Who is Jesus

 

Intro

Sooner or later, all of us will need a Savior. We all make mistakes that we cannot fix, experience losses we cannot recover from, face pains, persecution, tragedies, burdens, and disappointments that we cannot handle alone. The good news is... we don’t have to handle them alone.

 

The world knows that 2,000 years ago, a man named Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem, but he grew up in Nazareth, in what is now called Israel. He traveled around the region, gaining a large following. After a few years, the religious leaders in Jerusalem falsely accused him of crimes and handed him over to the Roman authorities, who executed him by nailing him to a cross. A short time later, his followers preached in the name of Jesus Christ, whom they claimed had risen from the dead. More and more followers joined this movement, which has become the Christian church today.

 

These are the historical facts that even the greatest skeptics acknowledge. However, there is so much more to Jesus than just these events. Who he was, what he did on earth, and what he can do for us now is all revealed in the Bible. This book contains detailed accounts of Jesus' life, written by the generation of people who heard him teach and witnessed his deeds. If you have read the Bible, you will have no doubt that we can trust its teachings.

 

Why God Sent Jesus: To Reveal the Father

To understand why jesus came to the earth, we must explore why God became man. In order for men to comprehend something above our nature, we need something we can grasp. God became one of us; He became a human being.

 

But what is God really like? Is it possible to know Him personally?

In the Old Testament, God began to reveal Himself as the Creator, Lawgiver, Judge, and Redeemer of His people. And then came Jesus (Hebrews 1:1–2). Jesus revealed God in a way that really caught our attention. Without Jesus, we would not be able to see God. “No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known” (John 1:18). Jesus is, in fact, “the exact representation and perfect imprint of His [Father’s] essence” (Hebrews 1:3, AMP). That is, if you’ve seen Jesus, you’ve seen the Father (John 14:9). Jesus is indeed the image of God.

Without Jesus, we would doubt God’s love. But in the works that He did and the death that He died, Jesus revealed God’s love (Romans 5:8). Without Jesus, we would question God’s goodness and care. But Jesus revealed God’s knowledge of our needs and His desire to meet them (Matthew 6:8). Without Jesus, we might consider God unfair. But in His interactions with people of all backgrounds, Jesus revealed God’s impartiality.

 

"If you wish to know what God is like you need to go no further than to look at Jesus."

 

Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'"(John 14:9).

 

The teachings of Jesus

 

"(Matt. 7:12). Love for others should be understood primarily as actions, not affection (Matt. 25:31–46; Luke 6:27–28; 10:25–30), which is to be extended even to our enemies."

 

To understand the teaching of Jesus Christ is to first understand that Jesus was God come in the flesh — that is, Jesus is the image of the invisible God. You need to understand that Jesus was not merely a man or a prophet but that Christ Jesus is God. When you understand the previous, the teachings of Jesus will become much more clear to you. In the following article you will get huge insight of the teachings of Jesus. It is of great importante to read this article, for you will also see the complexity of His use of words.

 

 

Religion or kingdom?

 

"It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."

 

Religion is constructed by human beings, not by Christ. In fact, religion often divides the one Body of Christ into warring factions. When you follow the teachings of Jesus, you will discover that he is bringing a kingdom, not selling a religion. The kingdom of God is the restoration of the relationship God intended between Himself and humanity, a relationship that was interrupted by the disobedience of Adam and Eve.

 

In the kingdom, love prevails over hate, lust, greed, envy, and selfishness. God provides for our needs; we just have to follow His teachings. Those who believe in the kingdom and strive to live according to its principles will have eternal life with God and with all the believers who have gone before.

 

"The kingdom is inside of you and it is outside of you. When you come to know yourselves, then you will be known, and you will realize that you are the son of the living Father."

 

What can we learn from Jesus?

 

First of all, and perhaps most importantly, love God with all that you are. If we love God with ALL that we are, everything else falls into place. When we love other things or people more than we love God, it sets us up for trouble. Don’t love anyone or anything more than you love God.

 

We are called to love our enemies and do good to those who hate you. That’s right — according to the Son of God, we’re supposed to love even our enemies!

 

The kingdom of God is what we must pursue. Jesus declared in Matthew 6:33: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Instead of running after what we think we need or want, we should be pursuing God’s Kingdom, knowing that He will take care of everything.

 

Do not love money, for it will blind you. The key is this: control your money; don’t let it control you.

 

We also don’t need to worry about earthly needs, because He will provide. Jesus reminds us in Matthew 6:24: “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?” God is a good Father, and He will never let us down!

 

Serving others in the name of Christ is the greatest indication of one’s spirituality. When one becomes a servant and lives according to the principles of serving, they are closer to spiritual maturity than ever before.

 

Forgiveness doesn’t mean that what someone did to you was okay; it means that you are releasing them from the debt they owe you for the wrong they’ve done (a debt they most likely cannot repay anyway). Releasing them frees you to have peace and enjoy your life. If you want forgiveness, first, you must give it. You may want to read the forgiveness tab to understand more about this concept. 

 

In Jesus' day, religious people were consumed with following rules and laws that were impossible to keep. They were obsessed with outward appearances, focusing on looking good to others. But in Matthew 15:11, Jesus taught:

 

“Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”

 

Denying ourselves means choosing what God says over what we or others say. It means choosing God’s ways over our own, choosing what is right over what is easy or convenient. When we deny ourselves, we may lose relationships or opportunities, but in the end, we gain real life in Christ.

 

The central message of Jesus’ teachings is love, for it is the very essence of God's character. Following His teachings makes the road to spiritual maturity much clearer and easier. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.