God sent Jesus to help people become closer to God, and to save them from their sins so they can have eternal life.
We are all sinners; therefore, the only way in which we could go to Heaven would be by repenting our sins to Jesus, if we did not, we would surely go to Hell.
When Jesus was upon the cross, he fought against good and evil until he died. Jesus was victorious and the darkness disappeared. Jesus won his followers a life after death because of His battle, proven by His own resurrection. The curtain separating God in the Holy of Holies and the people ripped, signifying a closer relationship between God and His people.
Jesus’ death stands for a new covenant between God and man, similar to that made between God and Abraham, where both sides kept their promises. This covenant was announced during the Last Supper. The blood shed upon the cross formed the covenant.
Some people believe that when taking Eucharist, transubstantiation takes place; they feel that Jesus is inside them spiritually.
Jesus fulfils scripture; Isaiah predicts the Messiah will suffer, Jesus became that suffering servant. It is also predicted that He will ride a colt to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Jeremiah predicts a new covenant with God and this is fulfilled at the Last Supper.
Isaiah says, “Here is my herald whom I send on ahead of you, and he will prepare you way” (Mark1: 2-3). A voice calls out from the wilderness telling people to prepare the way for the Lord, they recognised Jesus as Lord, as do Christians.
Jesus’ death was an historic event; there is no denying His life or death.
AO2: Explain why the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus are important for Christians today.
Christians believe that Jesus suffered for them so they could be forgiven their sins. Today, Christians have the knowledge that, although everyone sins, they can all be forgiven.
Jesus was not too dissimilar to us; He suffered as a human, and the death he suffered was a most horrible death. Jesus said to his followers that in order to follow Him, they should be prepared to suffer in the same way, to drink from the same cup and on occasion give up their family, but for this they shall be rewarded.
Some Christians believe that they are privileged to suffer; they believe it makes them a stronger person.
Roy Castle, for example, died from Lung cancer and worked throughout his life, trying to teach people the effects of smoking and passive smoking. It seemed very unfair that he suffered because of other people. Roy realised this and gained a stronger sense of spirituality through his suffering. He tried to help smokers stop, and people with cancer. Roy was not angry with smokers, he just asked them if they would consider giving up. Roy Castle is an exemplar on how to live life as a Christian, positively and bravely. He felt privileged to help people whilst he himself was suffering; he felt it brought him closer to God.
There are also other people who felt they grew from suffering. Mother Theresa felt she was closer to God and understood more about God when she was helping suffering people. A communist party arrested Richard Wurbrand, a Romanian, and tortured him in order to get the names of Christian leaders so they could be disposed of. Richard went on praying and talking to God. The jailer was so impressed by his loyalty and asked why he didn’t give up on God. Richard said he now had a deeper understanding of God and would not give up hope. The jailer was converted to Christianity by Richard’s actions and determination.
A person’s attitude determines whether they either grow stronger emotionally or whether they break down. Suffering is an attitude to pain. If the same things happen to many people, it is highly unlikely that they will all react in the same way towards it.
Bob Geldoff created Live Aid. Out of the horrendous atrocities, he showed some strength and raised money for poor countries.
Some people say, “Unless you suffer, you will never know your true spiritual side.” I think this is true. Some people may not commune regularly with God but when they need guidance or someone close to them does, it is Him they turn to.
The death of Jesus shows us how much God loves us, we learn that although at times we may feel like God has abandoned us, He has not; just as He did not abandon Jesus. Jesus felt abandoned, proving how human Jesus really was.
We can also learn to persevere, not to give in, to fight until you get a result.
Christians take part in communion. This helps them participate in the new covenant, not just because Jesus told them to, because they believe it brings them closer to God and also to each other.
The community is very important for Christians; it brings them closer together and also closer to God.
AO3: “Dying for your beliefs does not make sense – it is better to live for them.” How far do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer showing that you have considered more than one point of view.
Some Christians would strongly disagree with this statement. They believe that as a Christian you have to be prepared to die for your beliefs, as so many people have done.
Saint Stephen was stoned to death for his beliefs, shortly after Jesus’ death. He was the first Christian martyr. Jesus also died for his belief in God. They may not have deserved to die but they were willing to because they believed in God and his promise of an eternal life after death in which they would be rewarded 100 times. Most of Jesus’ disciples became martyrs.
Others even go as far as to say that if you are not prepared to die for your beliefs and betray those beliefs, it is harder for you to deal with than the it would be to deal with than that of death.
Christians learn a lot from the actions of Judas and Peter. Judas betrayed Jesus and found it extremely difficult to cope with his guilt and, therefore, hung himself. Peter denied Jesus three times and went on regretting this forever. Although he knew that Jesus had forgiven him, he could not forgive himself. He asked to be crucified upside-down because he felt he was not worthy to be treated in the same way as Jesus.
Many people in other countries and throughout history have died for their beliefs and continue to do so.
The big question that must be asked is, “If you deny your faith, can you live with that choice for the rest of your life and face up to the consequences?”
Some people would say it is dangerous to be a Christian and they do not understand why people should die for their beliefs. They are prepared to make sacrifices, such as giving up time to go to church, or to help others and also obey the Sabbath but they do not feel it necessary to give up their life.
Mother Theresa gave up her life of security for a new, poverty-stricken, demanding one in Calcutta. In a way, she gave up her life, but not for death, for a new one.
Desmond Tutu spent his whole life, trying to fight for black people’s rights in South Africa as Martin Luther King did for the black people of America. Unfortunately, Martin Luther King was killed whilst trying to do so.
These people did not give up their life for death, but for a life that was unfamiliar to them and have, therefore, made a big sacrifice.
As a Christian, I believe that although it should not be necessary for people to have to die for their beliefs, I am willing to do so. It takes a lot of courage to do but we shall all be rewarded for our efforts.
If I did not feel prepared to die, if the opportunity was to arise, I know I would regret it for the rest of my life; I would feel the guilt resting on my conscience and would probably feel unable to commune with God because I had denied Him.
