Jesus Christ

Imagined portrait of Jesus giving the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7)

Jesus Christ is the prophesied Jewish Messiah and founder of the Christian movement. He is God incarnate and is the carnal member of the trinity, known as God the Son.

Throughout the Old Testament, especially the Prophecy of Isaiah and the Prophecy of Zechariah, it is prophesied that a man will come to be sacrificed for all people and to found an eternal Kingdom. When Jesus was born to the Virgin Mary around the start of the first century, his ministry and crucifixion fulfilled these prophecies and thus fulfilled the Jewish law.

After his resurrection and ascension, his followers, who came to be known as the Apostles, were commissioned to spread his teachings across the globe, establishing the early Christian church and continuing his work.

Today, Christians around the world await his Second Coming, where he will finally defeat Satan and return the Earth to it's primordial Edenic state known as the New Jerusalem.

He is both fully man and fully God, He is the Son of God and God the Son.

Messianic Prophecy

Jesus’ prophecy in the Old Testament is rooted in various predictions of a coming saviour who would bring redemption and establish God’s Kingdom. Key passages include the Prophecy of Isaiah, which speaks of a suffering servant who would bear the sins of many and bring healing and salvation (Isaiah 53). Additionally, Zechariah’s prophecy foretells a righteous king who would enter Jerusalem on a donkey and establish a reign of peace (Zechariah 9:9). These prophecies collectively paint a picture of a messianic figure who would fulfil God’s promises by suffering for humanity’s sins and ushering in a new era of divine rule.

Jesus Christ fulfilled these Old Testament prophecies through his life, death, and resurrection. His ministry mirrored the characteristics described in these prophecies: He preached about the Kingdom of God, performed miracles, and ultimately sacrificed Himself for the redemption of humanity. His resurrection is the confirmation of his divine mission and the fulfilment of God’s promises, laying the foundation for the Christian faith and its anticipation of the Second Coming.

John the Baptist was essential in fulfilling Messianic prophecies by preparing the way for Jesus. As foretold in Isaiah and Malachi, John called people to repentance, signalling the coming of the Messiah. He baptized Jesus, identifying Him as the "Lamb of God" and confirming His role as the prophesied Saviour.

Early Life

The birth of Jesus is described in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke.

In these gospels, his birth in Bethlehem to Mary and Joseph is described in detail. Born in a humble manger, his arrival was marked by divine signs and the visit of shepherds. In Matthew's account, wise men from the East follow a star to find the new-born King, bringing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. This event signifies the recognition of Jesus as the Messiah and the fulfilment of prophetic expectations.

After His birth, Jesus' early life included the flight to Egypt to escape King Herod's massacre of infants, as described in Matthew 2:13-15. Joseph and Mary fled with Jesus, returning to Nazareth only after Herod’s death, fulfilling prophecies about the Messiah being a Nazarene. This period was marked by Jesus growing up in relative obscurity, living a typical childhood in a small town.

Luke 2:41-52 recounts a pivotal event during Jesus’ youth when he, at twelve years old, stays behind in the Jerusalem Temple, engaging in deep discussion with teachers. His parents find him after three days, and Jesus expresses his sense of divine purpose, indicating his awareness of His unique mission. This episode highlights his early wisdom and understanding of his identity as the Son of God.

Ministry

_{See also: Ministry of Jesus}

In the Gospel of John, public knowledge of Jesus is marked by his first miracle at the wedding in Cana, as described in John 2:1-11. When the hosts run out of wine, Jesus performs his first public miracle by turning water into wine, demonstrating his divine power and foreshadowing his role as the provider of spiritual abundance. This act of transformation not only reveals His glory but also strengthens His disciples' faith.

Jesus’ early ministry began with His baptism by John the Baptist in the Jordan River, as described in Matthew 3:13-17 and Luke 3:21-22. This event marks the commencement of His public ministry, where the heavens open, and the Holy Spirit descends upon Him like a dove. God’s voice declares Jesus as His beloved Son, affirming his divine mission and identity.

Following His baptism, Jesus retreats into the wilderness for forty days of fasting and temptation, detailed in Matthew 4:1-11 and Luke 4:1-13. He resists the devil’s temptations, demonstrating his obedience and commitment to God’s will. Afterward, he begins preaching in Galilee, calling his first disciples and performing miracles, establishing His authority and the foundation of His ministry.

After emerging from His time of fasting and temptation in the wilderness, Jesus began His public ministry in earnest, traveling throughout Galilee and later Judea, preaching the message of repentance and the coming of the Kingdom of God. This ministry was a sovereign fulfilment of God's redemptive plan, demonstrating His divine authority over creation and His role as the elect's Saviour.

He called His first disciples—ordinary men like Peter, James, and John—who would become key figures in the early church. Jesus' miracles, such as healing the sick, giving sight to the blind, and raising the dead, were not just acts of compassion but also signs that pointed to His divine identity and the in-breaking of God's Kingdom. His teaching, often delivered in parables, revealed deep spiritual truths, emphasizing the need for true faith and the sovereign grace of God in salvation. Jesus also revealed the depth of human sinfulness, challenging the self-righteousness of the Pharisees and exposing the need for a Saviour.

As Jesus' ministry progressed, He began to predict His suffering, death, and resurrection, explaining to His disciples that He had come not to establish a political kingdom but to offer Himself as a ransom for many. This culminated in His journey to Jerusalem, where He entered the city riding on a donkey, fulfilling Zechariah's prophecy of a humble king. The crowds welcomed Him with shouts of "Hosanna," recognizing Him as the Messiah, yet His entry also marked the beginning of the final week leading to His crucifixion, the ultimate act of atonement for the sins of the elect, as ordained by God from eternity.

Crucifixion

Jesus of Nazareth was crucified for blasphemy when he told the Pharisees the truth that he was God

_{See also: Crucifixion of Jesus}

After Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, where crowds hailed Him as the Messiah, His final week was marked by a series of significant events that led to His crucifixion. Upon entering the city, Jesus went to the temple and drove out the money changers and merchants, declaring that they had turned God’s house into a den of thieves. This act of cleansing the temple was a powerful statement against the corruption of the religious leaders and intensified their desire to see Him arrested and killed. Throughout this week, Jesus continued to teach in the temple courts, delivering parables that confronted the hypocrisy of the religious authorities and predicting the destruction of the temple, which further incited their anger.

As the Passover approached, Jesus gathered with His disciples for the Last Supper, a pivotal moment where He instituted the Lord’s Supper, also known as Communion. During this meal, Jesus took bread and wine, symbolizing His body and blood, and instructed His disciples to partake in remembrance of His sacrifice. He also revealed that one of them would betray Him, pointing to Judas Iscariot, who later that night would lead the authorities to arrest Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. After praying in anguish and submitting to the Father’s will, Jesus was betrayed by Judas, arrested, and taken before the Jewish Sanhedrin, where He was falsely accused and condemned for blasphemy.

Following the trial before the Sanhedrin, Jesus was handed over to the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, who, despite finding no fault in Him, succumbed to the pressure of the crowd demanding His crucifixion. Jesus was mocked, beaten, and forced to carry His cross to Golgotha, where He was crucified between two criminals. His crucifixion was the ultimate fulfilment of the Messianic prophecies, as He bore the sins of humanity, offering Himself as the perfect and final atonement. Even in His final moments, Jesus prayed for forgiveness for those who crucified Him, demonstrating His divine love and mercy. His death on the cross marked the completion of His earthly mission, securing salvation for all who believe in Him and fulfilling God’s plan of redemption.

Resurrection and Great Commission

_{See also: Resurrection of Jesus, Great Commission}

After His crucifixion, Jesus was buried in a tomb by Joseph of Arimathea, but on the third day, He rose from the dead, as He had foretold. This event, known as the resurrection, is the cornerstone of Christian faith, proving Jesus’ victory over sin and death and confirming His divine nature. The resurrection appearances began with Mary Magdalene and other women who discovered the empty tomb and were later followed by Jesus revealing Himself to His disciples. He appeared to them multiple times, showing them the wounds in His hands and side, and demonstrating that He was truly alive. These post-resurrection appearances were crucial in strengthening the faith of His followers and empowering them to carry out the mission He had given them.

Before His ascension into heaven, Jesus gathered His disciples and delivered His Great Commission. He commanded them to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:19-20). This commission established the foundation for the global spread of Christianity, calling believers to evangelize and teach others about the gospel. Jesus then ascended to heaven, where He now sits at the right hand of God the Father, interceding for believers and awaiting the time of His return, when He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead.

Reappearances

Jesus reappeared to Saul, later named Paul, on the Road to Damascus

After His ascension, Jesus made notable reappearances to certain apostles, each with significant implications for the early church. One of the most dramatic was His appearance to Saul of Tarsus, who would later be known as the Apostle Paul. As Saul traveled to Damascus to persecute Christians, Jesus appeared to him in a blinding light, asking, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" This encounter led to Saul’s conversion, marking a pivotal moment in Christian history. Paul would go on to become one of the most influential apostles, spreading the gospel throughout the Roman Empire and authoring many of the New Testament epistles. Jesus' reappearance to Paul emphasized His ongoing involvement in the growth of the church and His power to transform even the most unlikely individuals.

Another significant post-ascension appearance was to John of Patmos, as recorded in the Book of Revelation. While exiled on the island of Patmos, John experienced a vision in which the risen and glorified Christ appeared to him. Jesus revealed Himself as the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, and delivered messages to the seven churches of Asia Minor. In this vision, Jesus also unveiled a prophetic revelation of the end times, including His ultimate victory over evil and the establishment of a new heaven and a new earth. This appearance not only provided hope and encouragement to the early Christians facing persecution but also offered a glimpse into the future fulfilment of God's redemptive plan.

Second Coming

Jesus' return will be moment of divine triumph and judgment, where He comes with the clouds, and "every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him" (Revelation 1:7). Jesus is depicted as a conquering King, riding on a white horse, clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and bearing the name "King of Kings, and Lord of Lords" (Revelation 19:16). At His coming, He will judge the nations, defeat the forces of evil, and cast Satan into the lake of fire. The Second Coming ushers in the final judgment, where the dead are resurrected and judged according to their works, and it marks the establishment of a new heaven and a new earth, where God will dwell with His people, wiping away every tear, and there will be no more death, sorrow, or pain (Revelation 21:1-4).

Reinterpretations

Gnostics believed that the Serpent of Genesis 3 and Jesus were both the spiritual enemy of God the Father

All heresies and most false religions have attempted to reinterpret the reason and facts of Jesus' ministry and sacrifice.

Gnosticism

According to Gnosticism, an early Christian heresy, Jesus' role as saviour merely extended to his bringing of secret knowledge into the world. In the teachings of the Gnostic theologian, Valentinus, the serpent in the Book of Genesis and Jesus were the same being, with the same mission: to bring secret knowledge which the evil creator god didn't wish for them to receive.

Islam

The Islamic scripture known as the Quran teaches that Jesus was a great and mighty prophet, and unlike the Jews they do believe he was the messiah. However, they reject that he was God and believe that his teachings were corrupted by the Apostle Paul but even in it's own scripture, it still fails to show evidence for this. The false prophet Muhammed created Islam by incorporating many different religious traditions and listening to any spiritual teacher he could find, earning him the nickname "the ear", but when he heard any story of Jesus he attempted to fight the allegations of divinity by stating that Jesus' actions were all done through the Father and not through his own will. Despite this, the Quran and the Hadith still accidently make Jesus superior to Muhammed in every way by incorporating the teachings of Christian missionaries. In the words of David Wood:

"According to the Quran and the Hadith: Jesus was the incarnate word of God, but Muhammed isn't. Jesus was a sprit from God, but Muhammed isn't. Jesus is the Messiah, Muhammed isn't. Jesus had a miraculous birth, Muhammed didn't. Jesus was sinless, Muhammed sinned excessively. Jesus could talk as a baby, Muhammed couldn't. Jesus lived the most miraculous life in history, Muhammed never performed a single miracle. Jesus raised people from the dead, Muhammed killed thousands of people. Jesus created the same way God creates, Muhammed could not create a book worth reading."

New Age Spirituality

New Age spiritualists generally teach that Jesus was merely a wise teacher who taught people to focus on themselves and to be kind to each other, ignoring the majority of Jesus' true words.

Mormonism

In Mormonism, God the Son and the God the Father are distinct beings. They teach God the Father was once a mortal who became a god and gave birth to two children, Jesus and Lucifer. When Jesus was chosen to rule over earth, Lucifer became angry and attempted to corrupt the earth, causing Jesus to need to liberate the earth from sin. Having failed to do so, the Father made Joseph Smith a prophet instead.

Liberal Christians

Liberal Christians (not to be confused with Christian socialists), have a similar doctrine to that of New Age spiritualists due to their rejection of a literal interpretation of the Bible.

Buddhists

Buddhists generally view Jesus as a wise and compassionate teacher, recognizing Him as an enlightened being who exemplified virtues like love, kindness, and selflessness. While they do not see Jesus as divine or the Son of God, as Christians do, Buddhists respect His teachings on moral living, compassion for others, and non-violence, which resonate with Buddhist principles. Some Buddhists might even regard Jesus as a bodhisattva, a being who delays their own enlightenment to help others achieve liberation. However, the concept of a singular, all-powerful God and the need for salvation, which are central to Christianity, do not align with Buddhist beliefs. Therefore, while Jesus is admired as a great spiritual figure, His role and significance are interpreted differently within the Buddhist tradition.