In this month of Christmas, we bring you the life of Jesus of
Nazareth, or Jesus Christ, the pivotal figure in Christianity.
Jesus, who to Christians is the Son of God, is also considered
to be the much-awaited Messiah of the Old Testament.
The Existence of Jesus
Sacred Heart of Jesus - Glitter Poster
Almost all texts and scholars agree that Jesus existed in the
form we know him currently. However, one can find different
versions of gospel narratives. Also, the biblical Jesus varied
from the historical Jesus in many aspects. It is generally
believed, though, that Jesus was a Jewish preacher or Rabbi
from Galilee and was baptized by John the Baptist. It is also
generally agreed upon that he was crucified at Jerusalem, as
per the orders of the Roman prefect, Pontius Pilate. The
historical Jesus has been variously portrayed as a Messiah, a
leader of a revolutionary new movement, a healer, a saint, a
social reformer and a philosopher.
Christians believe that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit
and was born to Mary, the holy virgin and performed several
miracles during his lifetime. He also founded the Church;
accepted crucifixion to atone for others' sins; died on the
cross; then arose from the dead, ascending to heaven, from
where he will return one day.
While most Christians revere Jesus as the Son of God and a
part of the Divine Trinity, a few schools of thought reject
this concept of Trinitarianism, either wholly or in part.
Islam considers Jesus or Isa as the al-Masih or the Messiah.
To them, he is the child of a holy virgin and is also the
giver of the scripture. However, he is not considered divine
in that religion and he was never crucified either. Judaism
altogether rejects the belief that Jesus was a Messiah – on
the contrary, they believe that he did not fulfill the
Messianic prophecies mentioned in the Tanakh, a canon of the
Hebrew Bible.
Names of Jesus
Since the earliest times, Christians have referred to Jesus as
Jesus Christ, Jesus of Nazareth and Christ. The word Christ
comes from the Latin word Iesus and the Greek word, Christos,
which is a rough translation of the Hebrew Masiah, meaning the
"anointed one". Interestingly, there are indications that the
name Yeshua may have been used in Judea at the time when Jesus
was born.
Life of Jesus
Most scholars believe that Jesus was a Galilean Jew, who was
born in early first century and lived till sometime between 30
and 36 AD in Judea. According to the gospels, it is believed
that the birth of Jesus coincided with the rule of Harod the
Great, who lived till around 4 BC. However, there are also
other indications that he was born during the Census of
Quirinius, an event which occurred 10 years later.
The years of Jesus' ministry also show discrepancies. While
some records date the start of his ministry at around 28-29
AD, others give a range of 27-29 AD. Most experts aver that
Jesus was crucified between 30 and 33 AD.
Biography of Jesus – the Canonical Gospels
The four canonical gospels, namely, Mark, Matthew, Luke and
John, mainly chart out the biography of Jesus. However, other
parts of the New Testament, such as the Pauline epistles,
describe major events in his lifetime, such as the Last
Supper. The Acts of the Apostles describe the ministry of
Jesus, the Ascension of Jesus and so on. Let us go more into
detail about the canonical gospels.
The canonical gospels are basically four accounts, written by
the authors mentioned above. They sometimes differ in content
and chronology of events. The first three gospels are known as
the Synoptic Gospels and are more or less similar to each
other. John's Gospel, however, differs from them in several
matters. Though the Synoptic Gospels are believed to be the
most reliable source of information, not all of it is
contained in the New Testament, which is considered to be
historically the most reliable source. Instances such as the
Nativity, the Resurrection, the Ascension, a few of Jesus'
miracles, the Sanhedrin trial and a few others, are yet under
debate.
The gospels additionally include several discourses given by
Jesus, such as the Sermon on the Mount and the Farewell
Discourse; plus over thirty parables and his miracles,
oftentimes related to a sermon.
The gospels never claimed to provide a complete list of Jesus'
life. It is primarily meant to be a collection of theological
documents, with timeline being a mere second consideration.
They are intended merely to give a general picture about the
life and times of Jesus Christ.
Birth of Christ
Joseph, Mary with Jesus - Brass Sculpture
The Gospel of Luke, which primarily focuses on Mary, provides
a detailed narrative on the birth of Jesus Christ. It states
that Jesus was born to Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem. Mary, the
Holy Virgin, miraculously conceives Jesus, by the grace of the
Holy Spirit. The angel Gabriel tells Mary that she will
shortly conceive and bear a child, Jesus. Following her
betrothal with Joseph, she becomes pregnant. Joseph is
concerned about it, but he has three dreams, where the angel
assures him that this is a divine entity and that he should
take Mary as his wife.
Birth of Jesus Christ - Poster
Very close to her date of delivery, she and Joseph travel from
Nazareth to Bethlehem, in order to register in the census
ordered by Caesar Augustus. At this time, Mary gives birth to
Jesus in a stable, surrounded by farm animals. Being in an
open field and finding no shelter to spend the night in, she
wraps up the newborn baby in cloth and places him in a manger.
The angel announces the divine birth to some shepherds, who go
to Bethlehem to see Jesus. Several wise men, called Magi,
travel from the East in order to bring gifts to the young one,
who would emerge as the King of the Jews.
On hearing of Jesus' birth, Herod wants to get him killed.
However, the angel warns Joseph about this in his second dream
and the entire family flees to Egypt, to return to Nazareth at
a later time.
Early Life
The New Testament mentions Jesus as having brothers and
sisters, but uses the Greek word, "adelphos", which means
"kinsman", rather than an actual sibling. Further, the Gospel
of Mark seems to indicate that Christ was the son of a tekton
or carpenter or builder. While there is no absolute record of
this being a fact, he has often been associated as working
with wood, yokes and ploughs. The gospels indicate that he
could read and debate scriptures, but there is no record about
his formal training in languages and writing.
Baptism
The gospels indicate accounts of John the Baptist foretelling
the coming of someone "more powerful" than himself. When Jesus
requests him to baptize him, the former initially shows
reluctance. However, on Jesus' persuasion, he finally baptizes
him. As Jesus emerges from the water, the Holy Spirit declares
him as His Son and descends upon him in the form of a dove.
The Synoptic Gospels then describe the Temptation of Christ,
wherein Jesus undertakes a 40-day fast in the Judaean Desert,
in order to resist the devil.
Teachings and Miracles
Jesus then begins his ministry starting at the Judea
countryside, near River Jordan. He travels from place to
place, spreading his teachings and performing miracles; then
completing his ministry with the Last Supper along with his
disciples at Jerusalem.
Jesus appoints twelve apostles during the early stages of his
ministry. In the Gospel of Luke, he sends over 70 followers in
pairs to prepare towns for his visit. They are trained to talk
to the residents, to heal the sick and to spread the word that
the Kingdom of God is coming soon.
Jesus then performs several miracles, which include the
following:
Calming the Storm
Jesus and his disciples were once crossing the Sea of Galilee,
when their boat was rocked by a furious storm, with huge waves
breaking over it. Jesus got up from his rest and rebuked the
wind, ordering the waves to be quiet and still. It suddenly
became completely calm and the rest of their journey was
uneventful.
The Feeding of the 5,000
Also known as the Miracle of the Five Loaves and Two Fish,
John narrates how Jesus used five small barley loaves and two
fish to feed a huge number of people. Hearing that John the
Baptist had died, Jesus withdrew into a remote place. But the
crowds of people followed him there. Filled with compassion
for them, he started healing the sick. It soon became dark and
the followers found that there was nowhere to go and eat.
A boy supplied them five loaves and two fish. Jesus asked
everyone to sit on the grass. Looking heavenward, we offered
thanks for the food and broke the loaves. He directed his
disciples to break the loaves and distribute them among the
people. Miraculously, everyone was fed to their satisfaction
and no one went hungry.
Walking on Water
Jesus once sent his disciples sailing and chose to remain
behind and pray. There was a storm at night and the disciples
were caught in the thick of it all, right in the middle of the
sea. It was then they saw Jesus walking on the water, coming
towards them. Christ walked to the ship, again calmed the
storm and reached them to the safety of the shore.
There are several other stories of miracles and parables of
Jesus, ending with the Confession of Peter and the
Transfiguration. In all of them, Jesus teaches his disciples
to have faith and shows them the power of love and
spirituality.
Proclamation as Christ
At the beginning of the journey to Jerusalem, Jesus slowly
starts disclosing his true divine identity to his disciples,
also predicting his own suffering and death. In a dialogue
during Peter's Confession, he declares himself as Christ and
the Son of God.
Then, taking Peter and two other apostles to the top of a
mountain, he "transfigures" his own form. His face shone like
the sun and his clothes turned a brilliant, radiant white. A
voice coming from the skies state that he is God's Son and
that he is also meant to serve as God's Messenger.
Entry into Jerusalem
The Passion Week or the last week of Jesus' life starts with
an account of his entry into Jerusalem, ending with the
Crucifixion. Occurring just a few days before the Last Supper,
Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a young donkey. The people there
cheer his entry, singing psalms all the way. This adds to the
existing animosity between Jesus and the establishment in that
region. Jesus then undertakes the Cleansing of the Temple,
wherein he expels the corrupt money changers from the temple,
accusing them of turning it into a den of thieves. This is the
only time that he is shown using physical force.
This and similar other episodes further stoke the fire raging
between Jesus and the Jewish elders and this hostile
environment continues throughout Passion Week. At this time,
Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus' own apostles, decides to betray
Jesus and strikes a bargain with the Jewish elders to hand him
over to them for a reward of thirty silver coins.
The Last Supper
The Last Supper - Resin Statue
The Last Supper is the last and final meal that Jesus shares
with his twelve apostles at Jerusalem. This very important
episode occurs just before his Crucifixion. During the course
of the meal, Jesus predicts that one of his own apostles would
betray him and insisted that it would be one of those present
there at the table. Jesus then takes the bread and breaks it,
giving it to his disciples, saying, "This is my body, which is
given for you". He then asks them to take a sip from their
cups, saying, "The cup that is poured out for you is the new
covenant in my blood". The Gospel of John also includes a long
sermon made by Jesus, asking his disciples to prepare mentally
for his departure. This is known as the Farewell Discourse.
After the Last Supper, Jesus, along with his disciples, takes
a walk in the garden nearby, to pray. Judas comes there
accompanied by some Jewish priests, elders and people with
weapons. He kisses Jesus and then arrests him. One of the
disciples attacks and injures one of the members in the crowd,
but Jesus miraculously heals him. After his arrest, his
disciples go into hiding.
Trial by the Sanhedrin
Jesus Wearing Crown of Thorns - Poster
Christ is taken to Sanhedrin, a Jewish judicial body, where he
is mocked and beaten in the night. Early next morning, he is
taken to trial. Jesus speaks very little throughout and never
answers directly to any of the priests. When asked if he is
the Messiah, he merely agrees with it and then predicts the
coming of the Son of Man. He is then taken to Pilate's Court
and finally to Herod Antipas.
They then decide to release Barabbas, a dreaded murderer, and
crucify Jesus instead. Pilate drapes a rich robe around Jesus
to further mock him and writes a sign, which reads: "Jesus of
Nazareth, the King of the Jews" (which is abbreviated as INRI)
across Jesus' cross. The soldiers then place a Crown of Thorns
on his head and take him for crucifixion, continuing to beat
and taunt him on the way.
Jesus Carrying the Crucifix - Resin Statue
Jesus is then made to carry his crucifix and Jesus, his
followers and the guards proceeds towards the site of
crucifixion at Calvary.
The Crucifixion
Jesus Christ - Stone Dust Statue
Once there, the soldiers crucify him and cast lots for his
clothing. One soldier pierces Jesus' side with a lance and
water flows out of it. The Gospel of Matthew states that when
Jesus breathes his last, Nature reacts violently and
earthquakes break open tombs.
It is believed that Joseph of Arimathea removes Jesus' body
from the cross on the same day, wraps it up in clean cloth and
buries him in a tomb, sealed with a stone and placed under
guard.
Resurrection and Ascension
Jesus Christ's Ascension to Heaven - Poster
According to the New Testament, Jesus resurrects on the first
day of the week after the crucifixion. His tomb is discovered
to be empty and his followers report of encounters with him.
Jesus then makes several appearances to his disciples, giving
them advice and performing miracles.
Forty days after his Resurrection, Jesus makes his Ascension
to the Heavens. Before that, he asks his disciples to spread
his teachings to the people of the world. He is then lifted up
till a cloud takes him away from their sight. Jesus then
continues to shower his grace on his followers by way of
dreams, visions, revelations and miracles.
Jesus' death and resurrection are commemorated by Christians
around the world, laying special emphasis on the Holy Week,
which includes Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
Depiction of Jesus
Jesus Christ is usually depicted as nailed to the cross,
adorned with the Crown of Thorns on his head. However, there
are also other ways in which he is portrayed. They are as
follows:
Baby Jesus with Mother Mary, Joseph
Joseph, Mary with Jesus - Brass Sculpture
While most portraits show Mother Mary carrying baby Jesus in
her arms, there are rare pictures of the Holy Virgin holding
Jesus, with Joseph standing beside them.
The Good Shepherd
Jesus - the Good Shepherd - Poster
Jesus is also often depicted as gently holding a sheep in his
hands or around his neck. He is considered the Good Shepherd,
that is, the one who lays down his life for the sheep. This
symbolic representation of Christ appears in Early Christian
art and continues to be used till today. As this imagery
evolved, Jesus was also portrayed draped in rich robes and
with a halo around his head. Experts believe that this might
only have been a metaphor and not an actual instance. This
imagery is found in the Catacombs of Rome and similar other
regions and sects, where Christian and pagan symbols are used
in combination.
Christ on the Holy Cross
Jesus Christ on Cross - Brass Sculpture
The image of Christ on the Holy Cross is most often used to
portray him. Christ's suffering and his eventual death by
crucifixion are the central aspects of the Christian faith.
Jesus gave up his own life to atone for the sins committed by
others. He is stripped of his robes and is given the Crown of
Thorns to wear around his head. He is asked to bear his own
cross to Calvary. On the way, he meets several womenfolk,
including his mother, Mary, and Mary Magdalene as well.
His hands and feet are bound and he is then nailed to the
cross. Even while suffering the utter physical pain and
humiliation, he uttered the words, "Father, forgive them, for
they do not know what they do." This shows his love and
compassion for all around him, even towards his own most
bitter enemies.
Christians commemorate this Holy Day as Good Friday. Many
believers undertake prayers and fasts on this day, in order to
atone for their own sins. The following Sunday is celebrated
as Easter.
Christianity as a Religion
Christianity, the religion founded by Jesus Christ, is one of
the world's largest religions, with over 2 billion followers
all over the world. A monotheistic religion is based on the
life and teachings of Christ, as described in the New
Testament. Christians believe that Jesus is the Son of God and
a savior of mankind, who is human, yet divine. Most Christians
also believe that Jesus will return to judge humankind, both
living and dead, and grant eternal life to his followers.
The largest groups of Christianity include the Catholic
Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church and the several branches
of Protestantism. Among the different creeds, the Apostles'
Creed is the most popular and generally the most accepted to
more Christians. It believes the following:
- Belief in the Trinity, that is, the God the Father,
Jesus the Son of God and the Holy Spirit
- The Concept of death and descent to hell, resurrection
and ascension of Christ
- The sanctity of the Church and the communion of Saints
- The belief in Christ's second coming, the Day of
Judgement and salvation of the faithful
The Ten Commandments
The Ten Commandments are a set of biblical principles, which
chart out ethics and worship in Christianity. Followed by most
forms of the religion, they include instructions to worship
only God, keep away from sin, to keep the Sabbath, to refrain
from adultery, murder, theft and so on. Different groups may
have slightly different interpretations of the Commandments,
but are essentially the same in gist.
Worship
Christians assemble at churches for mass or communal worship
every Sunday, which is considered as the Day of Resurrection.
At these sessions, scripture readings are taken from the Old
and New Testaments and also the gospel accounts. This sermon
is followed by congregational prayers, including thanksgiving,
confession and so on. The Eucharist is also part of
traditional worship, wherein followers partake of a meal of
bread and wine, commemorating the Last Supper.
While most churches practice open communion, some Christian
denominations conduct closed communion in certain cases. Yet
other groups depart from traditional methods of worship to
form their own rules and regulations, like not meeting every
week; singing rock and pop music in praise of the Lord; or
even sitting quietly in worship. Worship also varies for
specific occasions such as baptism, feasts days, weddings and
so on.
Sacraments
Sacraments are religious rites believed to be instituted by
Christ. While Baptism and Eucharist are the two most important
sacraments, there are five others commonly practiced, known as
Confirmation, Holy Orders, Confession, Anointing of the Sick
and Matrimony. Protestant groups do not believe that these
rites communicate grace to the followers. They refer to these
as ordinances.
Baptism
Baptism involves the use of water to admit a person as a
member of the Church. Some schools of thought believe that it
is supposed to enhance a person's faith, ultimately leading
him to salvation. The various methods of baptism include
Baptism by Immersion, Baptism by Submersion, Baptism by
Affusion, Baptism by Aspersion and, of course, Infant Baptism.
Symbols and Relics
The Cross is the most widely acknowledged and used symbol of
Christianity across the world. Though the Crucifix has been a
very early sign of worship for Christians, it appeared only in
the 5th century. The fish (or Ichthys) and the rosary with a
cross hanging from it are yet other important symbols for
Christians. Some more signs of the divine include the dove,
which is symbolic of the Holy Spirit; the sacrificial lamb,
which is symbolic of Jesus' sacrifice and so on.
Holy nails and the Crown of Thorns are much venerated as
relics associated with Christ. The Shroud of Turin, which is
associated with the Holy Face of Jesus, is also considered
very sacred among Christians.
Most Important Churches
One can find several big and beautiful churches all over the
world. It would be impossible to include all of them in one
article. Here is a list of 10 of the most famous
churches:
- St. Peter's Basilica, Rome, Italy
- Notre Dame de Paris, Paris, France
- Saint Mark's Basilica, Venice, Italy
- Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain
- Saint Basil's Cathedral, Moscow, Russia
- Westminster Abbey, London, England
- St Paul's Cathedral, London, England
- Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem, Palestinian
territories
- Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem, Israel
- Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey
Christmas
Christmas is annually celebrated to commemorate the birth of
Jesus Christ. Observed as a major holiday season almost all
over the world, this day falls on December 25 every year.
Incidentally, it is celebrated with much gusto even among the
non-Christian population in many regions across the world. The
word Christmas is believed to have originated from the term,
"Christ's Mass". It is also alternatively referred to as
"X'mas".
The celebratory customs associated with Christmas include
decorating Christmas trees, adorning the house with garlands
and ornate wreaths, meeting family members, holding nightlong
holy processions, gifting, singing carols, praying, feasting,
participating in the Christmas Eve Church Mass and the Ball
and so on. Many Christians and even non-Christians create a
Nativity scene or crèche in their own homes, using small dolls
to portray the incident of Jesus' birth. This crib is
maintained for an entire week after Christmas.
Several festive figures, such as Santa Claus, Father
Christmas, Saint Nicholas and Christkind, who have their own
lore associated with them, bring gifts and sweets to one and
all. Incidentally, Santa, probably the most loved figure among
children, makes his appearance to please non-Christian
children as well. A variety of Christmas celebrations have
been adopted to suit regional and local cultures in each
region as well.
The Eastern Orthodox Church undertakes a 40-day Nativity Fast,
prior to the day of Christmas. Western Christianity, on the
other hand, celebrates four week of Advent.
Decorations
Santa With Golden Bells - Festive Decoration
While the brightly ornamented and lit Christmas tree takes
center stage among the Christmas decorations, several other
materials are used too, including the Nativity scene mentioned
above, holm, ivy, bays, holly and so on. Popular colors used
for the decorations are red, green and gold.
Fir trees are popular to use as Christmas trees, as they are
triangular and point heavenward, thereby symbolizing the
Trinity. The Christmas tree and the house are decorated with
flowers and evergreen foliage, lights and banners, bells,
candles and so on.
Carols
Carols are sung by groups of people, both young and old. These
people travel from house to house, singing these songs, which
were originally communal folk songs, sung during several other
occasions as well. Carols are also sung in Churches.
Christmas Feast
A traditional Christmas family feast is part and parcel of any
celebration. The cuisine featuring in the feast differs from
region to region. While many regions serve up several types of
fish, meat turkey, goose, vegetable, bread and cider; special
items include the quintessential Christmas pudding, mince pies
and fruit cake.
Gifting
Exchanging Christmas cards and gifts forms a major part of
X'mas festivities. The cards feature interesting artwork and
some themes, symbols and colors associated with Christmas.
Many countries even issue commemorative stamps at
Christmastide. People use these stamps to mail their festive
cards.
Santa Claus
A number of gift-giving figures, including Santa Claus, Father
Christmas, Saint Basil and Saint Nicholas or Sinterklaas are
associated with this festival. The undisputed favorite among
them, of course, is Santa Claus. The one with the flowing
white beard, red dress and jolly attitude, the origin of Santa
Claus can be traced back to the Dutch Sinterklaas or Saint
Nicholas. He is known for his guffawing laugh, love for
children, great generosity and giving of gifts.
Santa Claus - Resin Statue
The modern image of Santa Claus, as we know him, was probably
created in the United States of America. He is now portrayed
as an overweight, middle-aged, jolly man, who travels around
the whole world in a sleigh stocked with gifts; driven by a
team of flying reindeer.
Santa is usually believed to live on the North Pole, in a
house, which also includes a workshop. Here, he creates gifts
with the help of his elves and other supernatural beings. He
watches the children during the year and judges what gifts
they should get. It is said that the children, who have been
good all year get the best gifts. Interestingly, there is a
city in Alaska, where a tourist attraction by the name of
"Santa Claus House" has been built.
Santa is believed to enter through the chimney of each
residence and stuff children's Christmas stockings with a
variety of gifts and sweets. He is said to silently carry out
his work in the night, with the help of his elves and fairies.
The children wake up in the morning to see their stockings
filled up to the brim with their favorite things.
Merry Christmas!
Christmas will be here very soon this year. We wish all our
readers a Merry Christmas and a wonderful, peace-filled and
prosperous New Year! Love and light to one and all during this
holy festive season.