How many times did Jesus predict His death?
Jesus’ death was the final sacrifice that paid the debt of sin for all (Hebrews 9:28). His death was the ultimate purpose of His ministry. In fact, Jesus predicted His death at least three times in the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), and the book of John offers even more predictions. The first time…
Why does it matter that Jesus rose from the dead?
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is one of the foundations upon which Christianity is built (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). The virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18, 25; Luke 1:27), the deity of Christ (1 John 4:15, 5:5; John 10:30), Jesus’ atonement for sin (Romans 5:10–11; 2 Corinthians 5:21), and His crucifixion are non-negotiable truths, without which…
What is the importance of the empty tomb?
From the earliest apostolic period, the reality of the empty tomb—the biblical truth that the tomb of Jesus of Nazareth was found empty by His disciples—has been at the center of the Christian proclamation. All four Gospels describe, to varying degrees, the circumstances surrounding the discovery of the empty tomb (Matthew 28:1–6; Mark 16:1–7; Luke…
Who was responsible for Christ’s death?
The answer to this question has many facets. First, there is no doubt the religious leaders of Israel were responsible for Jesus’ death. Matthew 26:3–4 tells us that “the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and they schemed to arrest Jesus…
What does it mean that Jesus rose “again”?
In a few Bible verses, such as 2 Corinthians 5:15 and 1 Thessalonians 4:14 (depending on the translation), and many of the popular and ancient creeds, such as the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed, the phrase rose again is used in reference to Jesus’ resurrection. As a result, rose again has become commonly used…
What are the Stations of the Cross and what can we learn from them?
The Stations of the Cross, also known as the Via Dolorosa, is a narration of the final hours in the life of Jesus Christ on earth that continues to provide spiritual conviction for every Christian and application to our lives. The Stations of the Cross serve as a stark reminder of the humble manner in…
Who killed Jesus?
Who killed Jesus? Who is responsible for Christ’s death? Is it the Jews who condemned Jesus for blasphemy and had Him arrested? Or was it the Romans who physically tortured and crucified Him? What about God the Father or all of sinful humanity? The answer to this question is multi-faceted and involves more than just…
What is the harrowing of hell?
According to the Gospels, Jesus Christ was crucified and rose from the dead after three days. For centuries, Christians have debated what Jesus did and where He went between His crucifixion and resurrection. One belief, held mostly in Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy, is that He descended into the realm of the dead to free…
Does Jesus have a physical body in heaven?
The physical, bodily resurrection of Jesus is foundational to Christian doctrine and our hope of heaven. Because Jesus rose from the dead with a physical body, every Christian has the guarantee of his own bodily resurrection (John 5:21, 28; Romans 8:23). Now Jesus is in heaven, where He is pictured as sitting in a place…
Was Jesus crucified on a cross, pole, or stake?
The cross is arguably the most beloved symbol in all of Christianity. It adorns our churches and cathedrals, our jewelry, our books and music, and is used in numerous marketing logos. The empty cross symbolizes the work performed there by our Savior who went to death willingly to pay the penalty for our sins. Among…