No one has shaped history like Jesus of Nazareth. Calendars count from His birth. His teaching shaped laws, hospitals, schools, and art. But the question He asked His own followers is still the most important one: "Who do you say that I am?" (Matthew 16:15, WEB).
A real person in history
Jesus lived in first-century Judea, grew up in Nazareth, taught across Galilee, and was crucified in Jerusalem under the Roman governor Pontius Pilate. The four Gospels — Matthew, Mark, Luke and John — tell His story, and early non-Christian writers, including the Roman historian Tacitus and the Jewish historian Josephus, mention Him too. Christianity has never been about a myth; it rests on events that happened in a real place and time.
Fully God
The Bible makes an astonishing claim: Jesus is not only a great teacher but God Himself come to us.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... The Word became flesh, and lived among us." — John 1:1, 14 (WEB)
Paul calls Him "the image of the invisible God" (Colossians 1:15, WEB). Jesus forgave sins, accepted worship, and spoke with God's own authority. When Peter answered Jesus' question, he said: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16, WEB).
Fully human
Jesus was also completely human. He was born, grew up, got tired and hungry, wept at a friend's grave, and felt deep anguish before His death. The Bible says He understands our weakness because He "has been in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15, WEB). God did not stay distant; He came close.
Why He came
- To rescue. "The Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10, WEB).
- To serve and give His life. He "came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45, WEB).
- To show us the Father. "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me" (John 14:6, WEB).
Why He died and rose again
Every person has sinned and is separated from God. Jesus, who never sinned, "humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, yes, the death of the cross" (Philippians 2:8, WEB) — taking the penalty for our sin in our place. Then, on the third day, He rose from the dead. The resurrection is the centre of the Christian faith: it shows that His sacrifice was accepted and that death does not have the last word. Our Gospel explainer walks through the whole message.
Why it matters for you
If Jesus is who He said He is, He is not only someone to admire but someone to follow. He offers forgiveness, a restored relationship with God, and new life to everyone who turns to Him in faith. Read next: what salvation means, or go straight to our Know Jesus page to respond to Him today.
Still exploring? That's welcome. Read one of the Gospels — Mark is short and fast — and bring your honest questions; our guide to honest questions about God is a good companion. And you are always welcome to come and talk with us on a Tuesday night in Hamilton.
More questions
- Was Jesus a real historical person?
- Yes. Jesus lived in first-century Judea and was crucified under the Roman governor Pontius Pilate. Besides the New Testament, early non-Christian writers such as the Roman historian Tacitus and the Jewish historian Josephus mention Him.
- Is Jesus God?
- Christians believe Jesus is God the Son, the second person of the Trinity, who became human. John 1:1 calls Him the Word who "was God," and John 1:14 says "the Word became flesh, and lived among us."
- Why did Jesus die?
- The Bible says Jesus died for our sins — taking the penalty we deserved so we could be forgiven and brought back to God. He said He came "to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45), and He rose again on the third day.
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