Jesus had a new teaching: Suffering and death were closely associated with the coming of the "kingdom". In order to enter the "kingdom with the poor one must deny oneself and be willing to suffer. Suffering and death are both compared with the paradox of compassion. For suffering only the willingness to suffer can conquer suffering in the world. One cannot share the blessing of the poor unless one is willing to share their sufferings. Death in the same way: “Anyone who saves his or her life will lose it; anyone loses her or his life will save it.” The first part means if anyone wants to save their life loves it and are attached to it and therefore fears death then they do not realize that life after death is better; the second part “anyone loses her or his life will save it” since Catholics believe life after death is what we live for in this world, the person who is ready for death is ready for the next life. This is a riddle because if you losing one’s life in this world, you will save it in the next one.
The main question is what to die for? People have died for all different reasons. For example, terrorists of 9 11 thought they were dying for a cause and they were doing the right thing. Jesus was willing to die for all people not just for a cause. What is the difference? The willingness to die for humankind is universal solidarity. Jesus life was service to all of mankind. Herod wanted to kill Jesus, so Jesus had to pick to either go into hiding or face death. Jesus needed to awaken faith in the “kingdom”, his only alternative was to die, because in hiding he could not preach. Therefore Jesus died so that we would learn of the kingdom. After Jesus died he rose, Jesus' resurrection was not his main concern it was to awaken faith in the kingdom of heaven.
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