Christianity is one of the world`s most practiced religions and sitting at the very center of it is Jesus Christ, whose life has shaped history, culture, ethics and philosophy. The way his crucifixion and resurrection forms the basis of Christian belief, is astonishing. His teachings continue to influence billions of people across the globe even today.
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Early Life and Birth Of Jesus Christ
Historical Context and Family
Jesus Christ was born between 6 to 4 B.C.E in the Roman Province of Judea located in Bethlehem during the rule of King Herod the Great. As per Christian belief, Jesus’s mother Mary was a Jewish woman and a virgin at the time of conceiving him through the Holy Spirit which is termed as the Virgin Birth. This stands out as a major belief under the umbrella of Christian religion.
Joseph, Mary’s spouse, was a carpenter and a descendant of King David. This gives credence to the belief that the Messiah would come from a Davidic line. Their family was not wealthy and lived in a village called Nazareth, which is located in Galilee. For the Jews, this region was regarded as backward in many ways.
The Nativity
The story of Jesus’ birth is covered in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. Important happenings include the visit of the shepherds, who were the first to hear of the Christ child’s birth from the angels and came to pay their respect (Luke 2:8-20), and the coming of the Wise Men (or Magi), who traveled from the east guided by a bright star, bringing gold, frankincense, and myrrh to worship Jesus (Matthew 2:1-12). It was believed that there were divine signs associated with His birth, which were greeted with wonder.
The Adolescent and Early Adult Years
The Years of Inactivity
Nothing is known about the youth life of Jesus, commonly called the Years of Inactivity in the Scripture. The Gospel of Luke tells the story of Jesus when he was 12 years old. During the Passover feast, Jesus traveled to Jerusalem where he was discussing the scriptures with the Jewish scholars in the temple. He was subsequently recognized for the depth of knowledge He possessed (Luke 2:41-50). At this point, Jesus is believed to have returned to Nazareth and subsequently lived there, after which he steadily gained in wisdom and stature.
Work as a Carpenter
Jesus is believed to have lived in Nazareth and subsequently was expected to get an apprenticeship to his father who was a carpenter. The circumstances surrounding Jesus’s manual labor along with his upbringing served as the basis for his teachings on the service, humility, and kingdom of God. Being a tradesman enabled Him to relate to the working-class citizens of His society, which served as society during that time.
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Ministry Start Part 1: Baptism
Baptism done by John the Baptist
At 30 years old, Jesus was baptized by his cousin, John the Baptist, in the Jordan River. For John, baptism represented change and repentance, but for Jesus, it served to mark the start of his public ministry. When He rose from the water, the sky opened up, and the spirit descended on Him like a dove. “This is my son, who I love; with Him, I am well pleased.” A voice bellowed from heaven (Matthew 3:16-17). This served as a testimony of His identity that he is the son of God.
Wilderness Temptations
Jesus was fasting in the desert for 40 days after his baptism, during which time he was tempted by Satan. The temptations included changing stones into bread, achieving worldly power, and putting God’s protection to the test. All the temptations presented Jesus resisted and for he was strong in his spiritual mission.
Life of Christ His Teachings and Miracles
Aspects of His Teaching
Jesus’ teachings were radical, and they focused on the themes of love, repentance, forgiveness, and grace as well as on the Kingdom of God.Some important parts of His teachings are:
- Love of God and Neighbor: Jesus stressed the commandment to love God with your entire being and also to love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:30-31).
- The Kingdom of God: Jesus said that the Kingdom of God had come. He instructed people to repent and have faith, and He taught that the Kingdom was a present reality. It was also a hope for the future (Mark 1:15).
- Forgiveness and Grace: He taught that forgiveness should even be granted to one’s enemies, which is evident in His command of “love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44).
The Parables
A parable is a story that uses everyday events or objects to teach a lesson. Jesus taught his followers with simple yet captivating stories featuring complex moral teachings. Some of these include:
- The Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) teaches us how to show compassion while breaking social barriers.
- The Parable of the Prodigal Son teaches the virtue of forgiveness along with God’s grace (Luke 15:11-32).
- The Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1-23) shows how differently people respond to God’s word.
Miracles
A miracle is shifting the natural order of life through unforeseen acts of compassion, power, or divine authority as Jesus himself did. His miracles include:
- Healing the Sick: Curing the blind, lepers, and paralytics.
- Exorcising Demons: Casting away evil spirits to show his power over spiritual entities.
- Raising the Dead: Most famously, he performed this on Lazarus after four days (John 11:1-44).
- Nature Miracles: He calmed storms, walked on the water, and fed thousands with little food.
Opposition and Final Days
Growing Tensions with Religious Authorities
Along with the growth of Jesus Christ’s fame came the opposition of religious authorities like the Pharisees and Sadducees. They believed His teachings undermined their authority alongside the status quo. His anger at the commodification of the Temple services and His self-identified title as the Son of God infuriated and frightened them.
The Last Supper and Betrayal
On the evening preceding His crucifixion, Jesus convened His disciples for the Passover meal (more commonly referred to the supper before Jesus’s Last Supper), where he ordained the process known as Holy Communions. These were to be commemorative gestures of His body and blood. He also foretold Judas’ treachery and Peter’s denial.
Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, beseeching God for courage to endure what lay ahead. One of Christ’s disciples, Judas Iscariot, betrays him with a kiss, resulting in his arrest.
Crucifixion and Death
Trial and Condemnation
Jesus was put on trial first in front of the Jewish Sanhedrin then to the Roman governor Pontius Pilate. Pilate did not see any problems with Jesus, but with the heated demands of the crowd pushing for His crucifixion, He consented and Jesus was to die crucified.
Crucifixion
Jesus was crucified at Golgotha (the Place of the Skull) in a brutal form of death known to only the worst of criminals. He was suffering physically beyond comprehension, but still expressed forgiveness towards his killers stating, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). Jesus’ last words were, “It is finished” (John 19:30), indicating that he had completed his work, to which His body was put in a tomb and sealed with a huge stone.
The Resurrection and Ascension
The Resurrection
Miraculously, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his death in an event known as the Resurrection. His followers, which consisted of Mary Magdalene and the apostles, witnessed Him alive. It is said that this event, singular, was the most important act to have ever taken place on Earth. Not only did it triumph over sin and death, but also confirmed his divinity, offering all who believe in him eternal life.
The Ascension
Having appeared to his disciples for 40 days and educating them, Jesus was then followed as he ascended to heaven, where he promised to send the Holy Spirit to guide them in fulfilling his wish of spreading his teachings worldwide. Read More
The Legacy of Jesus
Impact on Christianity and World History
The life and message of Jesus gave rise to Christianity, which over time became one of the world’s largest religions. His teachings on love, forgiveness, and redemption shaped people and societies on a broad scale. Jesus’ followers believe that God can reconcile humanity with himself through Jesus’ sacrificial death and resurrection, granting them salvation.
His impact was not only in the fields of religion, but also in art, literature, social justice, ethics, and philosophy. Men like Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, Martin Luther and many others drew inspiration from his life and message.
Conclusion
The impact of Jesus Christ on history and religion, as well as culture, is incalculable. He remains, so far, a revolutionary figure who single handedly transformed the course of human history by his life, death, and resurrection. To this day, people are moved by his teachings which show them ways and reasons to hope and love. Considering Him the Son of God, a moral teacher or even a prophet, one thing is clear, the legacy of Jesus is astonishingly profound.
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