REL response

1. The Christ video summarizes the life of Jesus Christ on earth 2000 years from his birth, works, and his death. His life on earth reflected that of a real person even though we know that he is the son of God. The birth of Jesus Christ was in Bethlehem under very unusual circumstances. He was brought up in Nazareth by both his parents Mary and Joseph.

   He started his teachings when he was thirty years. Some of the miracles he performed were fed five thousand people, healed people, calmed the storm and even raised the dead. The Jewish rulers did not like what Jesus was teaching, and so they arrested him and sentenced him to death. He was crucified as highlighted in the Gospel of Mark: 15:22-32. He was crucified in Golgotha a Greek name that means place of the skull. There he was given a drink which he declined. He was nailed on the cross bearing the name that he was the king of the Jews. While on the cross people mocked him asking him to save himself from the cross. The teachers of the law and the high priests mocked him that he could only save other people but could not save his life.

   Before Jesus died, he shouted asking God why he had forsaken him. Those nearby mistook him for calling Elijah. When he died, the church cloth was torn into two pieces. Then there was darkness. One of the soldiers who saw how he died proclaimed he was truly the son of God. On the third day as Mary went to the tomb, they found that Jesus had risen.

   The life of Jesus teaches us a lot like Christians. He did good things to the people, but his enemies used his good deeds against him. As Christians, we should also not expect that the good things we do will be accepted by all.

2. God initiates a relationship, the people of God must respond to God's initiative. God speaks and acts and the people respond. These responses are done in public worship through institutions of worship such as the tabernacle, the temple, the synagogue, and the church. Worship in and through these institutions proclaims, recalls, and enacts the great saving deeds of God. And, the people respond by remembering, anticipating, celebrating, and serving. The Scripture goes deeper than the outward acts of worship and prescribes the inner, heartfelt response of the people of God. God wants more than ritual. God wants the worship of the inner person. The people of God are to  remember God's deeds of salvation and his promise of the land by being grateful and by committing their lives. Worship is, therefore, not only an inner heartfelt response of thanksgiving; it also indicates a life totally committed to serving God. To fear God is to worship him and give him glory. Biblical worship involves numerous signs and symbols that proclaim and enact the original saving event and thus act as "presence carriers" of God's saving action. These sacred actions of worship were clearly visible in the Old Testament tabernacle, temple, and festivals, with their concept of sacred space, sacred ritual, and sacred ministry.