THE PASCHAL MYSTERY OF JESUS

Public Ministry of Jesus

Throughout the ministry of Jesus, most of the time, he met many oppositions and even
rejections from his people.
In particular, from the religious leaders: Priests, Pharisees, Scribes, Sadducees.
Eg. (Mk 3:6 ) “The Pharisees went out to immediately took counsel with Herodians against
him to put him to death.”

A. Jesus in relationship to the Law

The Jewish leaders interpreted the law given by God to Moses: Decalogue into 613 laws.
248 (THOU SHALL) & 365 (THOU SHALL NOT)
All Jewish people cannot observe these laws perfectly, that is why, every year, in the day of
atonement, they ask God’s forgiveness for their transgression of the Law.
Here comes, Jesus claim “that he come not to abolish the law but to fulfill it.” (Mt. 5:17-19)

Jesus implies that he is in fact the only one who could keep the law perfectly.
That is why, many viewed him as a RABBI (teacher): Who taught with authority by using the
phrase, “I say unto you!” “Truly I tell you!” Unlike the scribes, who always quote from the
teachers of Old.

For this reason, Jesus appeared to the Jewish leaders that he is making his own
interpretation of the Law.
He became a sign of contradiction
He do it by teaching the dietary law,
By forgiving sins
By healing on the Sabbath
By sharing familiarity with tax collectors and sinners

B. Jesus in relationship to the temple:

For the Jews: the Temple is the concrete presence of God among them. (feast)

That is why for Jesus, the temple is very important to him since it is where he was presented
and it his Father’s house.
Holy Anger: for the Jews made it as a den of iniquity, and marketplace (Mt. 21:12-1)

(Jn. 2:19)
“What sign can You show us to prove Your authority to do these things?” 
19Jesus answered, “Destroy this  temple,and in three days I will raise it up again.” 20“This
temple took forty-six years to build,” the Jews replied, “and You are going to raise it up in three
days?”
Thus, many of Jesus’ deeds and words constituted a sign of contradiction:

Which eventually, lead him to be accused of BLASPHEMY, FALSE PROPHECY, and

RELIGIOUS CRIMES , in which by virtue of the Law is punishable by death.
Article 4: He suffered under pontius pilate, was crucified, died and was buried

A. Meaning of the Cross

The whole earthly life of Christ came to its climax in his Paschal Mystery, his suffering,
death and resurrection (CCC 517, PCP II 55, 85, 413)
In antiquity, crucifixion was the most shameful and horrible method of execution for the
criminals. In secular sense, the cross was the means of the most painful and degrading
death.
In Jesus’ crucifixion, the cross connotes positively especially for Christians. It becomes
the symbol of God’s universal saving love. Throughout life, we are blessed with this sign ,
and sign ourselves with it in prayer.

Note: It is not the very suffering and death of Jesus Christ that saves us. (for this makes his
tortures and executioners our savior)

B. Characteristics of Jesus’ suffering and death

Redemptive: That his free and loving act of allowing himself to be crucified and died on the
cross is always oriented to his mission, ie. for the salvation of all.

(Mk. 10:45)
“the son of man has not come to be served but to serve...to give his life in ransom for many”
(Jn. 19:36)
“Christ is the new paschal lamb, sacrificed to redeem the people”

C. Profound effects of Christ’s death

Eschatological: Jesus died so that those who follow Him will receive eternal life in the age
to come. (Mk 10:30)
Empowering: Jesus died so that all our action have saving power. He wants us to share in
his redemptive works.
Universal: Jesus died not only for our sins alone, but for those of the whole world (1 Jn 2:2)

(2 Cor 5:14-15) St. Paul proclaims:

“He indeed died for all, so that those who live might no longer love for themselves but
for him who for their sakes died and was raised up”

Christ’s cross on Calvary stands as a symbol of his universal redeeming love.

The horizontal bar stretches Christ’s arms to embrace the whole world of human suffering.
The vertical column points him toward his heavenly Father, beyond the bound of time and
space.
D. Summary of the New Testament Theology of Salvation (4 Truths)
1. Jesus Christ is the savior of the world; there is no salvation apart from Jesus.
2. Through his suffering and death, he won for us sinners
“Objective Redemption”: that is, reconciled all with the Father.
3. He did this in loving obedience to his Father’s will and love for us.
4. Finally, he calls us to personal repentance for our sins and a life of loving service,
that is “Subjective Redemption”.
Article 5: He descended into the hell. The third day he rose again from the dead

Meaning of Christ descended to the dead

It means that Christ really and fully entered into the human experience of death. It
implies the universality of his salvific ministry: which extends to all who have died before him
and that he is truly the savior of all.
Meaning of resurrection
Resurrection was basically Jesus’ passage from death to new, definitive glorified
life. Christ rising from the dead was the real starting point and foundation for the beginning
of Christian faith. Simply, without Christ risen from the dead, there would be no Christian
faith.

(1Cor. 15:14)
“If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.”

Note: Christ resurrection did not mean a return to earthly life. Christ chose to entirely new
glorified existence.

Salvific Importance of Resurrection

1. His resurrection confirmed everything Christ had done and taught. (Mk 8:31; Jn 8:28)
2. Through his resurrection, Christ fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies promising a savior
for all the world. (Ps 110; Dn 7:14)
3. The Resurrection confirmed the Divinity of Jesus. (Rm 1:4; Jn 20:28)
4. Resurrection brought us a share in the new life (Rm 6:8)

Article 6: He descended into heaven and seated at the right hand of the Father

What does it mean to say that Jesus ascended into Heaven?

It simply means that Jesus is no longer visible on earth yet is still present.
A. It marks Jesus’ Exaltation into Heavenly realm of his Father.
B. He is not separated from us because as He promised, from heaven “he draws everyone to
himself” (Jn 13:32) and since he lives forever to make intercession, he might now appear
before God on our behalf (Hb. 7:25).

Article 7: From then He will come again and judge the living and the dead

The traditional term for the second coming of Christ as divine Judge is: PAROUSIA.
Parousia is an ancient Greek word which means “coming” or “presence”

(Mt. 16:27-28)
“The Son of Man will come with his Father’s glory accompanied by his angels. When he
does, he will repay each man according to his conduct”

Regarding on when the PAROUSIA will take place,

The Gospel is very clear: (Mt 24:36)
“As for the exact day or hour, NO ONE KNOWS IT, neither the angels in heaven nor the son,
but the Father only.”
As (1 Thes 5:2) says, becuase it will come unexpectedly, “like a thief at night”