Jesus

Jesus is the central person of the New Testament and the promised Messiah, or Christ. Christians believe he is the Son of God who came to save people from sin. He was born in Bethlehem, grew up in Nazareth, and lived among the Jewish people when Rome ruled Judea and Galilee. Around AD 30, Jesus traveled through towns and villages teaching about God’s kingdom. He welcomed children, cared for people who were overlooked, and showed perfect love and obedience to God. His life on earth is told especially in the four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

Jesus called twelve disciples to follow him. He taught crowds with memorable stories called parables. He healed people who were sick, gave sight to the blind, calmed a storm, walked on water, and fed thousands with a small meal. These signs showed his compassion and authority. The Gospels describe these events in passages such as Matthew 8 and 14, Mark 4 and 6, Luke 7 and 15, and John 6, 9, and 11. Jesus later entered Jerusalem, where he was arrested and unfairly condemned. Roman soldiers crucified him, and he died on a cross. His body was placed in a tomb. On the third day, women came to the tomb and found it empty. Jesus had risen from the dead. He appeared alive to Mary Magdalene, his disciples, and many other followers. His death and resurrection are recorded in Matthew 26 to 28, Mark 14 to 16, Luke 22 to 24, and John 18 to 21.

Jesus still matters because his life shows children what God’s love, mercy, courage, and truth look like. Christians trust that through Jesus they can be forgiven, know God, and have the hope of eternal life. Kids can follow his example by praying, forgiving others, helping people in need, and welcoming those who feel left out. Jesus was crucified near Jerusalem and buried in a tomb nearby. After his resurrection, he returned to heaven from the area near the Mount of Olives. Acts 1 and 2 explains what happened next. The Holy Spirit came upon Jesus’ followers, and they began sharing the good news about him. The rest of the New Testament tells how that message spread and how the first churches learned to follow Jesus.