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Prepared by: Richard G.

Pazcoguin UST Institute of Religion

Hinduism teaches reincarnation the soul reincarnates countless times until it actually becomes god.

Buddhists believes in reincarnation as well. The cycle of repeated lives end in nirvana, a state in which the individual ego no longer exists.
American Indians believe that the death returned to life in the form of animals. Many Filipinos believe that the souls of the dead roam around, visiting relatives and friends, until they finally decide to enter the light.

STAGE 1 No belief in life after death at all. The death of the body is the death of the person. Bodiless existence is totally inconceivable.

STAGE 2 The Jews began to believe in a place called Sheol, the realm of the dead, which itself was also a state of non-existence, for those in it are oblivious of their existence.
STAGE 3 Realizing the great love of Yahweh for Israel which not even death can end, Israel began believing in life after death as a communal hope that Yahweh will save Israel from death. STAGE 4 Some of the Jews began to believe in the resurrection of the Body at the coming of the Messianic age.

Going through the teachings of Jesus Christ on life after deat as found in the Gospels, we learn that: There is definitely life after death, and Jesus presented himself as the source of this life. There is reward for the good and punishment for the evil. Real death is not biological death but eternal separation from God. Jesus predicted his own resurrection, that after being killed by his enemies, he will rise again.

THE EMPTY TOMB Jesus Christ PHYSICALLY rose from the dead. There are some who believe that Christ did not actually rise from the dead, that the resurrection simply means that his spirit lives on. This is totally unaccptable. The empty tomb is a concrete physical testimony of a physical event that we call RESURRECTION. IF CHRIST WAS NOT RAISED FROM THE DEAD, OUR FAITH IS IN VAIN, AND THE TEACHINGS WE RECEIVED ARE EMPTY.

The Gospel Accounts testifies to the fact of a physical resurrection: Christ was seen by his disciples. He was able to speak. He ate food,and even cooked some and served it to his friends. He invited Thomas to touch his wonds. This resurrected body of Christ, however,w as a glorified body, a spiritual body. He appeared and vanished from sight even through locked doors. He willfully changed his appearance so that he will not be recognized until he desired to be known.

The Gospels present a record of the appearances of Jesus to his disciples after the resurrection. He appeared to Mary Magdalene He appeared to the disciples in the locked room He appeared to the disciples walking to Emmaus He appeared to his disciples at the shores of Tiberias He appeared to his disciples before he ascended into heaven. The greatest witness given by the disciples to the truth fo the resurrection was their courageous giving up of their very lives for the sake of their faith in the resurrection. If Christ had not truly risen, they would have renounced the faith.

Just as Christ rose from the death, so will all those who believe in him, whom he redeemed with his blood. With his resurrection, Christ forever defeated death. While we all shall die, death shall not terminate our existence. As Christ died, so will we die. As Christ resurrected from the dead, so will we rise again. The resurrection illustrates what will happen to those who love and follow Christ we will be glorified like him and with him enjoy the everlasting bliss of union with God.

Before he ascended into heaven, Jesus commanded his disciples to make more disciples, baptize them, and instruct them in the faith. He also promised that he will be with us until the end of time, and that he will be back. The ascension marks a new stage in Jesus salvific mission. By leaving us, he made himself more accessible. His presence is no loner confined in Israel, he is now fully alive and active in the community of those who acclaim him as Lord, his mystical body, the Church.

James Finley and Michael Pennock

JESUS AND YOU: DISCOVERING THE REAL CHRIST


Ind.: Ave Maria Press, 1977

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