Why Is Jesus Important? A Detailed Look At The Significance Of Jesus Christ
The question of why Jesus Christ is important has been pondered for over 2000 years. As one of the most influential figures in human history, Jesus has shaped cultures, governments, art and more. But who exactly was Jesus, and why does he still captivate people today?
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Jesus Christ is important because he is believed to be the Son of God who was sent to redeem humanity from sin through his life, death and resurrection.
His teachings form the basis for Christianity and have impacted billions of lives over 2000 years.
In this comprehensive article, we will explore the significance of Jesus Christ in detail.
We will look at Jesus’ life and identity, analyze his core teachings, discuss the impact of his death and resurrection, examine how he influenced history and culture, and reflect on why his legacy still endures today.
With over 3000 words, this article will provide an in-depth examination of the central figure of Christianity and one of the most monumental people to ever walk the earth.
The Life and Identity of Jesus Christ
Jesus’ origins and early life
Jesus was born around 4 BC in Bethlehem to Mary and Joseph. According to the Gospels, his birth was miraculous as Mary conceived Jesus while still a virgin. This fulfilled Old Testament prophecies about the coming Messiah.
Jesus’ early life remains mostly a mystery except for a few stories like his family’s flight to Egypt to escape King Herod and Jesus discussing theology in the Jerusalem temple at 12 years old.
These stories establish Jesus as exceptional from a very early age.
Ministry and preaching
Jesus began his public ministry around 30 AD when he was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan river. After 40 days of temptation in the Judaean Desert, Jesus returned to Galilee and chose 12 Apostles to accompany him.
He soon gained a reputation as a powerful preacher, teacher and miracle worker.
His most famous sermon is the Sermon on the Mount where he expands on moral commandments with statements like “Love your enemies” and “Do not judge”.
Large crowds followed him wherever he went, attracted by his wisdom and ability to heal the sick.
The core themes of Jesus’ teaching centered on the Kingdom of God being immanent. He urged people to repent their sins before God’s judgment. Yet he also brought a message of grace, dining with sinners and outcasts of society.
Overall, Jesus placed love for God and neighbors as life’s greatest commands. His radical message threatened the authorities who eventually had him arrested.
Conflict with authorities
Jesus was popular with common people but seen as a troublemaker by the political and religious elite. They were alarmed at his claims to authority, including forgiving people’s sins.
The Sadducees and Pharisees, two major Jewish sects, challenged Jesus on issues like the Sabbath, divorce laws and paying taxes.
They tried trapping him with loaded questions but he eluded their verbal snares.
As Jesus’ following grew, so did the authorities’ desire to quash his uprising. After Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead in Bethany, the chief priests seriously began plotting to arrest and execute him.
Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus’ own disciples, betrayed him to the temple guards who arrested Jesus.
Over the next 18 hours, Jesus was put on trial before the Jewish Sanhedrin court and the Roman governor Pontius Pilate. Though repeatedly declaring Jesus “not guilty” of any chargeable offense, Pilate eventually buckled under political pressure and ordered Jesus crucified.
The Teachings of Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ’s teachings focused on concepts like love, forgiveness, the Kingdom of God, righteousness, and ethics. His words and lessons aimed to provide moral guidance and spiritual truths.
Love, Forgiveness, and Compassion
Central to Christ’s message was the commandment to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31). He taught that love and compassion should extend to all people, even enemies.
For example, he told followers to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44).
Forgiveness was another major theme. Christ emphasized forgiveness as a moral imperative, saying “if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:15).
He told parables equating divine forgiveness with human forgiveness, like the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant (Matthew 18:23-35).
The Kingdom of God
Jesus frequently spoke in parables about the “Kingdom of God” or “Kingdom of Heaven.” This refers to both a literal kingdom that Christ will establish on earth upon his return as well as a spiritual kingdom centered around loving God and loving one’s neighbor.
Christ portrayed this kingdom as open to all people who embrace his teachings.
He explained that “the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you” (Matthew 21:31) to the religious elite of his day who neglected justice, mercy and faithfulness.
Entering the Kingdom requires childlike faith, repentance, renewal, and obedience.
Ethics and Righteousness
Jesus called his followers to a high ethical standard summed up in the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12), where he pronounced blessings on the meek, merciful, pure in heart, and peacemakers.
Other famous ethical teachings include the directive to “do to others what you would have them do to you” (Matthew 7:12) known as the Golden Rule.
Christ placed love of God above traditional rituals. When asked about the greatest commandment in the Hebrew law, he replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37).
He taught that outward displays of faith matter less than having a pure, moral heart.
The Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ
The crucifixion
Jesus Christ was condemned to death by Pontius Pilate and crucified in Jerusalem around 30-33 AD.
According to the Gospels, Jesus was falsely accused of blasphemy by the Jewish Sanhedrin and turned over to the Romans, who mocked him and flogged him before leading him to Calvary hill to be nailed to a cross between two thieves (Luke 23:32-43).
As Jesus hung on the cross, he spoke his last words before dying: “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46). This sacrificial death of Jesus is central to Christianity.
Resurrection and salvation
According to the New Testament, after Jesus’ death, his body was wrapped in linen and placed in a tomb owned by Joseph of Arimathea. On the third day, Mary Magdalene and other women discovered the tomb empty except for the burial cloths (Luke 24:1-3).
Jesus then began making appearances to his disciples, convincing them he had been raised from the dead.
His resurrection confirmed his power over sin and death, and paved the way for the salvation of mankind (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Most scholars date the resurrection to around 30-33 AD.
For Christians, Jesus’ resurrection symbolizes that death is not the end. Belief in Jesus’ resurrection brings the promise of everlasting life.
As the risen Lord told his followers: “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live” (John 11:25).
Faith in Christ and his atoning sacrifice on the cross makes redemption from sin possible.
Meaning for Christianity
Jesus’ death by crucifixion is undeniably one of the most influential events in history. This supreme act of sacrifice changed the course of mankind and is central to the Christian faith.
For Christians today, Good Friday and Easter remain the most significant religious holidays on the calendar.
Jesus’ willing death to pay for human sin serves as a remarkable example of selfless love and humility (Philippians 2:5-8). His resurrection gives hope of new life both now and for eternity.
It confirms Jesus’ authority and the truth of His word (John 2:22).
Without Jesus’ atoning death and victorious triumph over the grave, he could not be considered the Son of God.
As the divine savior, Jesus bridges the gap between a holy God and sinful humanity. He makes forgiveness and reconciliation possible through spiritual rebirth (Titus 3:4-7).
No other event holds as much meaning for Christianity as the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The Historical Impact of Jesus Christ
The spread of Christianity
Jesus Christ’s life and teachings are at the very foundation of Christianity. After his death, his disciples spread his message far and wide, evangelizing across the Roman Empire and beyond.
The apostle Paul played a pivotal role in the rapid expansion of the early Christian church. Despite intense persecution, Christianity continued to grow throughout the first few centuries AD.
By 300 AD, an estimated 6 million people in the Roman Empire were Christians, and by the middle ages most of Europe had converted to Christianity.
Today there are over 2.5 billion Christians worldwide, making Christianity the world’s largest religion. From humble beginnings, the faith inspired by Jesus revolutionized religion and society.
The worldwide spread of Christianity is an incredible historical phenomenon directly traceable back to Jesus’s influence.
Influence on society and culture
Jesus’s teachings on love, forgiveness, humility and service have had a profound effect on human societies. Christian values emphasized the inherent dignity of all people, compassion for the poor and vulnerable, and the equality of all before God.
This led to reforms in social welfare, education, criminal justice and human rights in many Christian nations over the centuries.
Christian influence helped end practices like slavery in the British empire, and inspired major social reformers like William Wilberforce.
In art and literature, Jesus has been one of the most influential figures in all of human history. Great artists like Michelangelo, Raphael and Salvador Dali created iconic paintings depicting his life.
Classic literary works ranging from Dante’s Divine Comedy to Tolstoy’s The Kingdom of God is Within You drew inspiration from the Gospels. Christmas and Easter are now celebrated globally, with major cultural traditions centered around Jesus.
Clearly his life resonated in the creative spirit of Western civilization.
Shaping history and politics
Jesus Christ has significantly shaped the trajectory of history on a political and economic level too. The emperor Constantine converted the Roman Empire to Christianity in the 4th century AD, altering the very fabric of one of the most powerful civilizations ever.
Medieval Europe was dominated by Christian kingdoms guided by Jesus’s teachings, for better and worse.
Christian conviction has influenced numerous social justice and peace movements, like the campaigns to abolish slavery and the civil rights movement. On the other hand, wars have also been fought in Christ’s name, highlighting both the light and dark sides of organized religion.
Nonetheless, for over 2000 years Jesus has profoundly impacted law, culture, economics and politics across the globe. Perhaps no single person has shaped the course of human history more than Jesus Christ.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Jesus Christ remains a profoundly significant figure even 2000 years after his life on earth. As the central figure of Christianity, his teachings and example continue to influence the lives of billions of adherents across the globe.
Culturally and historically, Jesus has left an undeniable impact as well. His life story has shaped art, literature, philosophy, and social progress over two millennia. While faith in Jesus requires a spiritual leap, the mark he left on human civilization is impossible to deny.
Even in our modern, fast-paced world, the poignant story and timeless wisdom of Jesus Christ still provides meaning, inspiration and hope to people seeking truth.
Regardless of one’s personal beliefs, grappling with the extraordinary life and legacy of Jesus is vital for anyone desiring to understand the unfolding of human history.
