Who is Jesus?
Academics tell us there is no other credible explanation for the sudden birth and spread of Christianity in the first century other than there was a man called Jesus. But who was he?
For over 2000 years people have debated over this man who had such an impact on the world that even our calendar centres around him!
Most of us would say he was a good man, with good teaching, although most of us struggle to keep it all.
Some believe he was a prophet but he doesn’t seem to have been a very good one because he did not point to God but called people to believe in himself as though he were God, saying things like “I am the way, the truth and the life”. A bit arrogant or demented if not true.
For us at Sutton Coldfield Baptist Church and millions of followers of Jesus around the world, we have come to believe that Jesus was and is God in human form. This begs another question, why would God become a man?
God the creator, understandably cares deeply about all that he made. His character is best summed up in one four letter word – love. So what can a loving God do about the mess the world is in?
Jesus comes to model, explain and even bring about some solutions. It might be helpful for us to identify 5 problems that Jesus is the answer to…
Jesus, the answer to…
Division, confusion and injustice
Jesus came to model a radical life of love that, when copied and obeyed, is a new kingdom that is good news for everyone especially the poor, hurting and excluded. But more than telling us how to live Jesus sends his Spirit to live in us when we invite him in; he guides and strengthens us to live a life more like Jesus. We call this discipleship.
Meaningless, emptiness and pointlessness
When we live our lives for ourselves, it feels pointless because this is not what we were made for. We were made to love. Jesus came to command us to love one another. When we use the unique talents and character God has created in us, for his purpose of love then we find the true life in all it’s fulness. We call this calling.
Jesus said he came “to seek and save the lost”
Regret, shame and guilt
Because we don’t live the way God intended and because we hurt others, whether deliberately or inadvertently, the closer we get to God the more we become aware of our inadequacy. Some of us without even coming close to God carry deep shame that we can’t seem to shake off. Disciples of Jesus believe Jesus died on the cross, that through us admitting our failures and bringing them to him for forgiveness, he can wash and cleanse us, helping us to be free from guilt. We call this salvation.
Self hatred, low self esteem, and a sense of isolation
Bombarded with so many angry voices from life and religion, we are all looking for someone who loves us for who we are, not for what we can do for them or for what we have achieved. Through the wonder of both Christmas and Easter Jesus reveals his remarkable love for each and every human being; saving us was worth a costly price to himself. In Jesus we see the remarkable undeserved, unfailing love of God. We call this grace.
Death, suffering and loss
There is so much suffering in the world, we long for a world where we are free from illness, injustice and death. Jesus came to show us that there is an invitation to that new world. By coming back to life (the best explanation for the empty tomb being the beginning of Christianity), Jesus demonstrated that death is not the end and that those who admit their need for salvation and choose to be his disciples, will also one day rise from the grave to a new eternal life of joy and peace. We call this hope.
How can I become a disciple of Jesus?
It’s as easy as A, B, C…
Admit
- What we have done wrong when living our own way
- That we need God’s forgiveness in order to live forever
- That we can’t change on our own
Believe
- Jesus is our Saviour who died to take our place
- Jesus is our Lord who will live within us by his Spirit
Choose
- To live for Jesus and ask the Spirit of Jesus to fill us
- To partner with, and learn from other disciples in a church community
- To study and obey the Bible that tells us all about Jesus
- To tell others of your decision (Baptism is a good idea!)
“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die”
Jesus in John 11: 25-26
Getting Started
Here are some links to help you get started on your new journey
Get in touch with us to say hello or ask any questions
Find out more about Jesus at the Alpha Course
Explore the Bible, listen to music and hear from other Christians on our YouTube channel
Begin reading the Bible using the YouVersion (start with the books about Jesus – Matthew, Mark, Luke or John)