Jesus is one of the most important figures in the history of the world. He is even the most important person in the Christian faith. In the Bible you will find many stories and quotes about Jesus, and numerous books have been written about his life and mission. People all over the world want to know more about this extraordinary man. Who is Jesus? Did Jesus really exist? Where was Jesus born? Is Jesus God?
What does the name Jesus mean?
For many people, Jesus is a historical figure from the past. An interesting man and many are inspired by his outlook on life and his sense of justice. That's about it. But this Jesus has a greater influence on our lives than we think. First, take a look at our calendar. Look at today's date. This date is determined by the birth of Jesus. The day he was born marks the beginning of our era.
What's in a name?
Christmas is a joyous family gathering for many of us. But we don't always realize that the birth of Jesus really changed the world forever. His mom and dad, Joseph and Mary, welcomed their little baby boy and said, His name is Jesus. That means 'Yahweh saves'. Yahweh is a Jewish description of God. His name means God saves. Christians believe that this was Jesus' purpose: to save us. In the Bible you will find many different names to describe Jesus. All highlighting various aspects of his character.
He is seen as the Son of God . His arrival was also the birth of the church. Did Jesus really exist? Yes! The fact that he walked this earth has had an incredible impact. For example: Where do all these vacations come from? Every year we celebrate Christmas, Easter and even Carnival. All of these holidays mark important moments in the life of Jesus.
What was Jesus' mission?
Let's start at the beginning: Where was Jesus born? He was born in Israel, in the city of Bethlehem. Israel was a Jewish country and Jesus was born Jewish. His mission in life became not only to make known to Jews but to people all over the world: God saves. His name is Jesus. His name is the perfect summary of what Christians believe Jesus' mission was.
Family business
So Joseph and Mary were his parents, so you may be wondering why he is called the Son of God . That's a very good question and why did God become human...God created the earth, people, all the animals, nature: he is the creator of everything. He loves his creation immensely. But many people are not interested in this creator. Maybe because he seems so far away. You can't see him. You can't touch him. You can't have a normal conversation with him. What are we supposed to do with an all-powerful God on his throne locked in heaven? What does he know about the struggles we face on this earth? God missed that very connection. He wanted to experience life on earth so he could truly connect. To embrace people, to experience life, to be close. I could even describe Jesus as an agent in the family business. He came to represent his father. He came as the Son of God.
Impact
Jesus has said and done so many things in his life. He came at the age of 33. Jesus' timeline was filled with extraordinary encounters and strange events. His death was a game changer. Whether you believe he is the Son of God or not, you cannot deny his great impact on the world. The fact that you are reading about Jesus right now, more than 2000 years after his death, is proof that his life had great significance.
To this day, millions of people, in all nations and languages, believe that God saves.