Resurrection of Jesus & Salvation (AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062))

The Incarnation of Jesus

The Incarnation of Jesus

• Christians believe that the Virgin Mary had a miraculous baby

  • The bible says that an angel told Mary she would have a son and that

• ‘He (Jesus) was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and was man made’ (Niceen Creed)

• Christians refer to Jesus as the Christ, which means anointed one, which in turn is a translation of the word Messiah

• Central to Christians belief in Salvation is that Jesus Christ, the second person of the Holy Trinity is the Son of God and is also God incarnate

• The incarnation is the act when God becomes a human being as Jesus Christ

• Christians believe that Jesus was both fully God and fully man (divine and human)

• The bible describes how God ‘appeared in the flesh’ (Timothy 3: 16)

• The birth, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus are central to the Christian belief in Salvation

• Christians believe that when God came to earth in human form he was showing that he loves the world and everyone in it

• Christians use the life and teachings of Jesus as an example of how they should live

The Crucifixion of Jesus

The Crucifixion of Jesus

• Before his death, Jesus and his disciples had a Passover meal in Jerusalem. This is known as the Last Supper

• During the meal Jesus gave bread (representing his body) and wine (representing his blood) to his disciples

• Jesus told the disciples to

• Jesus was sentenced to be crucified in Golgotha for blasphemy

• Many people were present during the crucifixion

• Jesus declared whilst dying on the cross that he forgave those who had put him there.

• When Jesus was suffering he shouted

What the Crucifixion means to Christians

• Christians believe that because of the crucifixion God understands suffering

• Jesus forgiving those who were crucifying shows Christians that they should forgive everyone no matter what has been done to them

• There is the belief that Jesus had to die to fulfill God’s commands for him

• Without Jesus’ death, human beings could not be reunited with God and could not enter heaven

• Human beings had strayed from God’s ways, separating themselves from Him. Jesus’ sacrificial death would atone that separation

• Many Christians remember this event through the Eucharist service

The Resurrection of Jesus & Ascension

The Resurrection of Jesus

• After Jesus was crucified he was put in a tomb. Christians believe that the tomb was then empty because Jesus was resurrected

• Two women saw Jesus and he told them

• Mark 16:1-8 says that when the three women, Mary Magdalene, the other Mary and Salome, went to visit the tomb, they saw the stone already rolled away

• John 20:1-14 says that Mary Magdalene must have returned to the tomb, because she looked inside and saw two angels, then saw Jesus standing outside next to her

• During the following 40 days many of Jesus’ disciples say they met him alive in Jerusalem

• There they found the Eleven (disciples) and those with them, assembled together and saying

What the Resurrection means to Christians

• The resurrection can mean different things for different Christians

  • Literalist Christians believe the bible account should be taken literally that Jesus came back to life in bodily form

  • Liberal Christians believe that the resurrection was spiritual and not physical meaning that Jesus was not brought back to life in a physical form

• The resurrection is important because it shows there is life after death

• Christians believe that by accepting Jesus, they can also be resurrected in some way. They need not fear death

• Jesus’ resurrection assures Christians that God will forgive their sins if they follow the teachings of Christianity. By doing so they will become closer to God

• The resurrection shows how powerful God is and gives Christians strength

• It offers further proof that Jesus is the Son of God and strengthens faith for Christians

• Christians believe that the resurrection shows the power of good over evil
  
  

The Ascension of Jesus 

• Jesus tells his disciples that he will ‘prepare a place’ for them in heaven (John 14: 2)

• Christians believe that after 40 days Jesus ascended to heaven

• The bible says that Jesus was now

• The Apostles' Creed , Nicene Creed, and Athanasian Creed all confess that Christ ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father

• The Creeds remain important to Christians today as confirmation of the humanity and divinity of Jesus and the authority of God as Three Persons (Holy Trinity)

What the Ascension means to Christians

• Christians believe that the ascension shows the power of Jesus, the Son of God as part of the Holy Trinity

• The Ascension is important to Christians as it offers proof that Jesus not only overcame death but that he is alive and with God the Father in heaven

• The crucifixion, resurrection and ascension show Christians that Jesus is both fully human and divine