Atheists and doubters accused Christians of inventing the Resurrection, copying ancient mythologies of dead heroes or gods. But the Resurrection of Jesus is a historical event so dramatically different that is cannot be compared to anything that came before or since.
Some arguments raised against the Resurrection of Christ seem plausible at first, but actually they are illogical. Meanwhile, the followers of a modern rabbi insist that he is the promised Messiah, not Jesus. But how well does he compare to Jesus of Nazareth?
The women disciples discover that the tomb is empty. They are told that Christ is risen. The morning is marked by fear and confusion at this unexpected turn of events, wonder at the angelic message, and joy upon meeting the Risen Lord.
Myrrh, aloes, nard, spices...Exactly what are these substances that are mentioned so frequently in the Bible? Where did they come from? How and why were they used? Why did the female followers of Jesus return to the tomb on Sunday, and was the Lord's mother among them?
What do we know about the women who followed Christ? They were present for the burial, but later discovered the empty tomb. Were they merely admirers with no significant role in his ministry, except for his burial? What substances did they bring to the tomb and why?
The gospels include a few details regarding the location of the tomb of Jesus. One site has been venerated by pilgrims for literally hundreds of years, but does any historical or scientific evidence support that location as the actual burial place of Christ?
Fr. Costas joins us this week as we take a look at the Centurion's statement, Joseph of Arimathea, the burial of Jesus in Matthew's gospel, and more discussion about the soul after death and Christ in Hades.
Christ's powerful death unleashes incredible signs of his divinity, such as the tearing of the Temple curtain, an earthquake, and the raising of people long dead. Jewish authors from the early Church era reported strange omens about the Temple's fate. What does it all mean?
After he died on the cross, Christ went to Hades. This was well known in the early Church and remains important in Orthodoxy. But why? Is Hades the same as Hell? Exactly what did Christ accomplish in Hades and why was it necessary?
What do you really know about the crucifixion of Christ? Was he in despair on the cross? Why was he offered wine and later vinegar? Why did soldiers gamble for his clothes? What was the medical cause of death by crucifixion?
The mocking of the Lord is something we can all relate to, but in Christ's case additional cruelty was intentionally added to the already humiliating and excruciating crucifixion process. Why do the Scriptures say that Christ "become sin" for us or "become a curse" for us?
Determined to put Jesus to death, the Jewish leaders take him to Pilate who seems reluctant to condemn him. Is that historically accurate? Judas throwing the money into the Temple was a legal maneuver to reverse the conviction. How? Join us for the details!
The Jewish Trial of Christ presents many questions: Who was there and why did they have authority? Was the trial valid or violate Jewish law? Why did Jesus speak after first remaining silent? On what charge does the trial begin, then on what charge is he finally convicted?
As the Lord waited for his betrayer to arrive He spent agonizing hours in prayer. Was Jesus afraid to die and what does it mean if He was? Judas betrayed the Lord with a kiss, but what kind of kiss? Why was identification even necessary? Lots more questions! Great answers!
The events of the Last Supper raise many questions: when it occurred, the type of bread used, the announcement of betrayal, whether Judas received communion and why Christ didn't identify Judas as the traitor. All these and more will be answered!
The Passion narrative begins with the betrayal by Judas, who remains an enigmatic figure in history. What do we know about him and what motivated him to deny Christ? We will also discuss the anointing of Christ by a mysterious unnamed woman. Why is this event significant?
The Last Judgment is among the most stark and thought provoking passages in the Bible. We are forced to ponder how we will fare on that day when we stand before Christ and are judged. On what basis will we be judged? What lessons should we learn from this gospel passage?
The Lord continues the eschatological discourse by warning us with two striking parables: the parable of the ten virgins and the parable of the talents. Both warn us to prepare for the end times and our judgment. Exactly when we will face these events is unknown to us. Are you prepared?
The disciples question the Lord about the end times in Matthew 24. He reveals many details about the near future and the Second Coming. This chapter also contains a passage often used to promote "the rapture," but is that interpretation correct or just wishful thinking?
After numerous attempts by the scribes and Pharisees to trap him and destroy him, the Lord finally unleashed a torrent of blistering attacks against the religious leaders of his time, exposing their corruption and hypocrisy with the most vivid descriptions.
Religious leaders in Jerusalem are determined to put Jesus to death, but they need a reason to report him to the Romans. A trap is set for him, followed by other questions and challenges, but Jesus responds brilliantly and stumps them with his own question.
This striking parable stands as a stark warning to ignoring the repeated invitations to attend a banquet offered by a king who represents God. The parable reverberates in Orthodoxy with many images and references, including entering the banquet without a wedding garment.
Some titles for the expected Messiah seem strange to us, such as "Everlasting Father" or "Angel of Great Council." But the Fathers of the Church understood their great significance and will explain them to us as we conclude this short series on the Messianic prophecies.
Continuing our study of Old Testament prophecies about the birth of Christ, we will see how the prophets clearly foretold not only the birth of a human Messiah, but something much more extraordinary: that the Messiah would also be God Himself.
In this special lesson, we will look at how the ancient Church interpreted Old Testament prophecies that foretold the birth of the Savior. How could anyone know that Jesus was the Messiah? The prophecies were key: they prepared the Jews by telling them what to look for.
The Lord cites a prophecy that was being fulfilled at that very moment: the Jewish leaders were rejecting their Messiah. The early Church remembered this important prophecy, but its significance was greater than mere fulfillment: It signified Christ's divinity as well.
The Lord's pointed criticism of the religious leaders of Israel continues. He enrages his opponents with another devastating critique in the form of a parable. He foretells his own death at their hands and that the "vineyard" entrusted to them will be given to others.
The Lord has cleansed the Temple and now is confronted by the Jewish leaders about the source of his authority to perform such an act. They attempt to trap him but he responds by revealing their hypocrisy and trapping them with the snares that they set for him.
This story from the last week of Christ's life puzzles many people. Why would Jesus curse a tree? But Christ's actions have deep, symbolic, and prophetic meaning. The sometimes elusive Fr. Costas will join us to talk about the meaning of Christ's act.
We say that Jesus "cleansed" the Temple, but how? What did his actions even mean? Why did he cause such a disturbance? Did he lose his temper or were his actions a symbolic commentary on the purpose, function, and attitude toward the Temple by his contemporaries?
