JESUS CHRIST

JESUS CHRIST:

Jesus Christ is a central figure for the Christianity. Christians picture him as the Messiah (Son of God). Jesus reconciled the Christians with God by dying for their sins and raising himself from the dead. Jesus had an peculiar personality, and made a lasting notion on the on his followers. He was charismatic in the deepest sense of the word. Jesus Christ is an exemplary and perfect leader. Jesus Christ is a divine and legendary being; he is allegorical for the Christians. Jesus indicated the coming of a new age where all people would live as God's children to serve and believe in Him. Jesus taught the fundamental moral values of brotherhood and benevolence, which became the central thesis of Christianity. The life and teachings of Jesus Christ are the motivations for Christians.

The Birth of Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ was born during the life and reign of Herod the Great who ruled Palestine at the end of the 1st Century B.C. on the 25th of December, which is celebrated by Christians every year in remembrance of the day Jesus Christ was born. Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem in Judea by Virgin Mary in a manger. Joseph was the father of Jesus. Joseph was a carpenter. When Jesus was born the three wise men fro the east followed to star (Star of Bethlehem) to where Jesus was born. The three wise men bore with them gifts, Gold, Myrrh, and Frankincense. About that same time king Herod was deeply disturbed by the birth of Jesus Christ, because he heard a new king has been born. Herod became furious and sent his soldiers into Bethlehem to kill all the boys around two years and under. Joseph and Mary fled from Bethlehem to Egypt before the soldiers could get to them. Herod's plan turned out to be a fiasco. When Herod died and everything had calmed down, Joseph and Mary with Jesus went to Galilee and settled down in a town called Nazareth, were Jesus grew up, where Jesus Christ was called the "Nazarene" (Jesus of Nazareth). Jesus was a leader all through his life even from birth.

The Baptism of Jesus

John the Baptist baptized Jesus Christ the (son of Zacharias). John the Baptist preached baptism for the forgiveness of sins and in so doing he was preparing the way for the Lord. Jesus went to the Jordan River in Galilee so that john could baptize him. John remonstrated because he felt that Jesus Christ was the one who should be baptizing him. According to the gospel of Mathew Jesus said, " It must be done, because we must do everything that is right". After John heard what Jesus said he now baptized him. After baptism, Jesus came out of the water and the heavens opened and the spirit of God descended like a dove from above and settled upon his head, and a strange voice said, " this is beloved son, and I am fully pleased with him".(New international version).

The Temptation of Jesus Christ

After the baptism of Jesus Christ the, Jesus was led by the Holy spirit into the wilderness where he could be tempted by the devil. He fasted in the wilderness for forty days and forty nights, without having anything to eat.

The devil came out to Jesus and said " if you are the Son of God change these stones to loaves of bread". Jesus relied " No! The scripture say man shall not leave by bread alone but by every word of God". Then Jesus Christ was led by the devil to the highest point of the temple in Jerusalem, and then the devil told him to jump off that his angels will protect and nothing would happen to him, and Jesus replied "The scripture says, do not test the lord your God". Finally the devil took Jesus to the highest mountain, and showed him all the nation and all it's glory, then he said, "I will give it all to you, if only u knell down and worship me". Jesus replied "Get out of here, Satan, for the scripture says you must worship the lord your God; serve only him". Jesus Christ was a flawless leader. He overcame temptation, he would have change the stones to bread, or protected by the angels, but know he humbled h imself. Jesus Christ is an exemplary leader, which is why the Christians believe in him so much. Jesus Christ was no hypocrite.

The Ministry of Jesus Christ

Jesus traveled throughout Galilee teaching and preaching in different synagogues and spreading the good news about the kingdom of God, by this time he had only four disciples, these were called the first disciples. Jesus Christ taught people a lot of things, he healed people of various kinds. News about him spread far beyond Galilee, and people with various illnesses and pain, the possessed, epileptic, and paralyzed people. Large crowds followed Jesus to wherever he went. People leart a lot from him, there were various teaching by Jesus:

Teaching about Salt and Light

Teaching about the Law

Teaching about anger

Teaching about Adultery

Teaching about Divorce

Teaching about revenge

Teaching about Love for Enemies

Teaching about Giving the Needy

Teaching about Prayer and Fasting

Teaching about money and possessions

Effective prayers

The Golden Rule

The Narrow Gate

The tree and its fruit

True Disciples

Building on a solid foundation

And many others but these ones are the most important ones.

The Golden is one of the most important teachings of Jesus Christ. The golden rule says: "Do for others what you would like them to do for you. This is a summary of all that is taught in the law and the prophets". (New Living Translation Bible). "So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the law and the prophet". (English Standard Bible). "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets". (King James Bible).

Another important teaching of Jesus Christ was the Beatitudes. The great beatitudes:

God blesses those who realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of haven is given to them.

God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

God blesses those who are gentle and lowly, for the whole earth will belong to them.

God blesses those who are hungry and thirsty for justice, for they will receive it in full.

God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see god.

God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.

God blesses those who are persecuted because they live for God, for the kingdom of Heaven is theirs. (New living translation, Matthew 5)

There were a lot of teachings, Jesus Christ cares about his people (Christians) that is why he tries to put us in the right path by telling the Christians, to do what is right and deviate from their wrong ways and doing.

As time went on Jesus had twelve disciples:

First Simon (Also called Peter)

Andrew

James (son of Zebedee)

John

Philip

Bartholomew

Thomas

Matthew

James (son of Alphaeus)

Simon (son of Zealot).

Jesus taught his disciples a lot; they passed through a lot of test. One of the tests they passed through was the heavy storm. Jesus and his disciples traveled across the lake to spread the gospel. Suddenly, there was a terrible storm. The disciples became petrified because Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went to him and woke him up, shouting that he should rescue them from danger and Jesus replied "why are you afraid? You have so little faith!" (New living translation). Then he stood up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly all was calm. The disciples were marveled at what he had done.

Jesus went from city to city with his disciples, and kept on healing the demon possessed and paralyzed. Jesus kept on spreading the news and healing people in other to get more workers (Christians). He wanted a lot of people to hear the good news so they would help in passing the news to other people. At a certain time Jesus said to his people "Then saith he unto his disciples, the harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few, Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest". (King James Bible).

Jesus Christ predicts his death

Jesus Christ predicted his death three times. Jesus Christ knew his time on earth was coming to an end so he told his disciples; " They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life." And the disciples were filled with grief". (New international Version). When Jesus Christ was traveling to Jerusalem with his disciples, he told them privately again that he was going to be betrayed and killed. He told them that he would resurrect after three days. After he told them everything they now went into Jerusalem to spread the news.

Death of Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ prayed before he was arrested, he knew his time had come. Judas Iscariot, one of the disciples of Jesus Christ who betrayed him. He led the roman soldiers into the Kidron valley where Jesus Christ was with his disciples. As soon as Judas Iscariot saw Jesus he identified him and Jesus was arrested. One of the disciples, Simon drew his knife and attacked the High priest Servant, Malchus and slashed off his ear. Jesus commanded Simon to withdraw and then Jesus healed Malchus.

After Jesus was arrested he was brought before Caiaphas, the high priest for trials. After the trials with the high priest he was sent to the headquarters of the Roman Governor, Pontus Pilate for another trial. The Jews accused Jesus of being a criminal. The men who accused Jesus didn't go in with Jesus for his trial, because they knew it was a false accusation. Pontus Pilate found Jesus not guilty, but the Jews wanted him to be killed and Barabbas, a criminal released.

Pontus Pilate had Jesus flogged in the open with lead-tipped whips, and they crowned him with thongs. Pilate didn't want to kill Jesus, but the Jewish leaders kept on pressurizing him to do so. Pontus Pilate was left with no option but to crucify Jesus, he was afraid that the leaders might turn against him. Jesus led to where he was going to be crucified. His disciples and Mother, Mary Magdalene, watched him carry his cross with thongs on his head.

Jesus knew it was finally over, and he said " I am thirsty" then they soaked a sponge into a sour jar of and gave him. He replied, "it is finished", and he gave up the ghost. Jesus was buried in a tomb, which has never been used before close to a garden. Nicodemus was the man who brought white linen and seventy-five pounds of ointment, which was made of myrrh and aloes.

The Resurrection

Early on Sunday Morning, Mary mother of Jesus went to the Tomb and it was open, so she ran back to the disciples telling them that the body of Jesus had been taken away. The disciples rushed to confirm if what Mary Magdalene said was true, on getting there the body was no longer there, they were all marveled and they left. Later that day Mary was crying outside the tomb, when Jesus appeared to her and told her to stop crying. After Mary saw Jesus she ran to the disciples to tell them what had happened, but one of disciples, Thomas didn't believe. Later that day Jesus appeared to them, after they saw what Jesus had done they believed that he is the Son of God, and that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have life.

Jesus instructed his disciples to spread his word that he would be back to judge the living and the dead.

Qualities of a leader

Jesus Christ was a perfect leader with no weakness. He had a lot of strengths. Jesus Christ had no weakness because he was not human, he came down in human form, but still he wasn't human. The life of Jesus was peculiar; he lived his whole life acting as a leader. Jesus never hated anybody; he had love for both his enemies and his friends. He had no weakness unlike human leaders. According to Paul in Corinthians; "We preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength". (New international version, 23 - 24). Man cannot understand his weakness. Jesus performed a lot of miraculous signs. People loved him a lot. Jesus Christ was a great leader. The life and teachings of Jesus Christ are the motivations for Christians. Jesus Christ was no selfish leader he always thought about his people before himself.