For over two thousand years, Jesus Christ has been the cornerstone of Christianity for billions of people worldwide. To an outsider, the narrative and importance of Jesus can appear obscured by thousands of years of tradition, iconography, and theology. But underneath it all, Jesus is a person — the key figure behind Christianity whose life, death, and resurrection are the basis of the faith. In this article, we attempt to explain who Jesus of Nazareth was and what we mean by the “Risen Christ.”
Jesus of Nazareth: The Man
Jesus’ Life and Death
Christians believe that Jesus of Nazareth was born approximately 2,000 years ago in the area currently designated as Israel and Palestine. Although the date of his birth is not recorded in the historical record, Christians celebrate his birth at Christmas. Jesus was born into a Jewish family in Bethlehem, raised in the village of Nazareth, and came of age under Roman occupation.
His Early Life
As recounted in the Christian Bible, specifically the Gospels (the first four books of the New Testament), Jesus was the son of Mary, a young woman, and, according to Christian belief, was conceived by the Holy Spirit—and thus his birth was miraculous. His adoptive father, Joseph, was a carpenter. Jesus lived a modest existence and was a carpenter by trade before he started his ministry.
Public Ministry
When he was about 30, Jesus began teaching, preaching, and performing acts that Christians refer to as miracles—such as healing the sick, feeding the hungry, and raising the dead. His message centered on love, compassion, forgiveness, justice, and the arrival of the “Kingdom of God” – a new order of living characterized by peace, justice, and the presence of God.
Jesus assembled his disciples and drew crowds. His teachings frequently challenged the religious and political leaders of his day, prioritizing internal belief and moral actions over mere ritual compliance.
Teachings of Jesus
Jesus’s central message includes loving God and your neighbor as yourself. He preached in parables and advocated humility, generosity, and compassion for the outcasts. He also spoke about God as a loving “Father” and encouraged people to trust in God’s goodness and mercy.
Jesus’s Death
Jesus’s increasing popularity and opposition to religious elites put him at odds with both Jewish leaders and Roman authorities. Christians hailed Jesus as guiltless, but he was arrested, persecuted, and crucified, a favorite mode of execution of the Romans. The approach was savage and intended as a public deterrent. Christians observe Jesus’s crucifixion on Good Friday.
Why Is His Death Important?
For Christians, Jesus’s death was not just the sad demise of a nice guy. Christians see it as an act of sacrifice—Jesus embracing suffering and death to bear the burden of humanity’s misdeeds, often referred to as “sin.” This is what is sometimes referred to as “atonement” — through Jesus' death, the reconciliation of humanity and God becomes possible.
The Risen Christ: Resurrection and Significance
The Resurrection Event
It was not finished with Jesus’s death. Three days after his crucifixion, Christians believe that Jesus rose from the dead. This event, known as the “resurrection,” commemorated at Easter, marks a pivotal turning point in Christian history. As recorded in the Gospels, Jesus visited his disciples and others, alive, bringing peace and speaking about God’s kingdom.
The Significance of the Resurrection
For Christians, the resurrection is not simply another miracle, but rather the authentication of Jesus’s identity and message. It is God’s final defeat of death and evil, a promise of new life to all who believe in Jesus. By rising from the dead, Jesus is said to have ushered in a new era in human history, offering his followers the promise of eternal life with God.
Jesus as Christ
And Christ isn’t a last name anyway; it is a title, derived from the Greek Christos, meaning the Anointed One or the Messiah. Christians believe Jesus was not just a great teacher or prophet, but the prophesied savior described in the Jewish texts. In the resurrection, Jesus is revealed as God’s Son, both human and divine—a mystery at the heart of Christianity.
The Risen Christ in Faith and Worship
Christians believe that Jesus, the Risen Christ, is still with them today—not in body but in spirit, God’s manifestation that guides, comforts, and empowers. The Risen Christ is the head of the church (the body) and the one who mediates before God.
Worship in Christian churches revolves around Jesus as the crucified and risen Lord. This is echoed in prayers, hymns, services, and particularly in the ritual of Communion or the Eucharist, where followers commemorate and honor Jesus' sacrifice and resurrection.
Different Perspectives Within Christianity
Variety of Christian Interpretations
Christianity is not a monolithic tradition; there are many denominations and interpretations of who Jesus is and what his life, death, and resurrection mean. Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, and various Protestant groups may focus on different aspects of Jesus' identity and role. But the faith in Jesus as the Son of God and Risen Christ is the thread.
Jesus versus Other Religions
Jesus is also honored in other faiths. In Islam, for instance, Jesus is a prophet and teacher but not divine. In Judaism, he is a historical figure and therefore not the Messiah. Christians, though, alone confess Jesus to be both God and fully man, the world’s savior.
Conclusion
For Christians, Jesus is God’s love revealed, the example of human life, and the source of salvation and hope. His life and lessons motivate followers to pursue equity, kindness, and peace. His death and resurrection are understood as the definitive triumph over sin and death, paving the path for everyone to live anew with God.
Jesus of Nazareth is a celebrated genius teacher, healer, and savior, whose ancient life and tragic death influenced the arc of history. The Risen Christ, for Christians, is God’s living presence, offering hope, peace, and transformation to believers.
A History of Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years
by Diarmaid MacCulloch
Product information
Product Review Score
4.46 out of 5 stars
122 reviews
