Resurrection Questions

[HomeTeamFamily]

Pham, I was hoping to get some links or direction to some resources that explain the following regarding Jesus' death and resurrection:

1. Why did Jesus need to be resurrected in order to save us from our sins?

2. How does the act of Jesus being resurrected achieve this end?

3. In the Apostles' Creed we say, "He descended into hell....." Why did this need to occur? What evidence is there that this actually occurred?

I know these questions are probably pretty basic but I find myself, especially in this Easter season and approaching this holiday that is supposed to be so joyous, struggling to truly understand the reason that there is so much joy.

I apologize in advance if I come across as cynical in my questioning to any of your responses, it comes from a place that really wants to understand, not belittle.

Thanks in advance pham! God bless

ps....I've already scoured the re:sources section and did not see anything obviously on this topic so if there is something, by all means link it.

[MissScripture]

This is in regards to # 3. It is from the defense directory. It was listed under End Times and Last Things in the subcategory of Hell. (I only know this because I transferred that section from the old directory, or I would've had no idea about it, to be honest. lol)
[url="http://www.cin.org/users/james/questions/q103.htm"]http://www.cin.org/users/james/questions/q103.htm[/url]

This link (From the subcategory The Resurrection of the Body) might address #1 & 2, but maybe not as helpful as the link for #3.

Hope those help.

[BarbTherese]

[quote name='HomeTeamFamily' timestamp='1333253448' post='2411378']
Pham, I was hoping to get some links or direction to some resources that explain the following regarding Jesus' death and resurrection:

1. Why did Jesus need to be resurrected in order to save us from our sins?

2. How does the act of Jesus being resurrected achieve this end?

3. In the Apostles' Creed we say, "He descended into hell....." Why did this need to occur? What evidence is there that this actually occurred?

I know these questions are probably pretty basic but I find myself, especially in this Easter season and approaching this holiday that is supposed to be so joyous, struggling to truly understand the reason that there is so much joy.

I apologize in advance if I come across as cynical in my questioning to any of your responses, it comes from a place that really wants to understand, not belittle.

Thanks in advance pham! God bless

ps....I've already scoured the re:sources section and did not see anything obviously on this topic so if there is something, by all means link it.
[/quote]

Perhaps this from EWTN may be helpful:


[font=Arial][size=4]CHRIST ROSE FROM THE DEAD: THE RESURRECTION[/size][/font]
[font=Arial][url="http://www.ewtn.com/faith/teachings/resusum.htm"]Summary[/url][/font]
[font=Arial][size=4]Catholic Teaching[/size] [/font] [list]
[*][font=Arial][url="http://www.ewtn.com/faith/teachings/resua1.htm"]Christ's Descent Into Hell and His Resurrection[/url] [/font]
[list]
[*][font=Arial][url="http://www.ewtn.com/faith/teachings/resua1a.htm"]Q&A on the Resurrection[/url][/font]
[/list] [*][font=Arial][url="http://www.ewtn.com/faith/teachings/resua2.htm"]Necessity and Purpose of the Resurrection[/url] [/font]
[/list]
[font=Arial][size=4]Reflections[/size] [/font] [list]
[*][font=Arial][url="http://www.ewtn.com/faith/teachings/resub1.htm"]St. John Chrysostom: Easter Homily[/url] [/font]
[*][font=Arial][url="http://www.ewtn.com/faith/teachings/resub2.htm"]Pope John Paul II: Christ's Resurrection Was a Concrete Event[/url] [/font]
[*][font=Arial][url="http://www.ewtn.com/faith/teachings/resub3.htm"]Fr. McHugh: If Christ Be Not Raised...[/url] [/font]
[*][font=Arial][url="http://www.ewtn.com/faith/teachings/resub4.htm"]Dom Marmion: The Risen Christ[/url][/font]
[/list]

The above can be found here: [url="http://www.ewtn.com/faith/teachings/JESUMENU.HTM#PARA3"]http://www.ewtn.com/...UMENU.HTM#PARA3[/url] - plus many more subjects on the Incarnation of Jesus.

[LouisvilleFan]

Always good to think on these things... though I'm not real sure where to start Since the Catechism addresses these questions, maybe we should [url="http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p122a5p1.htm"]start there[/url]. Infinitely more could be written than the several paragraphs that cover Jesus' descent into hell and the Resurrection, but is there a particular point that you're for more clarification?

In my own words, I have to think we could not believe Jesus conquered death unless he rose from the dead. He must get the last Word. Elijah also escaped death, Lazarus rose from the dead, and Mary never sinned, but Jesus is the only God-Man. And just to state the obvious: Elijah, Lazarus, and Mary did nothing without Christ.

How? I'd say that goes back to the Incarnation: Jesus is fully God and fully man. Redemption is impossible without communion, without being physically and spiritually bound with God. So Jesus in his divinity offers the perfect sacrifice of his humanity. It's all very poetic.

Evidence? The Creed isn't enough? j/k It's also alluded to in 1 Peter 4:6 about Jesus preaching to the dead. I liked to say Jesus went to hell and back to save us. Of course, there is a bit of clarification needed in that the "hell" referred to in the Gospels is not the eternal damnation of those who die without grace. I suppose God cannot go there if He is perfectly just. But he went to deliver those who were awaiting the Savior.