Jesus

“Christian” means “little Christ”, one who follows Jesus as his disciple.

There is plenty of historical evidence for a 1st century man named Jesus of Nazareth. For example, the Jewish historian Josephus, in his Antiquities of the Jews, referenced Jesus as “a wise man” who was crucified. The Roman historian Tacitus agrees Jesus was crucified, referencing Christians as those who despite this held to a “mischievous superstition”. Of course, we also have the New Testament, with the earliest copies dating from just a few decades after Jesus’ death. 

Christology is the study of what Christians believe about Jesus. As well as believing him to be the best teacher and moral example, and to be fully human, Christians believe that Jesus is God (incarnation). While a surprising claim, this is based on Jesus’ own claims to be one with God (John 10.30), to have equal authority to God (Mark 14.62), and to have God’s authority over the natural elements (e.g. Matthew 8.23-7), spiritual enemies (e.g. Mark 1.21-8), the Sabbath (e.g. Luke 6.1-11), healing (e.g. Matthew 4.23-5) and forgiveness (e.g. Mark 2.1-12). Later writers developed this, such as St. Paul’s letter openings (e.g. Colossians 1.15-23) and quoting of an early Christian hymn (Philippians 2.6-11), and in the writer to Revelation encouraging worship of Jesus (e.g. Revelation 5). This reflects early Christians worshipping Jesus before he returned to heaven (Matthew 28.17) and praying in his name (e.g. Acts 4.30). This belief is expressed in the Nicene Creed’s statement that Jesus is “true God from true God…of one being (with God)”. 

Christians also believe that Jesus is the Jewish Messiah, the one chosen by God to fulfil Old Testament prophecies of one who would come to save his people. “Christ” is the Greek word for Messiah. The surprise of the early Church was that Jesus also came for non-Jewish (Gentile) people as well, hinted by Jesus in passages such as John 10.16 and then explored in the story of Acts. 

Without Jesus there would be no Christianity. He is the one we believe brings true healing, freedom, and rest. All our beliefs are ultimately ways of expressing our trust in him.

Further resources

Books
Richard Bauckham, Jesus: A Very Short Introduction
Geza Vermes, Jesus the Jew
Tom Wright, Simply Jesus
Markus Bockmuehl (ed.),  The Cambridge Companion to Jesus 

Media
The Chosen – a streamable series exploring the life of Jesus through the eyes of his early followers
For kids: Miracle Maker – a classic film summarising Jesus’ life, death and resurrection