Originally posted by: Yoda Is Your Father
Well, yes, I understand that he gave his life so that his word would be remembered and understood, but is that all that it means? I thought there was more to it than that, like somehow his death and suffering 'magically' redeemed all us sinners. Maybe I was trying to read too much into it? And to be honest I don't really think that his words were understood. At least not fully, anyway.

Well, as a Christian who doesn't normally wander into this thread, do you mind if I take a shot at it? Hopefully I won't come across as sounding too dogmatic.

Oh, gosh, I can't believe I'm about to use this analogy, and I didn't plan to, but it just popped into my head. But you used Star Wars philosophy to relate, so I guess I can use fictional rules as well. In Dragon Ball, Son Goku eventually learns the technique to teleport or instantaneously move or whatever you want to call it (as long as you don't call it instant transmission... bleh). So he has the power to locate a person's ki, no matter where it is, and move to that location. Villains aside, nobody else can do it, but if they hold on to Goku while he is teleporting, then they will be transported along as well.

Okay, now to move in to more legitimate theological discussion based on Christian beliefs. You have to be perfect to get into heaven. None of us are. All of us have screwed up. Jesus was the only perfect human being. He's the only one who can get there. Back in the old days, people slaughtered and burned animals as a sacrifice to repent for their sins. But Jesus offered himself up as a super sacrifice to completely negate the old needs. So Jesus has eventually become the single sacrifice that every person for the rest of time can put his/her sins on. Just like the other DB characters need to hold on to Goku to move between worlds, Jesus functions the same way in the real world.

Phew. I hope that at least helped some. Heh, I did my best at any rate.