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Jesus is the most significant figure in all history. And if the claims made about him are true, it will have a massive impact on our lives today…and for eternity.
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28
The evidence for the existence of Jesus is very compelling and accepted by almost all ancient historian scholars.
The New Testament is a part of the Bible which covers the life of Jesus and the writings and letters of some of his first followers in various books. These books were written from around 40-100AD. The earliest copy that we have of a section of these books is from 130AD and the earliest full manuscript is from 350AD. Currently we have over 5,000 Greek, 10,000 Latin, and 9,300 copies of sections from the New Testament.
His claims were staggering. Although He was a man revered for his self-sacrificing humility, He called Himself ‘the bread of life’ and said that He gives ‘the water of life’. He also claimed that He is the judge of the living and the dead and that His death is the key to our life, not just now but for all eternity! As dramatic as they are, these claims received incredible support when Jesus rose from the dead.
Can all this be true? The evidence is compelling. And knowing Jesus is life-changing!
God is holy (distinct from us and without sin) and just (He requires holiness and righteousness from anyone who desires to be in a right relationship with Him), and we are unholy (sinners by nature and by choice) and deserving of God’s righteous anger (1 Peter 1; Romans 1-3). This means that, apart from Christ, every person is separated from God due to their sin (Isaiah 59:2) and will pay the price for their sin: death (Romans 6:23). Further, none of us are able to earn or achieve a right relationship with God (Galatians 2; Ephesians 2).
Thankfully, Jesus Christ intervened on our behalf. Jesus, who is God, left heaven and came to earth to pay the death penalty for sin. He lived a sinless life and offered Himself as a perfect substitute, dying for our sins and in our place so that we might be forgiven of our sins and receive eternal life. His death satisfied the righteous demands of God and made it possible for sinners to be declared righteous and enter into a right relationship with God. Three days after His death, Jesus rose from the grave in victory over sin, death, and Satan. His resurrection assures His followers that they too will triumph over sin, death, and Satan!
A great way to get to know Jesus is by reading about him! The book of Mark in the Bible can be a great way to see who Jesus is and what he is like. If you don't have a Bible, you can read it online. A good translation to start with is the NIV (New International Version).
If you want to read it with someone else, fill out the form below and we would love to be able to help you.
At the moment we don't have regular office hours, but you can contact us using the form, give us a ring on the number below, or send us an email. If you'd like to book a time with our Senior Minister, you can do so below.
