Jesus Christ, the central figure of Christianity By ThoughtCo.com, adapted by Newsela staff on 12.15.17 Word Count 747 Level 930L Image 1. No one knows what Jesus looked like. This painting is one depiction of Jesus and his disciples, or closest followers. Painting by Carl Oesterley, a German painter in the 1800s. Image from the public domain. Profile Of Jesus Christ From The New Testament Jesus of Nazareth is also known as Christ, the "Anointed One" or the "Messiah." The name "Jesus" comes from the Hebrew-Aramaic word "Yeshua," meaning "Yahweh [the Lord] is salvation." The name "Christ" is actually a title for Jesus and comes from the Greek word "Christos," meaning "the Anointed One." Jesus is the central figure in Christianity, one of the world's main religions. To Christians, he is the son of God. To skeptics, the events of his life are more like a legend. His life, message and ministry are described in the four Gospels. These are books that appear in the New Testament, the second part of the Christian Bible. This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 1 Most Bible scholars agree that Jesus was a Jewish teacher from Galilee, a region in northern Israel. Jesus performed many miracles and called 12 Jewish men to follow him as his disciples. He worked closely with them and trained them to carry on his ministry. This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 2 This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 3 Not everyone admired Jesus, though. Roman leaders believed he was a threat to their power, especially when he claimed to be the King of the Jews. The Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, ordered that Jesus be put to death. In the city of Jerusalem, Jesus was crucified, or nailed to a cross. He resurrected three days after his death, appeared to his disciples and then ascended into heaven. The life and death of Jesus Christ provided atonement for the sins of the world. The Bible claims that Jesus will return one day for the Second Coming. He will judge the world and establish his eternal kingdom, thereby fulfilling his duty as the Messiah. The Messiah is someone sent by God to save mankind from sin. Jesus Christ's Accomplishments And Lessons Jesus Christ's accomplishments are too numerous to list. He lived a life without sin. He turned water into wine, healed many sick people, forgave sins and multiplied fish and loaves of bread to feed thousands of people. Jesus walked on water, calmed the stormy sea and raised children and adults from death to life. Jesus Christ proclaimed the good news of the Kingdom of God. This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 4 He laid down his life and was crucified. He descended into hell and was resurrected from the dead. Jesus Christ paid for the sins of the world in order to rescue mankind, restoring man's fellowship with God and opening the way to eternal life. Though difficult to understand, the Bible teaches Christians that Jesus himself is God, or "God with us." The Bible also teaches that Jesus is not only fully God, but fully man as well. He became a human being so that he could identify with our weaknesses and struggles. Most importantly, he became human so that he could give his life to pay the price for our sins. Once again, the lessons from Jesus Christ's life are too numerous to list. His most important lessons taught people love for mankind, obedience and devotion to God. Early Life And Family Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem of Judea and grew up in Nazareth in Galilee. Jesus's earthly father, Joseph, was a carpenter, or skilled craftsman by trade. Most likely, Jesus worked alongside his father Joseph as a carpenter. In the Book of Mark, Jesus is referred to as a carpenter. This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 5 This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 6 Jesus's heavenly father was God, and his mother was Mary. His brothers were James, Joseph, Judas and Simon. Jesus had sisters, too, who are not named but are mentioned in the Book of Matthew and the Book of Mark. Key Verses Jesus is mentioned more than 1,200 times in the New Testament. His life, message and ministry are recorded in the four Gospels of the New Testament. One of the key verses appears in the Book of John, where Jesus says, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." This passage expresses the Christian belief that only through loving Jesus Christ can we make contact with God. Another key verse says that "there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ." This passage reminds us that Jesus was the bodily form of God on Earth. This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 7.