Frequently Asked Questions About the Passion of the Christ

What is the Passion of the Christ?

Jesus Christ suffered, died, and was buried.

Who do Christians believe Jesus Christ is?

Jesus Christ is Lord and God. He is the only begotten Son of God the Father. Jesus is truly God and truly man.

What did Jesus Christ do?

Jesus Christ is God. He is eternal in his divine nature.

In his human nature, Jesus Christ was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

He lived quietly in Nazareth for about 30 years before beginning his public ministry.
He taught, healed, and performed other miracles.
He selected 12 men to be his apostles.
Near Passover in one year, he was arrested, tried, and sentenced to die on the cross.
He was crucified bewteen two thieves.
He rose from dead, appeared to the apostles and others,
He lived on earth for 40 days and then ascended to heaven to the Father.

What will Jesus do?

He will return again to judge both the living and the dead.

Why did Christ die?

Christ died to offer up his life to the father for the forgivness of sins.

If Jesus is God, why did he choose to become man and die for us?

God's love for us in infinite. We can't completely understand why. Such truths revealed by God which we do not understand are called the mysteries of faith.

St. Paul wrote that Christ crucified was "unto the Jews indeed a stumbling-block, and unto the Gentiles foolishness" (1 Cor 1:23)

Did Jesus did for all of us or only some of us?

Jesus died for all.

Why is the death of Jesus called a "Redemption"?

Sin is the free choice of humans to turn against God. We sin not only against God, but the harm to others and to ourselves is also a sin. Sin has a hold on us such that we are it hostage. Jesus has paid the price for our release by his death. He has taken the burden of our sins on ourselves.

Are there any other Saviors?

"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4.12)

What does Jesus want from me?

To believe in God.
To love God and love others.
To repent.
To be baptized and belong to his Church.

What's the difference between Christian and Catholic?

Christians believe in the unique divinity of Jesus Christ. This means a belief in one God in three persons, the Father, the Son (who is Jesus Christ), and Holy Spirit, and a belief in Jesus Christ being true God and true man. (Trinity and Incarnation).

The largest groups of Christians are Catholics, the Orthodox, and the Protestants.

Catholics are united in being in communion with the bishops of the Catholic Church and the Bishop of Rome who is the Pope. Catholics share a unity of belief, liturgy, and governance.

Who do Christians believe is responsible for the death of Christ?

All of humanity, each person, past, present, and future is responsible for the death of Christ. This is because we all sin.

Who among those present in Jerusalem at the time of his crucifixion are responsible?

As the Gospels report, the some of the ruling party of Jews in Jerusalem sought to put Jesus to death but lacked the authority to do so as Judea was directly ruled by Rome. Jesus was condemned to die by Pontius Pilate. The prayer of the Church since the 4th century states "He suffered under Pontius Pilate" who was the Roman provincal governor appointed by Tiberius Caesar.

The larger kingdom of Herod the Great was divided with one of his sons, Herod Antipas, given an area that included Galilee. Jesus, Herod Antipas, and Pilate are all mentioned in the Gospel accounts as being in Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover.