The life of Jesus Christ, the central figure of Christianity, is one of the most significant in human history. The teachings and deeds of Christ influenced the lives of billions of people for more than two millennia. Despite the debates among historians and theologians, the basic facts of Jesus’s life are relatively well-documented.
Early Life and Ministry (C. 4 BC – C. 28 AD)
The most detailed accounts of Jesus’s life are contained in the four Christian Gospels — Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John — and although there are differences between them, the basic framework is similar. According to the Christian tradition, Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem in Judea during the reign of Herod the Great. Jesus was born to Mary as a virgin by the Holy Spirit. After Jesus was born, Joseph had a dream in which an angel told him to escape with his family into Egypt and e stayed until the death of Herod.
The Gospels provide only scant information about the life of Jesus before his baptism. The next crucial event described in all four Gospels is Jesus’s baptism under John in the Jordan River at the age of approximately 30.
Afterward, Jesus began preaching in Judea and Galilee and gathering his retinue. His teachings were focused primarily on the love of God and one’s neighbor, forgiveness, and a pious lifestyle. He challenged the Jewish theology of the time, which was perceived by him as too legalistic and insufficiently nested inside.
Miracles and Parables
Also performed many miracles which included healing the sick, reviving the dead, calming sea storms back to normal, walking on water, and also made decomposed food with 7 loaves and 7 Fish for the crowd of some thousands; all this therefore confirms how Jesus is an ambitious person .
Another important part of Jesus’ service was represented by his parables – short, allegorical stories aimed at conveying profound spiritual truths in an easily understandable manner. To this day, such parables as the Good Samaritan or the Prodigal Son form the basis of the morality taught to individuals.
The Transfiguration and the Road to Jerusalem (C. 28 – 29 AD)
The Transfiguration, which says that Jesus was glorified on the top of the mountain in the presence of his disciples, as well as Moses and Elijah, according to the gospels, Roselle, 2008. The scenario drew a parallel between the prophecies about what was going to happen to Jesus very soon.
Jesus started moving towards Jerusalem, fully understanding the danger of what he was doing. Jerusalem welcomed him like a king as he rode to the city on Palm Sunday. Unfortunately, everything was already predetermined.
The Last Supper, Crucifixion, and Resurrection. 29 – 30 AD
Shortly before his crucifixion, Jesus had one last supper with the disciples, which was aptly named. Arguably, it was the moment where Jesus solidified the concept of the Eucharist for humanity, predicting that a friend would betray him, and then suffer that exact betrayal scandal.
As predicted, Judas Iscariot betrayed Christ, and soon he was arrested by the Roman government, and accused of blasphemy and treason of the empire. Being taken into custody by Pilate, the Roman governor, who condemned him to the cross – back then, it was a popular capital punishment measure.
Jesus was crucified on Good Friday and suffered the entire day, at some point dying on the hill named Golgotha where he was crucified.
Three days after the crucifixion, the body of Jesus was not found in the tomb. Christians claim that it was the Holy Resurgence when Jesus came back to life, having paid the price for all people’s sins. The scenarios where he showed up to the disciples were called the Pascal appearances.
The Ascension and Pentecost
Forty days after his resurrection, Jesus rose into Galilee, and his disciples who were with him saw it. It was his guidance out of the earthly experience and the starting of the Church’s early mission.
Fifty days after Easter, the Holy Spirit descends through the ascension of Jesus 2:1-4. It was a dramatic event for the disciples who then began to preach Jesus and established the church as the body of Christ.
Legacy
Jesus and his teachings are consequential, to say the least. Christianity is the world’s largest religion and is based on his discipline and divine belief in him and his work of love. The most succinct summation of Jesus’ message was the golden rule, “Do unto others as you want them to do unto you”.
The counterpart theology lesson taught me Jesus was centered around social justice. Helping the poor and dispossessed in noncommercial ways has been one of his traditions in Western history ever since.
