The Last Supper shows Jesus explaining why Jesus will die. This is shown by the line ‘my blood which is poured out for many’. This in essence shows the idea self sacrifice for the people, which would have encouraged many Christians in Rome to do the same. There is also the idea that Jesus has died for us to allieviate our sins. The date on which this occurs is also important for the comprehension of intent and importance. It occurred during pass over, this is the day of celebration of God freeing the Jews from Egypt, therefore Christians redefine this day showing the expansion of Christianity for all. It is also argued to show that the Jews have again been freed as it has supposedly alleviated all the sins man has made. This is supported by the idea of the Kingdom of God not existing in our dimensions or time.
This belief that Jesus’ death is of utmost importance to the Christian faith is supported by the amount of Mark’s Gospel taken up by Jesus’ conviction and crucifixion. 1 in 8 sections is dedicated to Jesus and his death in both the future and past tense. However most Christians view even these tiny details as instrumental to their faith. Many would consider the fact that the curtain in the temple was torn in two as pointless. However curtains and walls usually symbolise barriers between two entities. In the temple this barrier is used to keep the ark holy by keeping it separated from the ‘unclean’ peoples. Therefore the destruction of this barrier could symbolise the bringing of God and Man closer together as a barrier has been destroyed. Therefore Jesus’ death could mean that God and Man have been brought closer to a Christian. This idea is supported by the idea that Jesus died to rid us of our sins as in both the Old Testament and the New Testament are a barrier between ourselves and God. Sacrifices also occur behind the curtain therefore it can be said that Jesus is the ultimate sacrifice as he is a gift from God and man had to sacrifice it. Alternatively it could be said that man has destroyed the Gift given by God.
This idea of Jesus dying for our sins can be argued, to be supported by the outcry of Jesus on the Cross. What I consider to be the realisation that he is not the invincible Son of God can also be interperated in another way. ‘My God, my God, why did you abandon me?’ could be a reference to the supposed barrier between man and God caused by sin. Therefore this distance between the two leads Jesus to believe that he has been abandoned, as he has never sinned before. There fore he has taken the sins of all mankind onto his shoulders so that we can be closer to God. There is also a reference to a cloud that casts a shadow over the town as Jesus dies. This is probably a reference to the prediction in Amos 8 that the whole world will go dark and the whole world judged in front of God. It also shows that God approved of Jesus. Not only this but God saves Jesus from prolonged suffering and this is supposedly further enhanced by the idea that death is not the end. This shows that on the day the world was cast into shadow man was judged, but instead of man, Jesus was judged as he died after taking on our sins. He takes on the sins of man, so man is judged by faith.
So far, I have not truly addressed the topic of what Christians believe about life after death. In the time of Jesus many Jews did not believe in resurrection. Mark 12.18 shows this, however Christians in general do believe in the kingdom of God and resurrection. Belief in resurrection has the psychological benefit of assurance that death is no the end of your existence. This belief is supported by Jesus apparent resurrection (Mark 16.9-20). This is further supported by the belief of many Christians in the kingdom of God.
The Kingdom of God is mention with in the gospels in both the present and past tense, therefore implying either that the writers do not agree on what the kingdom of God is, or that it exists devoid of the laws of time. The early church father Augustine saw eternal life as the completion of love by actually coming face to face with the object of love. Other Christians believe that the dead body will be restored and reunited with the soul, so that one becomes complete again. Some still believe in the notion of hell witch is a repeated image that Jesus used (the rich man and Lazarus for example), especially amongst Roman Catholics.
The Kingdom of God that is talked about in mark is neither physical nor geographical. This implies that it is either metaphysical or indeed merely an ideal. The parable of the growing seed shows that man can have no influence as man is the growing seed and while he may water the seed he cannot make it grow, only God can do that. In Mark 10.13-16 Mark discusses the qualities and virtues needed to enter the kingdom of God. In this he says that the followers of Jesus should be like children to enter the Kingdom of God, as children are keen to accept gifts. The parable of the mustard seed entails that gentiles have a place in the Kingdom of God, as well as the Kingdom of God starting very small and them growing larger. The parable of the sower shows that the Kingdom of God is not a physical place as Jesus explains that the seed is the message of God, which is also the kingdom of God as this is merely thought by most Christians to be the rule of God in peoples hearts.
In conclusion I feel that there is no one single thing that Jesus’ death means to all Christians as each individual will have an individual interpretation. Most believe that Jesus died for us and took on all of our sins, though some believe that this is not literally true, for instance the Catholic Church claims that if you commit a cardinal sin you will go to hell unless you repent. Many believe that they will be rewarded with eternal life for those who follow Jesus’ teachings and for those that have ‘taken up the cross’ for the sake of the Gospels as Jesus was resurrected after he died for mankind. Some believe that he is an example to be followed, to die for your beliefs but not kill anyone. Some believe that he is a bridge between God and man. Some believe that he sacrificed himself, others believe that God sacrificed him and some believe we sacrificed the greatest gift we have ever been given’. Most Christians do not believe in a vindictive or evil God, therefore not in hell. Most do believe in a physical place that does not exist on earth know as heaven. This is not the kingdom of God as this is mainly thought to be the rule of God of peoples hearts and not a physical place. Therefore what the death and resurrection of Jesus, and life after death means to an individual Christian what he or she wants theses things to mean.
