For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. - John 3:16
You’ve probably heard the name before, maybe it’s even part of your everyday speech. It’s a name that has become familiar in households around the world. Yes, we’re talking about Jesus. But many don't know who he is. Have you ever asked yourself this question? Maybe you have, but you quickly realize there are so many conflicting opinions, and that is understandable. There are many views out there about Jesus. Some say that he was just a good teacher, a good man, or that Jesus is just a symbol of peace and compassion but nothing special beyond that. Yet still, others say that he never existed. As you can see, these are just some of the many opinions you can find about Jesus. But do they hold any truth? Yes, at least some of them do. For example, Jesus was a good teacher and he was a very compassionate person, but there is more to the story. To learn more about Jesus, we need to go to the original source, the Bible. The Bible offers a historic record of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.
The Bible says that Jesus is God’s Son. How? You see, before all things were created, Jesus lived with his Father in heaven (John 8:23), helping his Father in the creation of all things. Thus, the Bible calls him the Son of God. For example, have you ever helped your parents do something? Maybe it's helping in the kitchen or creating a craft with them. I bet those are some of your best memories with them. Can you imagine the joy Jesus felt to help his Father create the things you see today? We can only imagine. But what changed? Why did Jesus have to leave heaven and come to earth? Why did he need to die?
Let's answer some of these questions. It all began with our first parents, Adam and Eve. You see, God had created them with perfection, and to live forever on a paradise earth, and fill it with people. But there was one thing God wanted from them, just one, obedience. God had put a special tree in the garden. All they had to do was not eat from it. Seems pretty easy, right? And maybe it was easy, but sadly our first parents did not obey. An evil angel, later called Satan, deceived them and they sinned. Subsequently, sin and death came into the world because “the wages of sin is death,” after all (Romans 6:23). But was this the end of the story? Was God done with the human race? Far from it, it was only the beginning. God had made a plan to save the human family. How? This is where Jesus comes into the story. God is righteous and just, and in order for God to restore the human family, someone had to take our place. Who else could come to save us, but the one who helped God make mankind? Yes! Jesus was the perfect candidate for this assessment. We can see a beautiful picture of this conversation between God and his Son: “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I (God) send?’... And I (Jesus) said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’” - Isaiah 6:8,9.
Remember the verse we quoted, “the wages of sin is death”? Here is the second part of that verse: “but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” - Romans 6:23. You see, Jesus is not just the story of a good teacher or a good man, but the story of God’s love for you and me.
What did Jesus do while on earth? While on earth, he taught followers to love God and their neighbors. He taught us to forgive others. Sometimes it can be hard to forgive someone who has hurt you, even if it is someone you love. But now imagine Jesus telling you to forgive your enemies, what a challenge. He wasn't just another revolutionary. He wasn't just another great man. He was the Son of God in the flesh. This is who Jesus is.
What is Jesus doing now? While on earth, Jesus cured the sick. In this way, Jesus was demonstrating what he will do in his future reign of righteousness. Right now, he is laying the groundwork for his kingdom to be established here on earth. There is so much we can learn about Jesus and we could go forever. But let's summarize what we have learned so far. Who is Jesus? Jesus is God's one and only Son, the Father’s “first born of all creation,” and “the beginnings of his ways.” - Colossians 1:16, Proverbs 8:22. Why did Jesus come to Earth and die? To save us from the condemnation of sin and death: “For just as through the disobedience of the one man (Adam) the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man (Jesus) the many will be made righteous”... “so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” - Romans 5:19,20
Now that we learned a little bit more about Jesus, what can we do with this information? Maybe you are looking for a new friend. Good news! Jesus wants to be your friend. He does not care about your race, gender, age, or sexual orientation. He loves you as you are. He is a friend in times of need. Our Heavenly Father loves you so much that he gives his dearest Son to die for you so that you may have an opportunity to gain eternal life. We have only scratched the surface of the story of Jesus.
We invite you to seek a friendship with Jesus.
- A Follower of Christ