The Resurrection Flashcards
According to Matthew’s Gospel, why did Pontius Pilate assign Roman Soldiers to guard the tomb of Jesus?
To prevent Jesus’ disciples from stealing the body and then claiming that Jesus has risen from the dead
Summarize the common points in the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ Resurrection.
Jesus is buried in a tomb by a wealthy disciple named Joseph of Arimathea
Various people go to the tomb and discover that the body of Jesus is no longer there.
The people who go to the tomb find out that Jesus is no longer dead but alive, and that he will reveal himself to them again soon.
The witnesses’ initial reactions are shock and then fear. But soon they experience Jesus among them
List in summarize four pieces of evidence to give into support the reality of Jesus‘s resurrection
A consistent belief in the early church.
The letters of Saint Paul, the Acts of the Apostles, and all four Gospels mention it. In the Acts of the Apostles, we see that experiencing the risen Jesus was considered a key qualification for be-
ing accepted as an Apostle.
The empty tomb.
All accounts of the Resurrection agree that the tomb was empty on the morning that the women went to prepare Jesus’ body for burial. Surely the Romans would have produced Jesus’ corpse if they could have, to destroy any stories of his Resurrection that might have been falsely created by his disciples. And the disciples themselves would eventually choose to die rather than deny their faith in a resurrected Jesus. Would they have freely died for a hoax? Moreover, if the authors of the accounts had been seeking to convince an audience of something untrue, they would
never have chosen women, who were not perceived as credible, as primary witnesses to the empty tomb.
Jesus’ post-Resurrection appearances.
Many people claimed to have experienced the risen Jesus, and the appearances follow a common pattern.
A courageous community.
A thoroughly shattered band of Jesus’ followers was transformed into a community of courageous witnesses after the Resurrection. The total conviction with which the disciples proclaimed the risen
Jesus as a sign of joy and hope is undeniable.
Why was the Resurrection not a historical event un the usual sense
Jesus’ death was historical in that even nonbelievers would have been able to see Jesus crucified. But only people of faith experienced Jesus after his Resurrection. The risen Jesus could not have been scientifically proven to exist. The Resurrection, in other words, goes beyond history as we know it
What fact about the Resurrection is of most significance to Christian faith?
The Resurrection demonstrates the truth of Jesus’ divine claim and shows he truth of his other claims and teachings about God
Why is viewing Jesus as just an extraordinary man rather than the Christ an unacceptable position for Christians?
Because the Resurrection favours Jesus is claimed that he was and is the One sent by God to redeem the world. And the church has a constant commitment to belief in the Resurrection as the central characteristic of Christian faith
What is the origin and meaning of the term paschal mystery?
The whole series of events by which Jesus saved humanity - from his giving the Eucharist at the Last Supper, through his death and Resurrection, to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost-is known by the church as the paschal mystery. It is paschal because through those events, Jesus, the “new paschal lamb,” established a new Passover. This new Passover saves us from death, frees us from the slavery of sin, and starts a journey toward the “Promised Land” of new life. It is a mystery in the way that love is a mystery- a deep reality to be lived rather than a problem to be explained. The redemptive meaning of the paschal mystery can be seen In everyday life when the power of new life is released from an experience of suffering or death.
What human limitation makes it difficult to understand the Ascension?
We cannot escape images of space and time in our speaking, writing, and even thinking
What was the main lesson that the scriptural authors wished to teach by describing the Ascension?
That following the resurrection, Jesus passed totally into the presence of God and has become more truly present to us through escaping the limitations of space and time
Why was the first Pentecost a significant happening in the life of the early church? What is the message of the Pentecost story?
The first Pentecost was significant because it was then that the disciples began a whole new way of living in communion with one another. Pentecost is often referred to as the birthday of the church. The message of the Pentecost story is that when disheartened and frightened people encounter the Spirit of the risen Jesus, they are transformed by
the experience.
What three titles for Jesus reflect the early Christian community’s post-Resurrection, post-Pentecost understanding of him?
The Christ, The Son of God, and Our Lord
What does the church teach about Jesus in terms of the Trinity?
The church teaches that Jesus is one of three divine persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - in the one God.
Why was referring to Jesus as ‘The Lord, our Lord’ a radical step for early Christians?
The Christians were proclaiming a divine identity for Jesus, a unity with God that was absolutely beyond understanding
