When the first people in the Garden of Eden sinned, they became afraid and tried to hide from God. But God, in His love, looked them up en began to talk to them. God told them that they would surely be punished for their sin, but He also gave them a message of hope. Death, suffering and pains would not be the end-all in their lives. They did not have to live in despair! God promised that one day someone would live on the earth who would gloriously conquer sin and death! Though they did not understand fully at that moment: the person God promised to send was the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus was the one who would bring forgiveness and peace. He would bring lost humans back to communion with God!

Carefully read the history of the Lord Jesus and understand why countless people all over the world see him as the most wondrous Person who ever lived. The Lord Jesus Christ is God's eternal Son. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. (Hebrews 1: 3-4). God sent the Lord Jesus into the world, so that we could obtain eternal life through Him. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17).

The Lord Jesus was born as a human child from the virgin Mary. God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel told Mary, "Don't be afraid! God is pleased with you, and you will have a son. His name will be Jesus". (Luke 1:26,27,30,31) The Lord Jesus was begotten by God, the Holy Spirit. Mary was engaged to Joseph from King David's family. But before they were married, she learned that she was going to have a baby by God's Holy Spirit. (Matthew 1:18b) The world was not celebrating for joy at the moment that the Lord Jesus was born, for He was born in a small place under very poor circumstances. While they were in Bethlehem, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2: 6b, 7) They named Him Jesus, because the name Jesus means: God saves, Saviour.

While on earth, the Lord Jesus went through the country Israel, teaching, preaching, healing the sick, casting out devils, forgiving sins and helping those in need. Jesus went to every town and village. He taught in their meeting places and preached the good news about God's kingdom. Jesus also healed every kind of disease and sickness (Matthew 9:35). Demons went out of many people and shouted, "You are the Son of God!" (Luke 4:41a) Most people were astonished and many believed in Him. A lot of people in the crowd put their faith in him and said, "When the Messiah comes, he surely won't perform more miracles than this man has done!". (John 7:31). Not everyone who saw His miracles and heard Him preach believed in the Lord Jesus, because the envious Jewish leaders rejected Him. They gave him over to the Roman governor to be put to death. All the chief priests and the nation's leaders met and decided that Jesus should be put to death. They tied him up and led him away to Pilate the governor. (Matthew 27:1,2) Pilate knew that the leaders had brought Jesus to him because they were jealous. (Matthew 27:18)

The Lord Jesus was mocked and tortured by Roman soldiers and afterwards put to death on a cross outside Jerusalem city. The soldiers led Jesus inside the courtyard of the fortress and called together the rest of the troops. They put a purple robe on him, and on his head they placed a crown that they had made out of thorn branches. They made fun of Jesus and shouted, "Hey, you king of the Jews!" Then they beat him on the head with a stick. They spit on him and knelt down and pretended to worship him. When the soldiers had finished making fun of Jesus, they took off the purple robe. They put his own clothes back on him and led him off to be nailed to a cross. (Mark 15:16-20). The Lord Jesus was not crucified for doing wrong, because he led an immaculate life. Christ did not sin or ever tell a lie. Although he was abused, he never tried to get even. And when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he had faith in God, who judges fairly. (1 Peter 2:22-23). After He had died his body was lovingly buried by Joseph, a rich man. Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth. Then Joseph put the body in his own tomb that had been cut into solid rock and had never been used. He rolled a big stone against the entrance to the tomb and went away. (Matthew 27:59-60) But the body of the Lord Jesus did not stay in the grave. After three days the Lord Jesus rose again. God set him free from death and raised him to life. Death could not hold him in its power. (Acts 2:24)

After He had risen from the grave the Lord Jesus stayed on the earth for forty days to show his disciples that He was alive. For forty days after Jesus had suffered and died, he proved in many ways that he had been raised from death. He appeared to his apostles and spoke to them about God's kingdom. (Acts 1:3) After those forty days the Lord Jesus returned to Heaven, where He rules over everything on Earth and in Heaven since. Jesus led his disciples out to Bethany, where he raised his hands and blessed them. As he was doing this, he left and was taken up to heaven. (Luke 24:50-51) God raised Christ from death and let him sit at his right side in heaven. There Christ rules over all forces, authorities, powers, and rulers. He rules over all beings in this world and will rule in the future world as well. (Ephesians 1:20-21) At this moment the Lord Jesus prays for those who belong to Him and prepares a place fort hem. Christ entered heaven, now to appear for us in God's presence. (Hebrews 9:24) Jesus said: In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. (John 14:2)

But the Lord Jesus does not stay in Heaven, once He will come back on earth and take those with Him who belong to Him. Jesus said: After I have done this, I will come back and take you with me. Then we will be together . (John 14:3)
 
Read on about the return of the Lord Jesus: the future (Read all four gospels: Matthew, Mark, Lucas and John) for a more extensive oversight of the Lord Jesus' life).