Biography Of Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ, c. 4 BC – 30 AD, was a spiritual teacher who preached the gospel of faith, love, and forgiveness. His teachings and life led to Christianity becoming the dominant religion in the west. Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Other religious traditions also revere Jesus Christ as a prophet of Islam and his teachings are highly admired.
The Early Life of Jesus of Nazareth
Adoration of the Shepherds. Gerard van Honthorst (1622)
Jesus was born in Bethlehem (Judea), which was then part of the Roman Empire. Herod ruled. Jesus was born to a Jewish family. His parents were Mary and Joseph of Nazareth. Jesus was born in Bethlehem as his father had to travel from his birthplace to participate in the Roman census. The census resulted in overcrowding and the family was offered a spot in a stable. Jesus was thus born in the most humble of settings – a manger surrounded by animals.
According to the Gospels the gospels, Jesus’ birth was announced to shepherds in the nearby fields. Three wise men from the East visited Jesus later, offering him gifts of myrrh, frankincense, and gold. Herod received word that a future king of the Jews had been born within his kingdom shortly after Jesus was born. He felt threatened by his temporal power and ordered the execution of all young Jewish boys. According to the Gospels, Joseph saw a vision and was instructed to take his family to Egypt. He returned to Nazareth after it was safe.
Jesus’ childhood is not known. The Gospels focus on his last years of ministry. Jesus may have been a follower of his father and trained as a carpenter. Others suggest that Jesus traveled to India and Persia during this time to learn about India’s spiritual traditions before returning to Nazareth to start his ministry.
According to all three synoptic gospels, Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist in the River Jordan. This was Jesus’ first ministry.
After his baptism, Jesus spent 40 consecutive days in the desert being tempted by Satan. He passed the test and refused to be tempted by wealth or worldly gain.
Sermon On The Mount
Carl Bloch’s Sermon on the Mount
Jesus’ teachings were short and concise, with striking imagery that captured the imagination of listeners. The sermon on the Mount is his most well-known teaching.
Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn; for they will be consoled.
Blessed are humble: they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness; they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
Blessed are those who are pure in heart. They will see God.
Blessed are peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.
Matthew 5
Jesus’s teachings emphasize forgiveness and unconditional love. This was a significant departure from the old scriptures that stressed “an eye for another eye”. Jesus instructed his followers to “love their enemies” and “turn the other cheek.”
“Ye have heard it said that you should love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good for them, and pray that they will not use you or persecute them.
Matthew 5:38-44
Jesus Christ also taught the Kingdom of Heaven was inside. This state, he said, requires that you are willing to let go of attachment to the world and to maintain simplicity and humility – to be like children.
“The kingdom is not coming with signs to observe; nor will they say, “Lo, it’s here!” or “There!” For behold, God’s kingdom is within you (or “within”).
Luke 17:20
Jesus was also known for being a healer. Many miracles Jesus performed were documented in the gospels. (Lazarus)
Jesus was welcomed enthusiastically by the crowds in Jerusalem during his last months of life. Jesus entered the main temple and caused controversy by overturning money lenders’ tables. Jesus criticized them for operating in a sacred temple and claimed they had made the temple into a “den of robbers”. This raised concern among religious authorities who felt threatened by Jesus’ message.
Jesus and his 13 disciples celebrated Passover later that week. He predicted that he would be betrayed and turned over to authorities by one of his disciples.
This happened, as Jesus foretold. Judas betrayed Jesus by kissing Jesus and revealing his love for him to the temple officials. Judas was paid thirty silver coins for his treachery. He later regretted his actions and hung himself from a tree.
He was questioned by the Jewish elders if he was the son of God. Jesus answered, “It is as you speak.” The Jewish authorities gave him the recommendation that he be charged with blasphemy. According to legend, Pontius Pilate was reluctant about having him executed because he didn’t see any crime Jesus had committed against Romans. Pilate’s wife dreamed that Jesus was innocent. His wife tried to convince Pilate to free Jesus. Pilate ordered Jesus to be castrated in the hope that this would appease Jewish authorities. They wanted Jesus to be executed. The Roman authorities were expected to release one prisoner on the Passover feast. The crowd chose Barabbas, a convicted criminal, to be released instead of Jesus. Pilate washed his face, claiming that it wasn’t his crime.
Crucifixion and Death of Jesus
rem brand this-NL-Jesus- Jesus was then taken to Calvary to be executed. He was taunted and beaten by soldiers as well as some of the crowd. Others wept at the sight that Jesus was being executed. He was required to carry a cross, and at one point he fainted. Simon of Cyrene helped him.
Jesus was nailed on the cross with an inscribed above his head. “Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews” (INRI). He was crucified between two thieves
Jesus spoke on the cross as soldiers divided up his clothes through lotteries.
“Father, forgive them. They don’t know what they’re doing.”
Jesus was crucified by a Roman soldier who punctured his side with a spear.
According to the Gospels, Mary Magdalene saw the empty tomb of Jesus on Sunday after the crucifixion. Jesus’ resurrection is revealed to his disciples. Thomas, a disciple of Jesus, doubted the resurrection until he saw Christ’s flesh.
Jesus Christ: Nature
There is much debate about the details of Jesus Christ’s life and teachings due to the lack of historical records. The four canonical gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, are the most popular sources. These gospels were probably written between 70 and 200 years after Christ’s death. Other gospels, such as those of Thomas, Peter, and Mary are also available. Particularly interesting was the discovery and publication of the dead sea scrolls which revealed previously undiscovered texts.
There was much controversy about Jesus Christ’s nature throughout the history of early Christianity. Some believed Jesus was an incarnation directly of God, while others felt that he was both divine and human. Different branches of Christianity emphasized different aspects. The Gnostics, for example, stressed the immanence and ability of followers to have a relationship with God.
The Nicene Creed, which was established the Christian church’s teachings on Jesus in 325 AD. They accepted four Gospels and rejected many others. The Nicene Creed gave great importance to the writings of St Paul. St. Paul stressed the divinity of Jesus Christ as well as the importance of his crucifixion, and resurrection.
Different views of Jesus Christ
Enlightenment views
“A new commandment is given to you: That you love one another, as I have loved and taught you. This will make all men realize that you are my disciples if you love one another.
– Jesus Christ, 13/34-35 KJV
Many key figures in the Enlightenment/Renaissance felt Jesus to be a supreme teacher of moral and religious ideals but rejected claims to divinity and miracles such as the virgin birth. Thomas Jefferson, for example, wrote the ‘Life and Morals of Jesus Christ” (also known as the Jefferson Bible). Benjamin Franklin regarded Jesus Christ as a great moral teacher but didn’t agree with all of the Christian church teachings.
Jesus Christ is a spiritual master in the Hindu/Indian tradition. A person who has reached God-realization or self-realization. Jesus Christ is often referred to as an Avatar, a fully realized soul who has a special mission to save many souls. Many Indian spiritual masters view Jesus Christ as divine, ‘an incarnation God’. However, they don’t accept that Jesus Christ alone achieved this spiritual realization.
According to Islamic tradition, Jesus Christ is considered an important prophet of God.