The Paschal Mystery The Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Paschal – the term paschal comes from the Hebrew word “Pasch” ( pash ) which means Passover - The Passover was the defining event that led to the salvation of the Israelites from their slavery to the Egyptians - God “passed over” the Israelite homes, whose doorposts were marked with the blood of the sacrificial lamb, but took the lives of the firstborn of the Egyptians Mystery – in this context mystery refers to something knowable but beyond our full comprehension The Paschal Mystery is the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ by which he heals us from sin and enables us to become children of God The passion of Jesus The Triumphant Entry to Jerusalem - On one Sunday, the people of Jerusalem rushed to see and meet Jesus of Nazareth with their palms and hearts filled with longing for a Messiah - Jesus was well-known because he taught with great commandments, debated with the religious authorities of his time, attracted followers who abandoned their profession and family, cast away demons and preached about establishing of the Kingdom of God - His entrance then to Jerusalem marked the start of his agony and his march to his death, just like what the prophecy of old had foretold The Last Supper – “Do this in remembrance of me.” - A washing of the disciple’s feet by Jesus preceded the meal which was a gesture emphasizing the quality of Jesus being exemplar, humble servant to the disciples and conveyed the heart of a true Christian – service to others. - Jesus alluded to his death on the cross which has a salvific end for all sinners, for all mankind - The Holy Eucharist was instituted in that event, which eventually became a meal of remembrance and an encounter with the risen Lord through the sacred sign of bread and wine as the body and blood of Christ Agony of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane - It was in the garden of Gethsemane that Jesus faced two fundamental options: - to follow the Father’s will of sacrificing for humanity - not to follow and keep himself away from this fate. But his choice was clear – Father thy will be done (Matthew. 26:42). And Jesus chose to embrace death and its consequences. - In the face of all the evidence pointing to the possibility of a violent death, Jesus could have run away. But Jesus stayed … because he was firmly committed to doing the will of the One who sent him (Mark 14:36) Death by Crucifixion - Charge of Jesus – Blasphemy – showing a lack of reverence toward God; claiming for oneself a dignity due to God alone. This is punishable by death according to the Jewish Law - But it is still the Roman procurator who has the final decision whether or not to condemn a person to death. And so the religious leaders brought Jesus before Pontius Pilate to prove his crime deserving punishment by crucifixion - Even though Pilate was hesitant to impose the death penalty to an innocent man, he felt the demand of the crowd shouting: Crucify Jesus. He attempted to satisfy the people by having Jesus tortured and scourged at the pillar. - But the crowd still demanded death and so he made a symbolic gesture of washing his hands passing the weight of responsibility to the people - Then he sentences Jesus to death by crucifixion – the capital punishment for nonRoman citizens and criminals, the most humiliating death a person can suffer Jesus’ Death on the Cross A. As the Fulfillment of the Prophecy - The Prophet foretold the destiny of the Suffering Servant Messiah (Isaiah 53:4-5,7) - From the moment he set his ministry, it was his conviction that determined his response to the people, guided his actions and decided the end of his life as the Father’s greatest sacrifice for all - Christ death on the cross was the Father’s greatest sacrifice for the salvation of all B. As the Means Towards the Atonement of Sins - Jesus became the ultimate sacrifice of the Passover Feast, not anymore a lamb offered at the temple’s altar to pay for one’s sins but the very person of Jesus Christ - Jesus is the “The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” - Jesus death on the cross freed us from the slavery of sin and had reconciled our relationship with God C. As a Symbol of Conscious, Loving Obedience to the Father - Points to the virtue and deliberate commitment of Jesus to embrace the cross and his death - Refers to Jesus’ conscious and loving obedience to the Father and the willingness to take the consequences even to the point of losing one’s life for others - It is about doing His father’s will, not His own will D. As the Sign of God’s Unconditional Love - The cross has remained today as the unsurpassed expression of God’s love for humanity - From being the symbol of sin and death, Jesus turn the symbol of cross as God’s unconditional love. - John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” Jesus’ Resurrection Evidences Supporting the Resurrection The Empty Tomb: Mark 16:5-8 recalls the visit of the women in the tomb of Jesus. The tomb became empty and the women saw it by their own eyes The Post-resurrection Appearances: The Gospel of Mark outlined the eyewitnesses who first saw the risen Christ: - Mary Magdalene - Two disciples on their to Emmaus - The eleven apostles - To Cephas and to more than 500 brethren in Corinthias 15:5-6 The Transformation of the Lives of the Disciples The disciples were transformed into selfless and courageous witnesses of Jesus. Christians in the first century were persecuted and forced to denounce their faith in Jesus yet they stood by it even in death - ex. Peter the apostle was crucified upside down in the Roman persecution this was his request because he feel that he is not worthy to suffer how Jesus died. Also Saint Paul was beheaded because of his Christian faith The Transformation of the Life of the Persecutor of Christians - Saul, a Pharisee and persecutor of Christians was converted to the faith and became Paul, the “Apostle to the Gentile” - The Roman Empire, the persecutor of Christians, eventually embraced Christianity and Tome became the seat of the Catholic Faith The Significance of the Resurrection 1. Vindicates God’s Loving Design for All - If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and our faith is in vain ( 1 Cor. 15:!4) - The resurrection of Jesus is the ultimate basis that God truly wills that we share in his divine life beyond our mortal existence 2. Fulfills the Scripture and Affirms the Divinity of Jesus - Mark 10:45 – For the Son of Man also came not be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many - Jesus is truly the Son of God because he conquered death which is a clear proof of his divinity 3. Offers Hope and the Gift of Salvation to All - The greatest gift of a sinful man which freely given to him is the divine offering of salvation to all through Jesus’ Resurrection - Jesus’ resurrection offered salvation to all
