Book SummaryLife of Christ, by Fulton J. Sheen

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of Life of Christ

Jesus' divine nature

This part of Sheen's work establishes a foundation for comprehending the identity of Jesus and the profound importance of his purpose. He emphasizes how Jesus' claims to divinity are firmly grounded in ancient prophecies and a common anticipation for a Savior across different cultures.

Jesus' divine essence was made known through His ability to foresee and anticipate events prophetically.

The precise foretellings of Jesus' nativity, existence, and demise, set forth long before they happened, set Him apart from other spiritual guides.

Sheen motivates the audience to scrutinize various spiritual leaders through a lens that is firmly rooted in historical context and rational analysis, questioning if their advent was foretold. He demonstrates how, unlike figures like Confucius, the advent of Jesus was predicted with remarkable accuracy. Sheen highlights the ancient foretellings that date back millennia prior to the nativity of Jesus, pointing out Abraham's assurance that his descendants would bring blessings to all nations, and explores the prophecies that foretold the birth of Jesus in a specific town, the purity of his mother, the gifts from wise travelers, his sojourn in a foreign land, and the exact details of his character and death. He underscored the considerable collection of prophecies, highlighting that the historical Jewish temples had amassed a total of 456 distinct predictions regarding the Messiah.

Sheen highlights the unique sense of expectation surrounding Jesus' coming, pointing out that it was an event predicted like no other. His arrival stood out among other spiritual leaders because he alone had his coming foretold. Sheen emphasizes the significant impact Jesus made on the chronology of history, evident in the enduring use of "B.C." and "A.D." as time markers, irrespective of recognition of his divinity. Jesus' existence was extraordinary in that His death was not seen as an interruption but as the fulfillment of His mission, distinguishing Him from other educators who focused on the continuous voyage of existence.

Expectations of a significant leader or "Messiah" emerging from the Orient were also present in pagan and non-Jewish societies, reinforcing the divine essence of Jesus.

Sheen doesn't limit his arguments for the pre-announced arrival of Jesus solely to Jewish prophecies. He alludes to a wide array of non-Jewish and pagan texts predicting the advent of an important figure or "Savior," anticipated to emerge from the oriental regions. The historical records of Tacitus and Suetonius agree that there was a widespread anticipation that a ruler would emerge from the region of Judea.

He also references historical records from China that describe a prophesied individual, referred to as the distinguished Sacred One originating from the West, as a recognition of this figure's existence. Long before the birth of Jesus, the playwright Aeschylus had envisioned a heavenly entity fated to bear suffering for the misdeeds of others. The expectations of non-Jewish peoples and the...

Life of Christ Summary Jesus' mission reached its pinnacle by achieving our salvation via His sacrifice on the cross.

In this segment of Sheen's writing, the core of Jesus' mission is examined, which is the redemption provided by his self-sacrifice on the crucifix. Sheen asserts that the path of His existence was deliberately set to converge with the certainty of the Crucifixion, an aspect evident in His teachings and prophetic statements.

The suffering and ultimate sacrifice of Jesus were crucial.

Jesus frequently discussed the challenges and the inevitable end that He would face, recognizing that enduring such hardships was a fundamental aspect of His purpose for coming into the world.

Sheen emphasizes the distinctiveness of Jesus' life, noting that His coming was destined as part of a celestial plan that involved the giving of His own life. He underscores that during His time of teaching, Jesus frequently highlighted the essential significance of His impending sacrifice and ultimate demise, referencing this pivotal event over thirty times. This circumstance was not about a righteous person enduring hardship for their beliefs; instead, it involved the embodiment of divinity embracing the act of crucifixion as the ultimate fulfillment of His celestial mission. Sheen highlights the...

Life of Christ Summary The teachings proclaimed by Christ were markedly different from secular philosophies.

In Sheen's narrative, the significant impact of the doctrines imparted by Jesus is underscored, particularly those embodied in the Beatitudes, which are in sharp contrast to worldly principles. He emphasized the importance of abandoning superficial values and embracing a way of life that contradicts the dominant societal standards to genuinely adhere to the instructions imparted by Christ.

The principles imparted during the Sermon on the Mount sharply differ from worldly philosophies.

Jesus' Beatitudes present a stark divergence from the usual societal expectations, urging individuals to embrace principles that lead to a transformative shift.

Sheen examines each Beatitude, highlighting how it inverts conventional wisdom. He underscores the contrast between a societal focus on accumulating wealth and independence, and the teachings of Jesus, who proclaimed the fortunate nature of those with a humble spirit. He contrasts the call for patience and grief with the societal tendency to seek retribution and ephemeral happiness, promoting a pure heart amidst a prevalent capitulation to sensual desires.

Jesus' instructions call for a spiritual humility, gentleness, and...

Life of Christ Summary Jesus experienced rejection and endured many hardships.

This section of the story explores the sequence of events leading to the crucifixion of Jesus, highlighting the intense opposition he faced from various groups and the profound depth of his suffering. Sheen emphasizes that Jesus embraced suffering, perceiving it as the ultimate fulfillment of His divine mission.

Jesus Faces Opposition and Hostility

Jesus' assertions of His divine nature incited considerable resistance and plots among different religious and political groups.

Sheen portrays the actions and instructions of Jesus as the driving forces behind the intensifying conspiracy against Him. He outlines how groups normally at odds with each other—Scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees, and even Roman authorities—came together to silence this disruptive force. Sheen portrays Jesus as a threat to the established order, his teachings challenging their authority and exposing their hypocrisy. Initially, their efforts were aimed at eroding the public's view regarding Jesus; however, they ultimately resorted to aggression to eliminate him.

Jesus endured mockery, torture, and ultimately crucifixion, suffering profoundly from human cruelty and rejection.

Sheen offers an...

Life of Christ Summary The deep significance of Jesus' passing and ensuing return to life.

This section delves into the crucial occurrences of Jesus' demise and subsequent resurrection, elucidating their profound theological importance as the bedrock upon which Christian belief and optimism are built. Sheen emphasizes the deep significance of Jesus' voluntary offering of Himself and the victorious nature of His resurrection.

Jesus' profound influence through His selfless act.

Jesus' death on the Cross was the means by which he conquered sin and death, making atonement for the sins of humanity.

Sheen portrays the crucifixion of Jesus not as a sorrowful defeat but as an ultimate victory over sin and death. He explains that Jesus, by offering Himself as the perfect mediator, made amends for human sins, substituting the innocent for the guilty through His act of self-sacrifice. The profound seriousness of sin is truly comprehended not by abstract debates but through recognizing its impact on God, culminating in the crucifixion of Jesus.

Jesus' crucifixion laid the foundation for absolving transgressions and restoring the relationship between humankind and the Divine.

Sheen emphasizes the importance of Jesus' crucifixion, highlighting it as a pathway...

Life of Christ Summary The commencement of the holy Christian scriptures.

In this concluding section of Sheen's remarkable book, it is underscored that Jesus' existence, his selfless act of sacrifice, and his victorious resurrection collectively usher in the rejuvenation of a holy covenant with humanity. He emphasizes the significance of the Eucharist as an eternal commemoration of Jesus' sacrifice, offering the essential grace that supports His mission on our planet.

Jesus concluded His final meal with His disciples by establishing the Eucharist, an event that is referred to as the Last Supper.

In his last supper with the disciples, Jesus instituted the Eucharist as a perpetual remembrance of his self-offering, thus positioning it at the heart of Christian liturgy.

Sheen underscores the profound importance of the Eucharist, elucidating that its purpose extends beyond a simple symbolic remembrance of Jesus' death; it embodies a true participation in the sacrificial act of Jesus Himself. He emphasizes that Jesus intentionally chose the Passover period to institute the Eucharist, linking the liberation from Egyptian enslavement to the ultimate redemption from sin and death provided by his sacrifice. Jesus' lasting instruction, "Do this in...