HAPPY na, EASTER pa

If Jesus is the Son of God, He must be immortal. If He is immortal, then why did He die?

One of the many answers given is the “swoon theory”. Swoon theory suggests that Jesus did not die on the cross but He swooned and thought by all to be dead. This is an unacceptable explanation. Three days in the tomb is enough to make a conclusion that Jesus really died. How could He survive the scourging and the crucifixion? How could a swooning half-dead man move his tortured body or even roll the stone of the tomb? There are more questions for this answer (swoon theory).

Why do Catholics insist that Jesus died? If He is the Son of God, why die?

The answer is in John 3:16 which says, “For God so loved the world that he “gave” his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” The verb “gave” here means God gave us Jesus during His incarnation. He also gave Jesus over to death to save us. If Jesus became man during His incarnation, He has to pass death like the rest of us to be truly man. For Jesus, to die is the final act of solidarity to us man and woman. St. Paul has this to say:

“But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead came also through a human being. For just as in Adam all die, so too in Christ shall all be brought to life, but each one in proper order: Christ the firsfruits; then, at his coming, those who belong to Christ; then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to his God and Father, when he has destroyed every sovereignty and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” (1 Corinthians 15: 20-26)

Now, you know why there is a reason for us to celebrate our faith and say, “HAPPY EASTER!”