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01
Anno Domini
What is today's date?
What year is it?
This is the year 2024 A.D. ; Anno Domini, meaning the years after Jesus. So, who is this Jesus with whom even our calendar is aligns? You will be surprised finding out how many things are connected to this man who lived 2000 years ago.
02
Life Of Jesus
Jesus lived in a very interesting moment in history. The Middle East was a hotbed of political and religious forces. There were many other revolutionaries in his time, but Jesus was not the typical leader. His movement was not a hostile, political one attempting to regain power for the nation of Israel.
Watch movie 'The Life of Jesus'
A wonderful movie about the life of Jesus Christ, following the gospel of John verse by verse.
His message is even for today totally different. You may have heard the expressions 'Love your enemies' or 'turn the other cheek', those are saying from Jesus himself. You can imagine the world will be quite different if we were all able to follow these simple, yet hard teachings.
Politics
Jesus often had confrontations with people in powerful positions. 'My Kingdom is not of this earth' he explained. That is hard to grasp for people who only understand what they could see with their eyes.
Outcasts
Jesus seems to look at the world differently. People in power weren't that interesting to him. Instead, he sought out the marginalized people, the outcasts, the hated and ignored ones!
Religious leaders
Even though much of Jesus teaching centred around loving God and others, the religious leaders of his time did not like it. They felt it threatened their place of power. Often they attacked him, trying to find some error so they could publicly condemn him.
Sick
For Jesus, there is a special place for suffering and sick people. There are myriads of stories in the Bible where he does miracles; touching the infectious sick, healing them, open the eyes of the blind and causing lame people to walk. He even raised the dead!
Friends
Jesus had a group of loyal friends around him, known as his disciples; followers both men and women. These people were close to him and with them he was able to talk plainly.
Sinners
What did Jesus do with individual condemned as sinners? He spent time with them, ate in their homes. The religious leaders tried to trap him with questions in regards to a woman caught in sin. But Jesus flipped the question on them, revealing their own sin. Even then he didn't judge. He forgave sin.
03
Message Of Jesus
Often Jesus didn't speak just speak a truth plainly. He favoured using stories to illustrate what the kingdom of God is like. He used parables to demonstrate the difference between God's kingdom and the world's kingdoms. Time and again hinting at the striking contrast between what is and what will be, when all things are restored according to the purposes of God.
Love is the message. Love is the way. Gods love for you. Your love for God. Your love for the others.
In 2018 bishop Michael Curry preached at the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. 'There's power in love, don't underestimate it!' Millions of people listened.
04
Death And Resurrection
Jesus' message was focused on God's love. So why did people kill Jesus? Not everybody liked him, his message of forgiveness and hope. Not everybody did like his actions either. Some the religious leaders of his time didn't like that he was 'a friend of sinners'. In the end, he was falsely convicted as a criminal. Blasphemy was charged to him. The religious elite saw a great resignation in the message of Jesus.
Even during his suffering on the cross Jesus choose love. He forgave the criminal who was convicted and executed at the same time. He prayed for the people who crucified him.
The Bible tells an extraordinary story. Jesus, rose from the stone grave they put him in. The story didn't end with his death. He is alive. Hundreds of people witnessed that he is alive. Christians believe he still is!
05
Birth Of The Church
There were often uprisings in history. Also in the Biblical times. In the centuries around year zero, there were several rebellious groups in Israel, trying to regain power. After a leader of these groups was arrested and killed, the groups appointed a new leader or the revolution died out.
But after the death of Jesus, this didn't happen. People believed Jesus was alive, they didn't need another leader. This is the main reason why there is until today still a vibrant church living out the same conviction: Jesus lives!
From the beginning being a follower of Jesus wasn't without risks. Many believers had to suffer because of their faith or were even martyred.
Father Frans van der Lugt was a Jesuit priest, who was born and raised in the Netherlands and who lived and worked in Syria for several decades. He was killed there on April 7, 2014, in the city of Homs, aged 75. In his life, he established a community centre and farm near the city of Homs, Syria, where he worked for the betterment of people with disabilities and for harmony among Christian and Muslim people. Mid 2011 he left the estate because of the Syrian civil war and he established himself in the Jesuit monastery in the Christian district Bustan al-Diwan in Homs.
06
Jesus' Influence is Everywhere
Did you notice that throughout history the church was taking care of the poor, the widowed, the orphans and the ill? The names of many hospitals are referring to their Christian origin, like Deaconess Hospital, St. Vincent's Hospital, St. Joseph's Hospital and Hospital of St John and St Elizabeth. The care for the outcasts, like the work of Mother Teresa in Calcutta and the work of Salvation Army worldwide is inspired by the story of Jesus who showed that the broken were his priority! Christian's have also been influential in the fight to educated the underprivileged all over the world for centuries.
07
Inspired by Jesus
Many people are touched, inspired or influenced by Jesus. For some people their encounter with Jesus was life-changing. Others simply decided to do what Jesus put on their hearts. Listen to some testimonies from people. Do you know what? You can be touched by Jesus too. Your life will never be the same!
08
So How About You?
What do you think about Jesus? Do you want to know more about this world altering, life changing man? We have many more resource available to you to continue your journey of exploring who Jesus is.
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