The life of Jesus Christ is unique. He suffered a humiliating death by crucifixion at the age of 33 after only three years on the public stage. He claimed the unique position of God’s chosen eternal king along with dozens of contemporaries who claimed the same thing and have since drifted into anonymity. He left no writings, commanded no armies, built no structures and, yet, He remains the most influential person who ever lived. No one has captured human attention like Jesus. Today, nearly 2000 years after his death, he remains wildly popular. We cannot shake the notion of “the chosen one” (Dan. 7:13-14, Matt. 26:64, Mark 10:45) who will make all things new (Rev. 21:5).
Why is the life of Jesus so powerful and distinct? Why didn’t he fade into the background of history centuries ago? Who is He, really? Jesus is a figure who cannot be avoided. Every person must decide... does Jesus matter? Why? How?
Jesus rescues us now and forevermore
Our own mortality reveals something that every person must address (Rom. 3:23, Rom. 5:12, Heb. 9:27). We are limited. The things we employ to give us any sense of security, identity and love are limited as well. On our own we cannot overcome the guilt, suffering and longing we face. Into this hopelessness Jesus Christ speaks simple words of hope:
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid (John 14:27–28)
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. (John 5:24)
Jesus speaks with audacious confidence in these passages because He sees the source of every person’s limitations and knows that only His life, death and resurrection is sufficient to address it. The true source of our limitations is our independent rejection of God as an authority and source of life (Rom. 1:18-21).
It is finished!
Fully God, fully man (Col. 1:19, Heb. 1:1-3, Heb. 2:17-18) and wholly innocent (Heb. 2:14), Jesus overcomes the separation created by our rebellion, namely, the broken relationship between the one and only God and every person (Rom. 5:1, Rom. 6:33). Jesus substituted His life and adsorbed the punishment we deserved and His resurrection acts as the exclamation point on His final words from the cross – “It is finished!” (Col. 1:15-20)
For those who trust in Christ, the final debt has been paid and death itself has been defeated (2 Cor. 5:21, Heb. 2:14-15). Christ’s followers are transformed from anxious takers to joyful givers (Luke 7:47, Rom. 13:8-11, 2 Cor. 5:14, 1 John 4:19) because, for them, everything in this life is clearly temporary and secondary (Phil. 1:21). The best is found, not in the creation, but in the Creator. Jesus’ disciples find their life in knowing Him and treasuring his greatness (John 17:3) and, someday, they will find fullness of joy face to face with Him (Ps. 16:11, 1 Peter 1:3-4). For them, the best is yet to come.
This is the Good News (Gospel) of Jesus Christ.
How does the Gospel address...
...guilt?
Justified freely by His grace (Rom. 3:23-25), God no longer has reason to condemn those who trust in Jesus’ finished work on the Cross (Rom. 8:1). More than that, God receives them as His children whom he will never leave or forsake (Heb. 13:5, 1 John 3:1).
...suffering and evil?
The existence of suffering and evil rightly stirs many questions about God and His involvement with the world. While definite explanations for specific tragedies may remain elusive, the Cross of Jesus does eliminate some possibilities. The Cross reveals that suffering and evil are not the result of God’s distance, apathy or inability. God Himself, through Jesus, became acquainted with human sorrow and grief (Is. 53:3, Heb. 4:15) and His death was the perfect provision for our greatest need (Eph. 1:7). At the Cross, God makes this much clear: He is deeply empathetic to our suffering and will stop at nothing to redeem His people from “the dominion of darkness” created by their own rebellion.
...the need for purpose and meaning?
For the person who has lost their sense of purpose, Jesus modeled a way of life that truly has meaning. Jesus lost his life to put God on display and to give life to others. This was his passion and his joy. Following Christ’s example is a sure path to joyful life of weighty purpose (John 15:13, 1 Peter 2:21-24).
...the hunger for beauty?
Jesus fulfills our hunger for beauty and transcendence by revealing a God who is humble, sacrificial, and close to the brokenhearted. Yet He creates and holds the Universe together (Col. 1:16, Heb. 1:2-3) and will rule the world with perfect justice toward the proud (Luke 1:51-52, Rev. 5:11-13)). As the great American pastor-theologian, Jonathan Edwards, stated, “There is an admirable conjunction of diverse excellencies in Jesus Christ.” Likewise, one of C.S. Lewis’ inspirations, George MacDonald, described God’s beauty this way:
"God is so beautiful, and so patient, and so loving, and so generous that he is the heart and soul and rock of every love and every kindness and every gladness in the world. All the beauty in the world and in the hearts of men, all the painting all the poetry all the music, all the architecture comes out of his heart first. He is so loveable that no heart can know how loveable he is - can know only in part. When the best loves God best, he does not love him nearly as he deserves, or as he will love him in time."
...loneliness and identity?
In the face of loneliness and rejection, God demonstrates a personal and perfect love at the cross of Jesus (Rom. 5:8). His love is more than a generic love for all of humanity (Gal. 2:20). God calls us as individuals to be His children, His friends, and His bride. Though the world might reject us, in Christ we are never alone (John 14:18-19, John 16:33). Our pains to be significant are finally assuaged in our restored relationship with God. It is God who now has the final word on who we are and what we will become and, ultimately, only His word matters (Rev. 2:17).
...fear?
The future is the home of our fear. To battle our sense of uncertainty, we clamor to find security in financial gain, social prominence, and the loyalty of those we love. God speaks into our fear with promises. No one can snatch us from His hand (John 10:27-29). He has an inheritance for us in heaven that will never spoil, perish or fade (1 Peter 1:3-4). Jesus has removed the sting of the final fear for those who trust Him (1 Cor. 15:55-56). For them, death is no longer a doorway to despair but, instead, to ever-increasing joy (Rev. 1:17-18, Rev. 21:4).