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Jesus

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Jesus was a Jewish preacher from the first century.

The Ministry of Jesus
The Ministry of Jesus

He lived in a Roman province called Judaea. Most historians agree that he was a real person. He is the central figure of Christianity. This is now the largest religion in the world. Many people call him Jesus of Nazareth. His name in Hebrew is Yeshua. This name means "God saves."

JesusYeshua2
JesusYeshua2

The word Christ is actually a title. It comes from a Greek word meaning "anointed." This is the same idea as the Hebrew word messiah.

Stories of his life come from the four Gospels.

These are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. These books are part of the New Testament. Some scholars call the first three the Synoptic Gospels. This is because they share a similar view of his life. The Gospels describe his journey as a teacher. He often used parables to teach lessons. A parable is a simple story used to explain a truth. He also had twelve close followers called apostles.

Brooklyn Museum - The Exhortation to the Apostles (Recommandation aux apôtres) - James Tissot
Brooklyn Museum - The Exhortation to the Apostles (Recommandation aux apôtres) - James Tissot

Christian tradition tells us about his early life. He was baptized by John the Baptist as a young adult.

ဗတ္တိဇံ
ဗတ္တိဇံ

After fasting for 40 days in the wilderness, he began his work. He traveled as an itinerant teacher. This means he moved from place to place. He debated Jewish law and performed healings. Christians believe he was the Son of God. They believe he rose from the dead on the third day.

Alexander Ivanov - Christ's Appearance to Mary Magdalene after the Resurrection - Google Art Project
Alexander Ivanov - Christ's Appearance to Mary Magdalene after the Resurrection - Google Art Project

This event is celebrated every year on Easter Sunday.

His life ended in a very difficult way. According to the New Testament, he was arrested in Jerusalem. He was tried by the Sanhedrin and handed to Roman leaders.

The Taking of Christ-Caravaggio (c.1602)
The Taking of Christ-Caravaggio (c.1602)

A Roman official named Pontius Pilate ordered his crucifixion.

Cristo crucificado
Cristo crucificado

This was a form of execution used at that time. Many different faiths have their own views on these events. Muslims believe Jesus was a prophet of God. They believe God raised him to Heaven while he was still alive.

Chester Beatty T 414 fol 102v Isa ascends to heaven
Chester Beatty T 414 fol 102v Isa ascends to heaven

Judaism holds that he was not the messiah.

Jesus's life has shaped how we track time today. Much of the world uses a calendar based on his birth. We call this era AD or CE. Christians celebrate his birth on December 25 as Christmas.

Gerard van Honthorst - Adoration of the Shepherds (1622)
Gerard van Honthorst - Adoration of the Shepherds (1622)

They also remember his death on Good Friday. Different groups still study his words and his life. His impact can be seen in many different cultures. Even today, people around the world wonder about his message. His story remains one of the most famous in history.

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🖼️ Images & Media (32)
File:JesusYeshua2.svg
JesusYeshua2.svg
File:Dublin, Chester Beatty Ms Papyrus 45 BP I ff.13-14 Luke 11.50-12.12; 12.18-37; 12.42-13.1; 13.jpg
Dublin, Chester Beatty Ms Papyrus 45 BP I...
File:Gerard van Honthorst - Adoration of the Shepherds (1622).jpg
Gerard van Honthorst - Adoration of the...
File:Bellini-circumcision-NG1455-fm.jpg
Bellini-circumcision-NG1455-fm.jpg
File:William Holman Hunt - The Finding of the Saviour in the Temple - Google Art Project.jpg
William Holman Hunt - The Finding of the...
File:El bautismo de Jesús, por José Ferraz de Almeida Júnior.jpg
El bautismo de Jesús, por José Ferraz de...
File:Ary Scheffer - The Temptation of Christ (1854).jpg
Ary Scheffer - The Temptation of Christ (1854).jpg
File:Bloch-SermonOnTheMount.jpg
Bloch-SermonOnTheMount.jpg
File:Brooklyn Museum - The Exhortation to the Apostles (Recommandation aux apôtres) - James Tissot.jpg
Brooklyn Museum - The Exhortation to the...
File:Hoffman-ChristAndTheRichYoungRuler.jpg
Hoffman-ChristAndTheRichYoungRuler.jpg
File:Pompeo Batoni 003.jpg
Pompeo Batoni 003.jpg
File:Christ cleans leper man.jpg
Christ cleans leper man.jpg

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