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Love wins—often in “God is love” (1 :8), and is God. When Jesus used the one name reserved only for God himself: Jesus rose from the dead, the undeniable message went “Amen, amen, I say to you, before came to surprising ways. forth: love is stronger than death, , and evil. As the be, ” (:58). disciples proclaimed the , they did not lead with If Jesus’ wonderful, inspiring, and powerful life God spoke through the of old that one day, Jesus’ teaching. They could have taught from his Sermon simply ended with his crucifi xion—the Romans’ bru- God’s victory over darkness and oppression would on the Mount (Matthew tal public punishment for major criminals—then the come. Just as God rescued the 5–7) or from his discourse hope that people placed in Jesus as the divine Savior, from the slavery of the at the (John , and Son of God would have been dashed. Egyptians by parting the Red Sea, 14–16). Instead, they pro- But he has been raised! As Christians, we don’t pro- so God would rescue all peo- claimed his death and claim that “Jesus was risen.” We declare that “Jesus is ple from oppression through the resurrection. Calling risen.” He truly is our one coming of the Messiah. upon the power of the and only God who visited he has always stood at the cen- T Now, the Jewish understand- resurrection, Peter told the earth, died under the ter of Christian and proclamation. But why is it ing of this promised Messiah had the immobilized beggar, weight of the world’s , so important, and what does it mean for us? Love is stronger long been that of a warrior king “In the name of Jesus and overcame the power of who, like , would achieve Christ the Nazorean, than death, sin, sin, death, and evil by ris- The Center of peace with the sword. While [rise and] walk” (Acts ing victoriously. He is, as many started to believe that Jesus was 3:6), and instantly the beggar jumped up and began and evil. he told us, “the way and When the early Christians fi rst spread the Messiah during his lifetime, those “walking and jumping and praising God” (3:8). the truth and the life” (John the gospel—literally the “good news”— hopes were dashed when he was killed. The next day, with the healed beggar alongside 14:6) who “came so that all over the known world, there was A crucifi ed Messiah A crucifi ed Messiah is no Messiah at all. him, Peter made this statement before the high priests [we] might have life and one fact that stood as the foundation Or so it seemed. and elders: “It was in the name of Jesus Christ the have it more abundantly” (10:10). of their message: Jesus Christ is risen is no Messiah at all. Jesus’ resurrection shows us a new Nazorean whom you crucifi ed, whom God raised We can put all our trust and hope in Jesus, who leads from the dead! kind of victory and strength—one that from the dead; in his name this man stands before you us into the abundant life of God’s kingdom. Or so it seemed. runs deeper than physical strength and healed” (Acts 4:10). For I handed on to you as of fi rst worldly power. In a word, it shows us the unshakable victory of love. For importance what I also received: that Jesus really is the way, Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures; that he was buried; that he the truth, and the life. was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures. The resurrection validates everything Jesus said about —1 Corinthians 15:3-4 himself. Jesus not only taught people and healed them, but he claimed to be the Messiah—the divine Savior The resurrection of Jesus remains the core reality for humanity’s failings, who alone accomplishes the and central tenet of the Christian faith. It is the ulti- forgiveness of sin and reveals the Father to the world. mate expression of God’s love that has transformed When he would announce to someone, “Your sins everything. As St. Paul put it, “If Christ has not been are forgiven” (Mark 2:5), religious leaders understand- raised, your faith is vain” (1 Corinthians 15:17). ably objected, “Who but God alone can forgive sins?” (2:7). When questioned about his authority and identity,

Resurrection_Pamphlet.indd 2 12/18/19 12:49 PM There’s more to life. At , we receive a share in Christ’s resur- Take the next step. rected life as the comes to us and makes Why Does the When Jesus rose, he was not merely resuscitated. He us sons and daughters of God. As St. Paul says, “If ChristLife presents Why Is the Resur- rose to a glorifi ed body in which he “dies no more; death any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has rection Important?, a free video on no longer has power over him” passed away, behold, the new has come” (2 the basis of our new life and hope Resurrection (Romans 6:9). This is good news Corinthians 5:17, rsvce). This is good news! for life everlasting, available at for us all. When Jesus talked about Bit by bit, as we say yes to Jesus in our christlife.org/res. his impending death, he made a We too are promised hearts and receive him in the sacraments, we Grow in your faith through daily Matter? promise: “I go and prepare a place become more like him. For we “are being for you, . . . so that where I am you resurrection in a changed into his likeness from one degree devotions and articles from The Word also may be” (:3). We too of glory to another” (2 Corinthians 3:18, Among Us. Read free daily medita- are promised resurrection in a glo- glorifi ed body. rsvce). tions at wau.org. rifi ed body—in, with, and through Christ Jesus! The experience of eternal life and our Enjoy a personal retreat with Scripture, Our hope, then, is not merely vibrant sharing in Christ’s resurrection are commentary, and prayer exercises with found in life in the here and now, with all the good as only a word away. Jesus comes to us with his desire Getting More Out of Prayer, for indi- well as the trials we experience. What Jesus has done to fi ll us with his new life. Our task is to simply ask viduals and small groups, available at affects our lives now and forever. him for it and to receive it. bookstore.wau.org.

Nihil obstat: The Reverend Michael Morgan, J.D., J.C.L. For eternal life begins now. Censor Librorum Eternal life begins This world is not all there is. December 11, 2019 Imprimatur: +Most Reverend Felipe J. Estévez, S.T.D. here and now. Love will always win in the end, often in Bishop of St. Augustine surprising ways. December 11, 2019 God’s great promise of new life that endures forever Through Jesus, who remains forever the Copyright © 2020 ChristLife. All rights reserved. is not something we enter into only after death. The way, the truth, and the life. Published by The Word Among Us Press 7115 Guilford Drive, Suite 100 Frederick, Maryland 21704. kingdom of God is not only far away and later. Jesus 24 23 22 21 20 1 2 3 4 5 came to announce that “the kingdom of God is Jesus, I choose you as ISBN: 978-1-59325-377-6 at hand” (:15). “At hand” means in the my way, my truth, and Scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American , here and now. For our time on earth, Jesus made my life. Help me to revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the copy- a promise that was fulfi lled after his resurrection: know you more and to right owner. All rights reserved. No part of the New American Bible experience the power of may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner. “I will not leave you orphans; I will come to your resurrection. Holy Scripture quotations marked RSVCE are from The Catholic Edi- you. . . . Spirit, come and fi ll me tion of the of the Bible, copyright © 1965, with faith, hope, and 1966 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States The Advocate, the holy Spirit that the Father of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. love. Let me be a light to those who also need will send in my name—he will teach you every- the heavenly help you offer. In Jesus’ name, Amen. thing and remind you of all that [I] told you.” (John 14:18, 26)

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