John the Baptist preached the Kingdom of God and the coming of the Messiah-Savior. Whom he indicated as the expected Messiah ? - Jesus of Nazareth.
Life of Jesus of Nazareth
Jesus' homeland was Palestine, which in his time was under the rule of the Roman emperor, Octavian Augustus. It was ruled by King Herod the Great. Jesus was born at the end of his life. Jesus' mother was Mary, who was married to Joseph of the lineage of David. Józef was a carpenter by trade. Jesus belonged to the chosen people and was subject to all its regulations. The name of Jesus, which have been given to him, was used very often in this nation. Jesus grew up and grew up in the city of Nazareth. He led a life of poor people. He had relatives in Nazareth, which, according to Jewish customs, the Gospel calls "brothers and sisters".
During the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Jesus began to teach. He had approx 30 years. Like many other itinerant teachers, and He preached all over Palestine. He preached, that the kingdom of God has come and that he has come to save people. He supported his learning with unusual signs. He gathered students around him, and of them he chose twelve, called the Apostles.
After some time, not longer than three years from the start of education, Jesus was delivered by the high priests Annas and Caiaphas to Pilate, who condemned him to death on the cross. He died on the cross, His body was placed in the grave. On the third day he rose from the dead and appeared several times to the Apostles and other disciples. Finally he went back to the Father, having first instructed the students, that they may spread his teaching to all nations.
Christian documents
We learn from the scriptures about the life and work of Jesus of Nazareth, which began to be written down sometime after his death. These include the Gospels of Matthew, Brand, Luke and John, Acts of Luke, Letters of Paul and the other Apostles. These writings express the faith of the early Christians, but they speak of the life of Jesus and his teaching. People wrote them, many of whom knew Jesus of Nazareth personally and witnessed his activities.
Historical non-Christian documents
Also, Jesus Christ is mentioned in non-Christian ancient writings. Suetonius, Roman historian, ok. year 53 mentions Christ in connection with the expulsion of Jews from Rome during the reign of Emperor Claudius.
Pliny the Younger, steward of Bithynia (in years 111-113), in a letter to the emperor Trajan informs, that Christians gather on the appointed day before dawn and sing a hymn to Christ as God.
Tacitus explains, that name is Christians ("Christian") comes from "Christ, whom Pontius Pilate condemned to death during the reign of Tiberius ".
Jewish historian Józef Flavius (year 94) talks about the death of Jacob and writes, that he was a brother, that is, a relative of "Jesus, who was called Christ ".
■ Think:
1. When was Jesus Christ born ?
2. Where Jesus lived with his parents for most of his life ?
3. Whom Scripture. he means "brothers and sisters" of Jesus ?
4. When Jesus Started Teaching ?
5. How Jesus' activity ended ?
6. What early Christian scriptures say about Jesus of Nazareth ?
7. What non-Christian ancient writers mention Christ ?
■ Task :
Draw a map of Palestine in Jesus' day and mark the places related to His life and activities.
■ Other Sources :