Who Is Jesus Christ And What Is His Mission To The World?
Jesus Christ is the central figure of Christianity and one of the most influential people to have ever lived. His life, teachings, death, and resurrection form the foundation of the Christian faith. If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Jesus Christ is believed by Christians to be the Son of God and savior of humanity whose mission was to bring salvation to the world through his death and resurrection.
Now let’s explore this topic in more depth.
In this approximately 3000 word article, we will examine who Jesus Christ is, his origins, his ministry and teachings, his death and resurrection, and his enduring legacy and mission to the world.
The Life and Identity of Jesus Christ
Jesus’s origins and early life
Jesus was born in Bethlehem around 4 BC. His mother was Mary, a virgin, and his father was God himself. Jesus was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit. As a child, Jesus grew up in Nazareth with Mary and Joseph.
The Bible says that Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. Before beginning His public ministry, Jesus worked as a carpenter.
Jesus’s ministry and public life
Jesus began His public ministry around the age of 30 when He was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan river. For three years, Jesus traveled with His twelve disciples teaching large crowds about the kingdom of God.
He performed many miracles like healing the sick, restoring sight to the blind, and even raising the dead. Jesus’ teachings often used parables and focused on God’s love, forgiveness, and salvation. Many believed Jesus was the Messiah and Son of God.
However, Jesus also had critics like the Pharisees who opposed His claims.
Jesus’s identity and claims of divinity
Jesus made radical claims about His identity. He declared, “I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6). On multiple occasions, Jesus overtly claimed to be the divine Son of God. When asked if He was the Christ, the Son of God, Jesus replied “I am” (Mark 14:61-62).
Jesus accepted worship, forgave sins, and stated that He existed before Abraham. To reinforce His authority and divine identity, Jesus performed public miracles. Ultimately, Jesus was crucified for making Himself equal with God. But He proved His divinity by conquering death and rising from the grave.
The Teachings and Parables of Jesus Christ
Overview of Jesus’s moral and ethical teachings
Jesus’s moral and ethical teachings emphasized love, forgiveness, compassion, and service to others. Some of his most important teachings included:
- Love God and love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-39)
- Treat others as you want to be treated (Matthew 7:12)
- Forgive others who wrong you (Matthew 6:14-15)
- Help those in need, like the poor, sick, and outcasts of society (Matthew 25:35-45)
- Be humble and serve others rather than seeking power, status, or wealth (Matthew 20:26-28)
Jesus often taught using vivid stories and examples that captivated audiences. His teachings revealed a revolutionary new model of moral leadership – one that uplifted the meek rather than the powerful.
He taught that the kingdom of God was open to all who embodied the virtues of love, mercy, and humility.
Jesus’s teachings on the kingdom of God
A core theme of Jesus’s message was the coming of the kingdom of God. He taught that the kingdom was not a place or government, but rather God’s spiritual reign in the hearts and minds of people. The kingdom was both a present reality and a future hope.
Jesus described what the kingdom of God is like in many parables. It is like a mustard seed that grows into a large tree, showing how God’s reign grows from small beginnings (Matthew 13:31-32). It is like a pearl or hidden treasure that one joyfully obtains at great cost (Matthew 13:44-46).
Jesus compared the kingdom to a wedding banquet open to all (Matthew 22:1-14).
To enter the kingdom, one must have childlike faith and humility (Matthew 18:3-4). It is open to all who accept it in their hearts regardless of social status or righteousness (Matthew 21:31). But it requires persistent effort and sacrifice (Matthew 11:12).
According to Jesus, living by kingdom values was far more important than material wealth or status (Matthew 6:33).
Important parables told by Jesus
Jesus was a master storyteller, and parables made up a large part of his recorded teachings. Here are some of his most famous and impactful parables:
- The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) – Emphasized compassion for others in need
- The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) – Conveyed the forgiving love of God
- The Sower (Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23) – Showed how God’s message is received differently
- The Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31-32) – Illustrated how God’s kingdom grows from small beginnings
- The Talents (Matthew 25:14-30) – Encouraged using one’s gifts and abilities for God
These vivid stories spoke to the hearts of people, conveying deep spiritual truths through unforgettable characters and imagery. Jesus used parables to challenge and provoke his listeners to discover insights into God’s truths on their own.
The Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ
Jesus’s trial, suffering and crucifixion
Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane and brought before the Sanhedrin council, who condemned Him to death. He was mocked, beaten, and sentenced to crucifixion by Pontius Pilate the next day. Jesus was forced to carry His cross to Golgotha, where He was nailed to the cross between two thieves (Luke 23:32-33).
His suffering fulfilled Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah’s sacrificial death for humanity’s sins.
As Jesus hung on the cross, He forgave those who crucified Him and promised eternal life to one of the thieves crucified beside Him. After about six hours on the cross, He said “It is finished” and died (John 19:30).
His death paid the penalty for sin once for all and opened the way for people to have a restored relationship with God.
The resurrection – Jesus rises from the dead
On the third day after His death, Jesus rose again in a resurrected, glorified body. Women who came to His tomb found it empty except for the burial cloths, and angels declared He had risen (Luke 24:6).
Jesus began appearing to His disciples and others for 40 days, showing His resurrected body and teaching them about God’s kingdom (reference). His resurrection demonstrated His power over death and His deity as the Son of God.
Jesus appeared multiple times to more than 500 witnesses in His resurrected body over the course of 40 days (1 Corinthians 15:6). These eyewitnesses testified to the truth of His bodily resurrection, which was foundational to the spread of Christianity.
Significance of the crucifixion and resurrection
Jesus’ death by crucifixion and His miraculous resurrection three days later are at the heart of the Christian faith. Christians believe Jesus willingly took on the punishment for humanity’s sins by dying on our behalf.
His resurrection proved He defeated sin and death, and it represents His victory being offered to all who believe in Him (1 Peter 1:3).
The crucifixion and resurrection provide the way for people to receive salvation, forgiveness of sins, and reconciliation with God. Those who put their trust in Jesus can spiritually die and rise again with Him to a new, meaningful life (Romans 6:4).
His resurrection also assures believers they too will be resurrected when He returns.
The Enduring Legacy and Mission of Jesus Christ
The worldwide growth of Christianity
Christianity has grown from a small movement in first century Judea to the world’s largest religion practiced by over 2.5 billion people globally. The faith founded on the teachings of Jesus Christ has spread across continents and cultures, adapting unique regional traditions while retaining the core message of salvation through faith in Christ.
A 2021 report by the Pew Research Center found Christianity is still the dominant religion in Europe and the Americas. However, the faith’s influence is also growing rapidly in Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and the Pacific.
By 2050, researchers predict over 60% of Christians will live in Africa and Latin America.
Jesus Christ’s continuing influence in society and culture
The life and teachings of Jesus have profoundly shaped laws, customs, arts, literature and philosophy across civilization. Concepts like human rights, charity, compassion and forgiveness championed by Christ still inspire movements for social reform and justice worldwide.
Jesus’s call to “love your neighbor” laid the ethical foundation for modern humanitarian efforts. Christian clergy like Martin Luther King Jr. and Desmond Tutu spearheaded anti-racism and reconciliation causes.
And Christian aid agencies like the Red Cross provide disaster and poverty relief globally.
In the arts, Jesus and biblical themes still feature prominently across media, from classic works like Michelangelo’s “Pieta” sculpture to modern films like “The Passion of the Christ.”
Jesus’s mission to bring salvation to the world
The central purpose of Jesus’s life and preaching was to reconcile humankind to God through his sacrificial death and resurrection. This mission of cosmic redemption from sin and death is now carried forward by his followers everywhere.
Christian clergy and missionaries spread this message of salvation to nearly every country today. In 2018 alone, over 250,000 Christian missionaries were working abroad spreading their faith according to data from the Center for the Study of Global Christianity (source).
And churches run compassion ministries providing food, education, healthcare and disaster relief to millions in need.
By transforming hearts and serving the poor, modern Christians still strive to continue Jesus’s reconciliation of the world to God – a mission over two millennia in the making that persists changing lives globally.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Jesus Christ is believed by Christians to be the divine Son of God, whose life, teachings, death and resurrection form the basis for the Christian faith. His mission was to bring salvation and redemption to humanity through his sacrifice on the cross.
Jesus changed the course of history, and his influence continues to be felt around the world today. Through his teachings, Christians believe he shows the way to salvation, spiritual truth and everlasting life.
