Life of Jesus

The Life of Jesus of Nazareth was recorded in four books known as The Gospels (The Good News). The Gospels were written in Greek, at the time a ubiquitous language such as English is today, between 30 and 50 years after Jesus was crucified. I will briefly discuss who wrote The Gospels. Mark (also known as John Mark) traveled with St. Paul and later became the interpreter for St. Peter. The Gospel of Mark focuses on the life, death and resurrection of Jesus; it emphasizes that He is the Son of God, and it explains the ultimate the meaning of His death. The Gospel of Matthew presents Jesus as the Messiah (anointed one) long awaited by the Jewish People, and is centered on the teachings of Jesus about Himself and the Kingdom of God, as well as about the Life of Jesus and His ministry. Matthew was a tax collector who was chosen by Jesus to become one of His 12 Apostles (messengers). Luke (who also wrote the book of Acts) was an educated, cultured Greek physician and historian who traveled extensively with St. Paul. He saw his task as to answer a question on the minds of many people, both then and now, "Who is Jesus?" The Gospel of Luke concentrates on salvation, prayer, miracles, women, and caring for the poor and the outcasts of society. The Gospel of John has at its heart the nature of Jesus of Nazareth and His mission, emphasizing His Divinity as the Manifestation of God, and presenting Him as the sacrificial Lamb of God . John was one of the 12 Apostles of Jesus; he also wrote the book of Revelation, in addition to the three short letters (Epistles) that appear in the New Testament.

Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Israel, to the Virgin Mary. After his birth he was placed in a manger (a trough for animal food), and his birth marks the year by which we date our calendars today (2009 years ago). He was apprenticed in his home town of Nazareth (in the province of Galilee) as a carpenter by His father, Joseph, the husband of Mary. By the age of 12, Jesus was teaching in the Synagogue (building where those of the Jewish Faith meet for worship and religious instruction). He spent the first 30 years of His life preparing for His 3 1/2 year ministry.

Jesus told many parables (stories illustrating moral Truths). The most famous of these is perhaps the story of the Prodigal Son, which teaches us that though we may have rejected God and lived the life of a licentious wastrel, if we come home to him with a humble, contrite heart, God not only welcomes us with open arms but He rejoices. The Parable of the Sower teaches us that many people have heard the Word (Jesus) but for various reasons do not abide with Him. These reasons include succumbing to demonic influences; not making time to develop a true relationship with God through studying His Word and through prayer; allowing the concerns, worries, and the pursuit of wealth in this earthly life to be more important to us than Him. 

Jesus showed His concern for all in the Parable of the Lost Sheep, which illustrates that even if 99 out of 100 sheep are safely abiding with a shepherd, he will diligently search for the one lost sheep until He finds it and brings it back into the fold. Jesus taught that we are not to treasure earthly things or to love money, particularly in the Parable of the Rich Fool, who stored up his wealth in bigger and bigger barns, took it easy, eating, drinking and merrymaking—not knowing his life would end that very night. Jesus encapsulated His entire teaching when He instructed that we must Love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. And Love our neighbor as ourselves. Who is our neighbor? He is the person in your sphere whom you see is in need, as in the Parable of the Good Samaritan.

Jesus teaches that we cannot be forgiven of our sins against God if we do not forgive others for their sins against us. Mercy must be shown by us to people if we want God to be merciful to us. He taught that we must Love our enemies and pray for them. But Jesus most assuredly did not teach that we should turn a blind eye to either sin or false teachings. He tells us to rebuke our fellow man of these things, unless they show repentance (express sorrow for wrongdoing, and vow to change one's ways). Jesus says that it is a grave sin to influence others toward unbelief and wickedness. "Go and sin no more," was His message to the adulteress after He stopped the crowd from stoning her. Stop sinning was His message to us all. Jesus said that we must not seek rewards and honors from other people. He who exalts himself will be humbled and he who humbles himself will be exalted. He teaches that if we are to be His disciples (embracing His teachings) we must seek God first and foremost in our lives; that we must discipline ourselves to follow Him above any personal desires. Jesus said not to worry, or be anxious, about our earthly needs or our future on earth; but to focus our thoughts on God. He promised that if we diligently seek God we will find Him. He says we will recognize Followers of The Way by the fruits they bear in their lives. And He taught us how to pray to our Father in Heaven.

Jesus talks a lot about the importance of Faith. He tells us that we must testify to others about Him. He also teaches us that out of the heart comes evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, and slander. He loved children and spoke out against divorce. He told us to serve others. Jesus instructed us to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, show hospitality to strangers, and to visit those who are sick or in prison. Believers are to be active in the world, but they should not be creatures of the world. He told us not to worry or fear when the lost hate us, because they hated Him first. Jesus taught that many false teachers would come in His name in order to deceive us, and that Believers in Him would be hated, betrayed and persecuted by those living in spiritual darkness. Even Satan will quote Scripture in his attempts to deceive us. Jesus predicted that His Words would never pass away from the Earth. At the Last Supper, Jesus modeled the example of a truly humble servant when He washed the feet of His Apostles, no matter that He was their Master. This was a job reserved for the lowest servant since walking in the dirt all day wearing sandals produced filthy feet. Most of all, He commanded Believers to Love each other.

Jesus performed a multitude of miracles (perceptive interruption of the laws of nature by supernatural means). He controlled the weather; turned water into wine (no, it was not grape juice, either); and he miraculously fed thousands of people. Jesus healed the sick; he cured lepers and paralytics; he mended the lame, the blind, and the deaf. He restored those with deformities, and he stopped bleeding incessantly. His most astounding miracle was the restoration of life to the dead. Jesus also claimed the power to forgive the sins of repentant Believers in Him.

Jesus cast out demons from people. Demons are spiritual (non-physical) beings that are hostile to God and engaged in spiritual warfare with humanity. Their Prince of Darkness is Satan (Beelzebub). Demons were at their highest point of activity during the years of Jesus' ministry. Today, they concentrate on the frontiers of God's Kingdom—where the Gospel is expanding; but more so in lands where the Christian Faith is on the wane. Jesus acknowledged the existence of Satan. Satan is the father of lies.

Jesus made a prediction that he would be unjustly killed in the city of Jerusalem, but he also promulgated that He would rise from the dead three days later. He was betrayed with a kiss by His friend, Judas Iscariot, after which he was arrested and put on trial. Jesus proclaimed that He was the Christ, the Son of God, and the King of the Jews. Though pronounced innocent of any wrongdoing by Prefect (Governor) Pilate, the Jews continued to demand that He be crucified: the Romans complied with their demands. It was at that time that Pilate posed one of the most important questions of all time, "What is Truth?" Jesus answered that He had come into the world to testify to the Truth. Jesus was mocked by those in attendance; he was spit upon, given a crown of thorns to wear on His head, savagely flogged, and then—he suffered the most brutal, painful death in history, on the Cross on Calvary. From the Cross He looked down upon his murderers and asked his Father God to forgive them. He knew that at that moment they had no conception of the magnitude of what they had done.

Jesus was buried in a tomb cut out of rock.  In response to the predictions that He would rise from the dead, the Jews and Romans rolled a huge stone in front of the tomb and stationed an armed guard there. On the third day, several women went to the tomb where they saw that the stone had been rolled away. They entered the tomb, and were dismayed when they found it empty. Jesus appeared to them there, and they then ran to the Apostles shouting, "He is risen!" The greatest event in human history had taken place—The Resurrection. Jesus later appeared to his disciples and gave them the Great Commission: To preach the Gospel in all the world! He promised He would be with us always in Spirit. And then, he ascended from the earth up into heaven in front of His Disciples. He promised that He will come again to gather up the faithful. He promised to send the Holy Spirit—our Comforter and Counselor—to dwell among us and within us until He returns in glory. The Holy Spirit— indwelling in us—teaches us; leads us into the Truth; and if necessary, convicts us in our hearts (conscience) when we sin, or think sinful thoughts.

Jesus asks us a very good question, "Who do you say I am?" Jesus lived a sinless life. He was both fully human, and yet he was divine. Jesus and the Father God are one. Jesus existed with God when the world was created by Him. Anyone who saw Jesus saw God Incarnate in the flesh when He dwelled among them. He said the lost would hate Him because He testifies that what they do is evil. Those who do evil hate Jesus, because He shines Light into their darkness, thus exposing their evil deeds. His death was atonement for the sins of all Believers. He said He was the Resurrection and the Life. The Words He spoke came directly from Father God. God loves those who love Jesus. The lost do not know Him. Jesus is the Vine; Father God is the gardener; Believers are the branches. The branches must be pruned to become more healthy. And if they do not remain connected to the Vine, they will be burned. The Resurrection is the central teaching of the Christian Faith. It is proof of the Christian message and confirmation of Jesus' divinity. It is the cause of our Hope and without it our Faith is in vain.

Jesus is the Judge, and the day will come when all of the dead will be raised from their graves to be judged by Him. Those He chooses will live forever. Jesus' teaching were clear; he taught that anyone who disowns Him, will in turn, be disowned by Him when they are judged in the afterlife. Those who are disowned by him will fall weeping; they will gnash their teeth. He likened unbelievers to weeds, who are allowed in this lifetime to exist alongside good wheat, but who will later be burned up by fire at harvest time—at the end of our present human history. True Believers are promised the gift of Eternal Life, promised that they will live with Jesus and God forever. But we must be transformed into a likeness of Him in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus also said that everything we say or do in our lifetimes will become known to all Creation on Judgment Day. We must be prepared when death comes—that on our Day of Judgment—our names might be found in the Book of Life. We must repent of our sins, or we will perish in the burning Lake of Fire. The lost will continue to be carrying on when this world ends; they will be marrying, buying, selling, building, planting—right up until the time that they are destroyed. Jesus said we cannot see the Kingdom of God unless we are Born Again through the Power of the Holy Spirit. Everyone who Believes in Him will receive Eternal Life. For God so loved us He gave His only Son to Save us from damnation. He said many of those considered learned and wise in the ways of this world would reject Him. To Believe does not mean simply thinking this story is true—Satan and his demons know it is true. It means following Jesus—The Way, The Truth and The Life. The Light of the world; the Bread of Life. If we follow Jesus we will obey His Words. Most men will love the darkness more than the Light, and so, be condemned to Eternal Damnation. Those living in darkness hate Jesus, and they will die in their sins. The Truth shall set us free. Free from being slaves to sin. Those who are followers of the Good Shepherd know his voice because they have spent time reading and listening to His Words—and communicating with Him in prayer. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for His sheep. There is no greater Love than to lay down one's life for his friends.