had a deep change from fear to great courage, from old life to new life, from doubt to faith? What experiences of HOPE have I had?
Jesus' apostles were indeed doubting Jesus and his Ministry at first. But after the apostles witnessed his resurrection in the form of Jesus coming to them, they started to have this spark of courage in them, because Jesus rose from the dead and this showed that Jesus had power over all, even death. Knowing that Jesus had power over everything after resurrecting and appearing before them, they started to believe that the teachings about God was actually true. This proves that Jesus' resurrection fulfilled all his teachings and accomplishments while he was still on Earth. It confirmed all that he had done and all his teachings were real.
Since the apostles started to believe in the teachings and sayings of Jesus Christ, they also started to have stronger faith in him, strengthening their bonds with him. It was the point wherein the apostles experienced a change of heart. They gathered enough courage to transform from being doubtful disciples into martyrs, preaching the good news of Jesus Christ despite being prosecuted. The apostles developed their bond of love and friendship with Jesus, enabling them to witness the Risen Christ. This shows that a change of heart is needed to see the Risen Christ. Jesus only appears to those who have a special bond of love and faith with him
To be able to bring Jesus Christ in our lives today, we must have a change of heart. A change of heart meaning one has to establish a bond between our self and Jesus to bring us closer to God. A way to do this is to pray often, to strengthen our friendship and faith in God. Praying is a way of conversing with God, a way of making friends with him.
The resurrection was also meant for another reason. Jesus shows us through his resurrection that death is not the end of everything. He rose from the dead to prove to us that there will always be another opportunity for us to keep going on. There is an expectation we can look forward to when we experience death. This expectation is HOPE. Hope gives us the courage to do things we won't do because we give up. There is a truth that everyone must know, this truth is that everyone is capable of accomplishing tasks despite how difficult they are. Hope will bring us to that point where we will have no worries about having problems.
When we suffer or go through different kinds of problems, we tend to just give up and not even try to solve these problems. We lose HOPE when we face difficult obstacles in our lives. But the thing is that we shouldn't lose hope when we face the impossibly solvable problems. We need this hope to help us accomplish what there is to do to remove our problems. Just as Jesus had shown when he resurrected from the dead, he came back to life even though he had just died. This explains that death is not the end of everything. Hope was what made Jesus come back to life. No matter how hard the situation is, hope can still lead you to this destination where your problems will be solved.
Was there a single point in your life which can relate to the experience of the disciples, when you had a deep change from fear to great courage, from old life to new life, from doubt to faith? What experiences of HOPE have I had?