It was predicted by Simeon at the temple of Jerusalem when baby Jesus was taken there forty days after his birth that mother Mary's heart would get pierced by a sword because of her son. Many years later when Jesus was rejected by his own people at Nazareth, Mary felt the sharp pain of that sword.
At the age of about thirty, Jesus was baptized in the Jordan by John. He preached in synagogues, helped those in need, healed the sick, and performed many feats beyond human ability. People followed him wherever he went, but he was rejected when he went back to his own town, Nazareth.
Mary quietly followed her son and His disciples from afar when they left Nazareth never to return again. In Jerusalem, Crucifixion awaited her son. Helpless to do anything, she remained with her son till His very end. When His body was taken down from the cross, she gently held Him in her arms and mourned her loss.
Jesus had predicted when He was alive that He would be crucified at Jerusalem, and would be resurrected on the third day. Speaking about His body He had said, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days." The leaders responsible for his death were aware of this prophecy -- they posted a guard on the tomb where His body was buried.
It was ordered that the tomb be made as secure as possible. On the morning of Easter some of Jesus' apostles went to His tomb along with some women, but the tomb was found empty. An angel informed them that "Jesus had risen."
In His life on earth Jesus had brought some dead back to life, but His own resurrection was very different. He was not raised to return to death later -- He was resurrected in a transformed, immortal body. Coming back to life, He could appear or disappear at will, pass through solid objects or structures, and even levitate up to the heaven and float back to the earth.
Jesus Christ first appeared to Peter after His resurrection, and later to His Twelve Apostles. St. Paul recorded in his reports regarding Christ's resurrection: "After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.
" The resurrection of Jesus Christ forms the core of Christianity -- it was only after the miracle of His resurrection that Jesus' disciples resurfaced with a faith stronger than ever before and started preaching the gospel. Those who reprimanded Jesus could not deny His coming back to life. Unable to find His dead body, they could not cease the spread of Christianity.
It is believed that on the Judgment Day, Jesus Christ will raise the dead from their graves. Every person -- dead or alive -- will be judged according to their deeds on earth. The good will be given eternal life and the evil will be sent to eternal damnation. All those who believe in Jesus and His message of Salvation will be saved.
"May God give you faith to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and particularly in the fact that God raised him from the dead. May you come to know that Jesus Christ is the only Savior and there is no other." |
