>>To those who believe have a Happy Easter as we celebrate a risen Savior.
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>>To those who don't believe, have a nice weekend.
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>Bret;
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>Here is a thought I experienced.
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>As I was in Church on Easter Sunday with my family, I asked myself a question. Why did Jesus have to die on the cross? If Jesus was the Son of God, why was it required for Him to fulfill prophecy to prove who He was? What if Jesus was not crucified on the cross and was allowed to live a “normal” life, preaching the Word of God, brotherhood, and curing the sick and lame?
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>Too bad mankind has to be convinced of the existence of the Son of God through cruelty, and fulfillment of prophecy. It would take many hours to express what I have learned, felt and feel as a Roman Catholic on this topic. I am well aware of Church Doctrine on this topic and the importance of the event of The Sacrifice on the Cross, to open the gates of Heaven for mankind. Perhaps mankind can believe only in cruelty. Love is a sign of weakness and should be crushed.
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>Tom

Tom I am sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you on this, but I have been in the middle of an office move this week. I also wanted to take time to ensure that my answer will help you to understand what Christ did.

First I need you to read a passage in the bible. Read Hebrews 9:16-22. I read using the New International Version as the format is better for understanding than the King James version. This passage deals with will/covenant that Christ brought. It lets us know that the death of Christ was necessary for the new covenant to be initiated. Please ponder the passage well, wrestle with it until you feel you understand what the write is trying to say.

You see Tom, Jesus came for two reasons: Revelation & Redemption. That is, he came to reveal God to us so that "if you have seen me (Jesus), you have seen the Father." But he also came for the purpose of redemption, a sacrifice for our sins. It seems as though you ar mistakenly combining the two. You are looking at the redemption part of Chirst's mission as being synonymous with the revelation part. For clarity, the cross was not to prove who Jesus was (the miracles He performed did that), instead, it was to redeem... period! Your statement 'Too bad mankind has to be convinced of the existence of the Son of God through cruelty and fullfillment of prophecy" confers the wrong part of his mission on the cross. Again, the cross was not to prove or convince people who Jesus was, it was for the sole purpose of providing the necessary sacrifice for sins, for "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness" Hebrews 9:22.

Finally Tom I see something deeper in your question to me. Your statement "Perhaps mankind can only believe in cruelty." While that statement is true (since there is nothing true or noble within us apart from Christ), it revelas a hidden hurt in you somewhere. I would be interested to hear more about your statement "It would take many hours to express what I have learned, felt and feel as a Roman Catholic on this topic". If you want to email me on the side from the address above feel free. I will do my best to respond as quickly as possible, but if I do not then it is only because I need help in answering the question myself (as I did here). I beleive in counseling with others of my faith to wrestle down issues that you and others do bring to the table.

I have said a prayer for you and I Tom on this issue, and hope this answer will help you understand Christ better. I know the question has helped me.