About Jesus
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WHO IS JESUS?
This is the most important question that a person can ask! All of our history hinges on His life, death, and resurrection. The teachings He gave us have driven and changed the world for two thousand years. He claimed to be the Son of God and one with the Father, making Him fully God and fully man. Because of His centrality to world history, His claim must not be ignored. He was either a liar, a lunatic, or Lord of everything.
HIS BIRTH (Top of page)
The Virgin Birth — Jesus was miraculously conceived and born of Mary, a virgin. Although God provided Joseph as a step-father for Jesus, God Himself was the one who, by Spirit, brought the Child into existence in Mary's womb; hence the name: "Son of God."
Humble Beginnings — It is of great importance that God decided His Messiah would be born in a feeding trough in a stable. Although nobility would eventually visit the Boy-Savior, the first announcement of His birth was made to the blue-collar shepherds out in the hills.The mission of God's anointed was set at birth towards those who were considered "common" or "crude", and towards those who knew they needed a Deliverer.
The most familiar and beloved account of Christ's birth is found in the Gospel of Luke, chapters 1 and 2.
HIS LIFE (Top of page)
Without Sin — Although Jesus was tempted in all ways, just like us, He overcame those temptations and lived a life completely within the will of God the Father, that is, without sin. Hebrews 4:14-15
A Friend of Sinners — Jesus was sent to bring broken people into a relationship with God, through Himself. He befriended and fellowshipped with those who were considered useless and evil by the "religious leaders" and culture of His time. Matthew 9:9-13
A Miracle Worker — We have no doubt that the miracles that are recorded as Jesus' work actually occurred. We believe this not only because we trust the truth of the Bible, but also because we have seen miracles in our midst. John 21:24-25
The Great Teacher — Jesus was fully God and fully man, and He was the greatest teacher to ever walk on the earth. He revealed, with unassailable authority, the heart and desire of God for the ages. John 6:66-69
The Way, the Truth and the Life — Jesus' life and teachings are the center of our faith. All of God's Word is interpreted through Him as well as all of our experiences on our faith journey. He is the glue that holds the inerrant Word of God, the Bible, together. John 1:1-18, John 6:66-69, John 14:6-7
HIS DEATH (Top of page)
There are no words or pictures that can adequately describe the horror and importance of the death of Jesus Christ. He was executed by the Roman government under Governor Pontius Pilate. The worldly reason for His execution seems to have been to appease the local authorities and religious leaders. But God's purpose was far different.
"God made Him who was without sin to be sin for us..." II Corinthians 5:21a.
Jesus Christ, the innocent Lamb of God, took all of our brokenness, sickness and rebellion on Himself to pay the price for our sins, to spare us the punishment and to count us clean within our relationship with a loving but completely holy God. The Crucifixion is recorded in all four Gospels.
Matthew 27:32-56, Mark 15:21-41, Luke 23:26-49, John 19:16-42
HIS RESURRECTION (Top of page)
Recorded in all four gospels, there is more historical evidence for the Resurrection of Jesus Christ than any other event in ancient history. There are more witnesses to His return to life than to the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Eleven men went to their graves with this testimony on their lips, that Jesus lived and they had seen Him. Ten of them died for that faith, horrible martyrs' deaths, and not one recanted. The eleventh, John faced torture and exile and died still preaching the truth of the Resurrection. These are not the actions of men who lie for their own advancement, truth comes out. No mass delusion could account for it, only a living Christ, back from the dead as He prophesied fits the facts. Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20
The Resurrection completes the victory. Death is conquered and the identity of Jesus as God is proven. He ascended to Heaven where He sits at the right hand of God the Father pleading the cases of His children with His blood. Romans 8:34
HIS RETURN (Top of page)
He is coming again, in the flesh. We are not given to know much more. The Bible speaks of the Return, the Second Advent, in several places but Christ himself speaks of it in Luke 17:20-37. No one knows when. No one understands how. We know only that He will keep His promise.
