Topical Bible: Jesus, the Christ by Nathanael

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Topical Encyclopedia

Introduction:
Jesus, the Christ, is the central figure of Christianity, believed by Christians to be the incarnate Son of God, the Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament, and the Savior of humanity. His life, death, and resurrection are foundational to Christian faith and theology. The name "Jesus" is derived from the Hebrew name Yeshua, meaning "Yahweh is salvation," while "Christ" is from the Greek "Christos," meaning "Anointed One," equivalent to the Hebrew "Messiah."

Birth and Early Life:
The birth of Jesus is recorded in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. He was born in Bethlehem to the Virgin Mary, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14, "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel." His birth was announced by angels and witnessed by shepherds and wise men from the East, signifying His universal significance.

Jesus grew up in Nazareth, a town in Galilee, and was known as a carpenter, the son of Joseph and Mary. His early life is largely unrecorded, except for an incident at the age of twelve when He was found in the temple, astonishing the teachers with His understanding (Luke 2:46-47).

Ministry:
Jesus began His public ministry around the age of thirty, following His baptism by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. This event marked the beginning of His mission, as the heavens opened and the Spirit of God descended like a dove, and a voice from heaven declared, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:17)

His ministry lasted approximately three years, during which He preached the Kingdom of God, performed miracles, and taught with authority. Key teachings include the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), the parables, and the Great Commandment to love God and neighbor (Matthew 22:37-39).

Miracles:
Jesus performed numerous miracles, demonstrating His divine authority and compassion. These included healing the sick, raising the dead, casting out demons, and controlling nature. Notable miracles include the feeding of the 5,000 (John 6:1-14), walking on water (Matthew 14:22-33), and raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11:1-44).

Death and Resurrection:
The crucifixion of Jesus is the pivotal event in Christian theology, seen as the atoning sacrifice for the sins of humanity. Jesus was arrested, tried, and sentenced to death by crucifixion under the Roman governor Pontius Pilate. His death fulfilled numerous Old Testament prophecies, such as Isaiah 53:5, "But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed."

On the third day after His death, Jesus rose from the dead, an event celebrated as Easter. The resurrection is central to Christian faith, as it confirms Jesus' victory over sin and death and His divine nature. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:17, "And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins."

Ascension and Second Coming:
After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples and many others over a period of forty days. He then ascended into heaven, as described in Acts 1:9-11, where two angels declared that He would return in the same way. The Second Coming of Christ is a future event anticipated by Christians, when Jesus will return to judge the living and the dead and establish His eternal kingdom.

Titles and Names:
Jesus is known by many titles and names that reflect His nature and work, including Son of God, Son of Man, Lamb of God, Light of the World, and King of Kings. Each title reveals a different aspect of His identity and mission.

Theological Significance:
Jesus' life and work are central to Christian theology, emphasizing His dual nature as fully God and fully man, His role as the mediator between God and humanity, and His work of redemption. The doctrine of the Trinity, the belief in one God in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—centers on the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Conclusion:
The life and teachings of Jesus, the Christ, continue to inspire and transform lives across the world. His message of love, forgiveness, and redemption remains at the heart of Christian faith and practice.

Nave's Topical Index

John 1:45-50
Philip finds Nathanael, and said to him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

The Calling of Nathanael.
... But the narrow prejudices of a Nathanael had to be ... he could receive the impression
of Christ's manifestation and ... first announced to him that Jesus of Nazareth ...
/.../section 115 the calling of.htm

The First Disciples: iv. Nathanael
... It was not from any previous personal knowledge of him, for, obviously, from the
words of Philip to Nathanael, the latter had never seen Jesus Christ. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture i/the first disciples iv nathanael.htm

Jesus Makes his First Disciples.
... [Jesus having referred to Nathanael as a true ... vision of the ladder; that is, that
the ascent and descent of ministering angels shall be by means of Christ. ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xxi jesus makes his first.htm

On the Words of the Gospel, John i. 48,"When Thou Wast under the ...
... 1. What we have heard said by the Lord Jesus Christ to Nathanael, if we
understand it aright, does not concern him only. For our ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon lxxii on the words.htm

The First Disciples.
... Christ is that ladder, the way from earth to heaven, the way heaven sends messages
to the world and ... Nathanael would be permitted to see that Jesus was the ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/the first disciples.htm

Christ Appealed to the Miracles as Testimonies; John, xv. , 24 ...
... the Apostles generally, before their religious feelings were purified by continued
personal intercourse with Christ. ... Jesus said unto Nathanael, "Because I ...
/.../section 95 christ appealed to.htm

"He Ordained Twelve"
... Although he had joined himself to Christ, yet his announcement of Him to Nathanael
shows that he was not fully convinced of the divinity of Jesus. ...
/.../white/the desire of ages/chapter 30 he ordained twelve.htm

The First Disciples.
... was the Christ, but Jesus told him that he should see greater things, angels out
of the open heaven ascending and descending upon Him. Nathanael became the ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter viii the first disciples.htm

Under the Fig-Tree.
... to tell him that he (Philip) had found the Christ. Nathanael was somewhat doubtful,
but at Philip's invitation he went to see. When Jesus saw Nathanael coming ...
//christianbookshelf.org/orr/how to live a holy life/under the fig-tree.htm

The Life of Jesus Christ in Its Historical Connexion
... John and Andrew, Disciples of John, attach themselves to Jesus.--Gradual Attraction
of others ... COMMENCEMENT OF CHRIST'S PUBLIC TEACHING ... The Calling of Nathanael. ...
/.../neander/the life of jesus christ in its historical connexion/