Birth and Early Life

The earthly life of Jesus Christ, the central figure of Christianity, began with His miraculous birth in Bethlehem. According to the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus was born to the Virgin Mary, who was betrothed to Joseph, a descendant of King David. This fulfilled the prophecy found in Isaiah 7:14, "Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel" . The Gospel of Luke provides additional details, noting that Jesus was born in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn (Luke 2:7).

Jesus' early life was marked by significant events, including the visit of the Magi, the flight to Egypt to escape King Herod's massacre, and His presentation at the Temple in Jerusalem. At the age of twelve, Jesus was found in the Temple, astonishing the teachers with His understanding and answers (Luke 2:46-47).

Ministry and Teachings

Jesus began His public ministry around the age of thirty, following His baptism by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. This event was marked by the descent of the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove and a voice from heaven declaring, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:17). Jesus' ministry lasted approximately three years, during which He traveled throughout Galilee, Judea, and surrounding regions, preaching the Kingdom of God, performing miracles, and teaching in parables.

Central to Jesus' teachings were the principles of love, forgiveness, and repentance. He emphasized the importance of loving God and one's neighbor, as encapsulated in the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:37-39). Jesus also taught about the coming Kingdom of God, urging His followers to seek first the Kingdom and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33).

Miracles and Signs

The Gospels record numerous miracles performed by Jesus, which served as signs of His divine authority and compassion. These included healing the sick, restoring sight to the blind, casting out demons, and raising the dead. Notable miracles include the feeding of the five thousand (Matthew 14:13-21), walking on water (Matthew 14:25), and the raising of Lazarus from the dead (John 11:43-44).

Passion and Crucifixion

The culmination of Jesus' earthly life was His Passion, which began with His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. During the Last Supper, Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper, instructing His disciples to partake of the bread and wine in remembrance of Him (Luke 22:19-20). Following His betrayal by Judas Iscariot, Jesus was arrested, tried, and sentenced to death by crucifixion.

The crucifixion of Jesus took place at Golgotha, where He was nailed to the cross between two criminals. As He hung on the cross, Jesus uttered several profound statements, including, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing" (Luke 23:34). His death was accompanied by supernatural events, such as darkness over the land and the tearing of the Temple veil (Matthew 27:45-51).

Resurrection and Ascension

On the third day after His crucifixion, Jesus rose from the dead, an event that is central to Christian faith. The resurrection was first witnessed by Mary Magdalene and other women, followed by appearances to His disciples and over five hundred others (1 Corinthians 15:6). Jesus' resurrection confirmed His victory over sin and death, providing the foundation for the hope of eternal life for believers.

Forty days after His resurrection, Jesus ascended into heaven, as recorded in Acts 1:9-11 . His ascension marked the end of His earthly ministry and the beginning of His exalted reign at the right hand of the Father. Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to empower His followers, a promise fulfilled at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4).