Why Jesus? |
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More than a Story?Imagine it. Imagine you know someone from the most understated of upbringings who lives a completely perfect life - a life laden with friendship, wisdom and miracles, who then dies a painful, harrowing death and finally rises to full life again. It’s almost completely unbelievable. How are we supposed to react to something like this?
Imagine it. Imagine you know someone from the most understated of upbringings who lives a completely perfect life - a life laden with friendship, wisdom and miracles, who stands up for the oppressed and calls out social injustices, who then dies a painful, harrowing death and finally rises to full life again. It’s almost completely unbelievable. How are we supposed to react to something like this?
There is so much reliable historical evidence to suggest that this story is more than a fable. Evidence from Christians, evidence from the Jews, evidence from the Romans. Numerous reliable accounts written 2000 years ago speak of hundreds of witnesses. The historical evidence testifies that these amazing things actually happened. A man called Jesus died an horrifically painful death, was buried behind heavy stone with a twenty-four-hour guard in position. Three days later, not only are the guards scared off and the huge stone is rolled away, but the man who was dead and buried was suddenly alive and walking around again, performing miracles, still bearing the scars from when he was killed. Jesus lived, died and rose again.
When we each reflect on who Jesus was, what He did and whether it matters to us, we might have different responses. Sometimes when we think about Jesus’s life, death and resurrection it's not easy to make sense of what difference it makes to us today. It was so long ago, and such an amazing thing to happen. That's not at all surprising.
Whatever your response, the fact that a man lived, died and rose again is a story that is worth exploring. There might be more to life, death and beyond than what we currently know. |
What We BelieveWhat do Christians believe about Jesus? Christians believe that Jesus lived, died and rose again for you and for me.
What do Christians believe about Jesus? Christians believe that Jesus lived, died and rose again for you, for me and for the whole earth.
We believe the story starts with God creating this world full of life, beauty, love, freedom, creativity, peace, hope, joy and goodness. We believe that is God is good, that He is always loving and present to His creation, and that creation is an expression of His goodness. We believe His purposes for this world are wonderful, His hopes for us are glorious and His ways lead to life in all its fulness.
Christians believe that all the beauty and goodness that God has entrusted to us can get tarnished. Our mistakes can have a real negative impact on ourselves, those around us, our world and our relationship with God.
Christians believe God loves us and it grieves Him to be close at hand and yet still not be in good relationship with us. We believe He is stirred with compassion when He sees His beautiful world lying broken and weeps for us living outside the fulness of life He intended. So 2000 years ago, a huge, seismic, historic event took place. Because of His great mercy, God sent His only son, Jesus to bring about a revolution of loving restoration. Jesus lived, endured the cross and rose again to defeat sin and death, to bring us into new life, to unite us with Himself, to restore us to our true identity and release us to share His redeeming, recreating love with all creation - that we might see His beautiful world as intended - His Kingdom here on earth.
Jesus lived, died, rose and ascended because of His great love for each of us and for all creation. |
The Ongoing ImpactJesus had so much impact on the world 2000 years ago and so the story continues.
Jesus had so much impact on the world 2000 years ago and so the story continues.
It was such a big deal that Jesus rose again that when He ascended His friends were so amazed and confused that it took them a while to figure out what they needed to do in response. And then they went about exploring and telling the good news - that they had seen Jesus live, die and rise again for you, for me and for all creation. That good news led them, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to helping and loving so many people. That good news has transformed our world beyond recognition.
And we believe that we are now partners with God in continuing to see the out-workings of His restoration project fully realised - that the goodness of His Kingdom will come completely and that we can enjoy it with Him forever. |
