Quintessence of Religious Doctrines - Malankarasyriac Voice

17On the Son3334Quintessence of Religious DoctrinesChristian should make such a distinction between the livingand the dead because according to Christian Ecclesiologythe mystical body of Jesus that is the Ecclesia or the Churchcomprises of both the dead and the living.9. After his resurrection,Ref: (a) Acts 2:32. God has raised this very Jesus from deathand we are all witnesses to this fact (G.N.B.)(b) Lk. 24:39. Look at my hands and my feet and seethat it is myself. Feel me, and you will know, for aghost doesn’t have flesh and bones as you can seeI have. (G.N.B.)CommentHe was resurrected in fulfilment of His own utterances andthose of the prophets of antiquity. So the role of His own willin resurrection cannot be marginalised as heretics like theNavadians would say.10. On the fortieth day, he ascended to the heavens in the high andsat at the right hand side of his father.Ref: Lk. 24:51. As he was blessing them he departed from themand was taken up into heaven (G.N.B.)CommentJesus ascended to Heaven on the fortieth day. Unlike in thecase of Enoch or Elijah no external media are found in thisepisode. It happened as per the will of the Godhead. That isall. Right side signifies the virtuous or noble portion. Theascension marks the culmination of the earthly mission ofJesus. Before this event, Jesus gave instructions, besidesthe one He had already given to St. Peter, with regard to theEcclesial mission of the Apostles.11. The fact that he became man does not in anyway imply that Hemerely indwelt in an upright man born of a woman. It rathersignifies that he who is verily God became really human not bycopulation but by the Holy Spirit and of the virgin.Ref.: (a) Heb. 2:16. For it is clear that it is not the angels thathe helps; instead as the scripture says “He helpsthe descendants of Abraham.” (G.N.B.)(b) Jn. 1:14. The word became a human being full ofgrace and truth, lived among us (G.N.B.)(c) Is. 7:14. But the Lord will still give you proof. Avirgin is pregnant; she will have a son and will namehim Immanuel. (L.B.)CommentHis incarnation as man is not a mere indwelling of God, theWord, in a just person. If so, it could, at best, be a case ofpossession. Jesus or the Word on the other hand becameman in reality, by the flesh that he received from the Virginand through the Holy Spirit.12. In this process of the Son becoming man, His divine hypostasisor nature did not change into that of human. Nor did the humannature eclipse the divine one, nor did the two natures becomeor give birth to a new entity, nor did any one of the naturescause obliteration or annihilation of the other. Nonetheless, thetwo hypostases of divinity and humanity got united into oneperfect Person, evenwhile maintaining absolutely the divinenature and human disposition sans sin. This union is a greatmystery.Ref: (a) Col. 2:9. For, the full content of divine nature lives inChrist, in his humanity (G.N.B.)(b) Heb. 2:9. Because of God’s wonderful kindness Jesusdied for everyone (G.N.B.)(c) Tit. 2:13. We are filled with hope as we wait for theglorious return of our great God and Saviour JesusChrist (L.B.)(d) Tim. 3:16. No one can deny how great is the secretof our religion. He appeared in human form wasshown to be right by the spirit and was seen byangels. He was preached among nations, wasbelieved in throughout the world and was taken upto heaven. (G.N.B.)