Christianity 12 markers

Seite 1

"The crucifixion is more important to Christians than the resurrection."

For:

Without the crucifixion, there would be no resurrection

The crucifixion atoned for mankind's sins, meaning that we can enter into God's presence

"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

Against:

Without the resurrection, there is no triumph over death: Jesus didn't just take our sins upon himself, he defeated sin and death itself

The resurrection demonstrates God's omnipotence and proves that Jesus was who truly God the Son

The crucial claim of the Christian faith, without which Christianity falls apart

"If Christ has not been raised, your faith is useless and you're still in your sins...But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead!"

Answer:

On the one hand, many would agree with this statement and there are denominations of Christianity who believe that the story of Jesus ended with the crucifixion. The crucifixion is undoubtedly important to Christians as without the crucifixion, there can be no resurrection. Jesus can't rise from the dead without first dying. The crucifixion also highlights God's unconditional agape love for His people. In the Gospel of John, we are told that "God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish" because Jesus will have paid the price on the cross for humanity's sin. The cross is the ultimate symbol of God's perfect love because it was there that Jesus was wrenched from the Father's arms and had to endure separation from God - far worse than the physical pain of the crucifixion. The crucifixion also gives Christians comfort because they know that God has suffered before them and understands our pain.

On the other hand, the resurrection demonstrates God's omnipotence. While the cross was the ultimate display of love, the resurrection was the ultimate display of power. As it is written, "the same power that raised Christ from the dead" is living in us. This gives Christians faith that God power is ultimate and divine and that we have that same resurrecting power. Christians believe in the power of God to spiritually resurrect us, even while we are alive. Due to the resurrection, Christians also believe in God's power to physically resurrect the dead today and there have been many stories of Him doing so.

However, it was during the crucifixion that Jesus took our sins upon Himself. Jesus' atonement for our sins means that we can enter into the presence of God if we choose to accept His sacrifice for us. Jesus' death on the cross was the fulfilment of ancient Jewish traditions of the Day of Atonement when two goats were taken: one was sacrificed and the other - the 'scapegoat' - was banished. Jesus took on both roles as He sacrificed Himself and faced rejection both from society and from the Father. Jesus was the only person who could do this as He was fully human and so able to stand as their ambassador but also fully God and therefore able to bear the weight of millennia of sins. Many still question the crucifixion's importance, understanding that Jesus bore the world's sins but not truly realising its significance. Not only does this save the entire human race from certain damnation - giving humans their own choice - but also allows humans to enter into the presence of the Lord. It is not possible for a sinful being to be in God's presence; even Jesus, bearing our sin, was unable to be with God on the cross. He cries out "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Such is the pain of separation from God that Jesus could only cry out in despair.

Having said that, the crucifixion without the resurrection may seem meaningless. If Christ "descended to the dead" but did not rise again then, as St. Paul writes to the Corinthians, "your faith is useless and you're still in your sins." Without the resurrection then won and Satan has conquered. There is no victory. "But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead" continues St. Paul. That is why the first four books of the New Testament are called the 'Gospels' - they are good news. The cross atoned for sin, but the resurrection defeated it and therefore most Christians would say that the resurrection is the paramount claim of Christianity and the most important.

In conclusion, the strongest argument is the last as God's love is more important than His power, but both meet in the resurrection where, out of love, God demonstrates His power in the ultimate victory over death. However, there is no resurrection without the crucifixion: both are essential to the Christian faith. Therefore, I personally see both as crucial, though the resurrection is slightly more important - though even that is not the end of the story: Christians also claim that Jesus is still alive today and active in our world through the Holy Spirit.