Introduction

Christ Jesus, Our Lord, is the central figure of Christianity, revered as the incarnate Son of God and the Savior of humanity. His life, death, and resurrection are the cornerstone of Christian faith, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies and establishing the New Covenant. The name "Jesus" is derived from the Hebrew "Yeshua," meaning "Yahweh is salvation," while "Christ" is from the Greek "Christos," meaning "Anointed One." The title "Lord" signifies His divine authority and sovereignty.

Biblical Prophecies and Fulfillment

The Old Testament contains numerous prophecies concerning the coming Messiah, which Christians believe are fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Isaiah 7:14 foretells the virgin birth: "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel." In the New Testament, Matthew 1:22-23 confirms this fulfillment in Jesus' birth.

Micah 5:2 predicts the Messiah's birthplace: "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come forth for Me one to be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times." This prophecy is realized in Matthew 2:1, which states, "After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem."

Life and Ministry

Jesus' earthly ministry began with His baptism by John the Baptist, as recorded in Matthew 3:16-17: "As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. Suddenly the heavens were opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and resting on Him. And a voice from heaven said, 'This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.'"

Throughout His ministry, Jesus performed numerous miracles, taught with authority, and proclaimed the Kingdom of God. His teachings, such as the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), emphasized love, forgiveness, and righteousness. Jesus also declared His divine identity, as seen in John 8:58: "Truly, truly, I tell you," Jesus declared, "before Abraham was born, I am!"

Death and Resurrection

The crucifixion of Jesus is central to Christian theology, as it represents the atoning sacrifice for humanity's sins. Isaiah 53:5 prophesies this sacrificial act: "But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed." The New Testament confirms this in 1 Peter 2:24: "He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His stripes you are healed."

Jesus' resurrection is the triumphant affirmation of His divine nature and the promise of eternal life for believers. As recorded in Matthew 28:5-6, the angel at the empty tomb declared, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, just as He said."

Ascension and Lordship

Following His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples and others over a period of forty days, teaching them about the Kingdom of God. His ascension into heaven is described in Acts 1:9-11: "After He had said this, they watched as He was taken up, and a cloud hid Him from their sight. They were looking intently into the sky as He was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 'Men of Galilee,' they said, 'why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.'"

The ascension signifies Jesus' exaltation and His position at the right hand of God, as affirmed in Philippians 2:9-11: "Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Role as Mediator and High Priest

Jesus serves as the mediator between God and humanity, a role emphasized in 1 Timothy 2:5: "For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." As the High Priest, He intercedes for believers, as described in Hebrews 4:14-16: "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."

Return and Eternal Reign

The New Testament promises the return of Christ Jesus, Our Lord, to establish His eternal kingdom. Revelation 19:11-16 depicts His triumphant return: "Then I saw heaven standing open, and there before me was a white horse, and its rider is called Faithful and True. With righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on His head are many crowns. He has a name written on Him that only He Himself knows. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is The Word of God."

The promise of His return provides hope and assurance to believers, as stated in Titus 2:13: "as we await the blessed hope and glorious appearance of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ."