Overview

In Jesus Christ, God is revealed in a human person. Born about 2000 years ago, to a simple family in Nazareth in Palestine, he grew up like others of his time and culture. He was like us, but did not sin. God’s love flowed through him, without limit, in a way that would change the world. Jesus was fully human and fully divine. When people saw and heard him, they experienced God and God’s ways, in human attitudes and actions. Jesus showed the meaning and purpose of life. He showed us the way to live fully human lives, in God’s image, as we are created to be.

Jesus called God, ‘Father,’ with the affectionate, ‘abba’, meaning Daddy or ‘Dad’. He wanted everyone to know God as a loving Father, a Parent. Jesus’ relationship with the Father was central to his identity; “The Father and I are one” (Jn 10:30). To see Jesus is to see the Father (Jn 14:9). To do the will of the One who sent him was food to Jesus (Jn 4:34). When you pray, he said, ask, “Our Father…Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Mt 6:9). In Gethsemane, facing torture and death, he prayed, “My Father…if it is possible, let this cup pass me by. Nevertheless, let it be as you, not I, would have it” (Mt 26:39-40). At the moment of death, Jesus gave his Spirit into the Father’s hands (Lk 23:46).

Jesus announced God’s Reign (or ‘Kingdom’), by his words and his way of compassion, self-giving love, truth, peace, goodness, forgiveness and justice. This way of life leads to the deepest and truest kind of happiness possible in this life (Mt 5:1-13).

Jesus loved without compromise. In the end, he was betrayed, rejected, mocked, humiliated and sent to a disgraceful, criminal’s death. He forgave enemies and friends who deserted him. He took all sin and suffering upon himself (Isaiah 52:13-53:12). We human beings need a Saviour. Jesus Christ brought salvation from the sin and the selfishness holding us back from being the truly loving, fully alive persons we are created and called to be “I  came that you may have life and have it to the full” (Jn 10:10.)

Jesus rose from death. His followers experienced him alive, with them, helping them continue his mission. For all those who mourn, Jesus’ resurrection shows life is changed, not ended by death. Because of his life, death and resurrection there is new life and hope, no matter what life brings. The brokenness caused by evil and sin can be transformed. We are destined to rise from death, body and spirit. The true final home for all is eternal life with God who loved us, with all creation, into being.
The Risen Jesus Christ is with us until the end of time (Mt 28:20). With the Spirit within, Jesus’ disciples continue his mission, loving as he loved, building God’s Reign in the world. The Risen Jesus Christ promised to come again. When time is fulfilled the Reign of God will be fully realised and all suffering and death will end (Rev 21:3-4).

More Information

“The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us’ (John 1:14).

“Emmanuel, ‘God is with us,’” (Matthew 1:23).

“Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up,
and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day as he usually did.
He stood up to read, and they handed him the scroll of the prophet Isaiah.
Unrolling the scroll he found the place where it is written:
‘The Spirit of the Lord has been given to me,
for he has anointed me.
He sent me to bring the good news to the poor,
to proclaim liberty to captives
and to the blind new sight,
to set the down trodden free,
to proclaim the Lord’s year of favour.’
He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the assistant and sat down.
And all eyes in the synagogue were fixed on him.
Then he began to speak to them,
‘This text is being fulfilled today even as you listen.” (Luke 4:16-21)

“The Father and I are one” (Jn 10:30).

“I am the Way, the Truth and the Life,” (Jn 14:6).

“Blessed are the poor in spirit…” (Mt 5:3).

 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends,” (Jn 15:13).
“In love there can be no fear, but fear is driven out by love...We are to love then, because he loved us first.” (1 John 4:18-19)
God is love and anyone who lives in love lives in God and God lives in him.’ (1 John 4:7 & 16)

“In everything do to others as you would have them do to you” (Matthew 7:12)

‘Love is always patient and kind, it is never jealous; love is never boastful or conceited, it is never rude or selfish; it does not take offence and it is not resentful. Love takes no pleasure in other people’s sins, but delights in truth; it is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope, and to endure whatever comes. Love does not come to an end...there are three things that last: faith, hope and love, and the greatest of these is love.’ (1 Corinthians 13:4-6; 8,13)

“You have heard it said, ‘You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’  But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” [Matthew 5:43-45]

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you.” (Luke 6:37-38)

“You should carry each other’s troubles...” (Galatians 6:2)

"Know that I am with you. Yes, to the end of time." (Matthew 28:20)

Catechism of the Catholic Church

(Paragraph numbers for the Catechism are shown - Click the Nos section to view)

JESUS CHRIST, THE ONLY SON OF GOD  Nos 422-429
Jesus Nos 430-435
Christ  Nos 436-444
Son of God  Nos 441-445
Lord  Nos 446-451 
IN BRIEF Nos 452-455 

GOD BECAME MAN  Nos 456-483
"CONCEIVED BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND BORN OF THE VIRGIN MARY"  Nos 484-511
THE MYSTERIES OF CHRIST'S LIFE  Nos 512-570
"JESUS’  SUFFERED , DIED AND WAS BURIED"  Nos 571-573, Nos 574-594, Nos 595-623,  Nos 624-630 
HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD  Nos 631, Nos 632-637, Nos 638-658 

HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN AND IS WITH THE FATHER  Nos 659-664 
IN BRIEF Nos 665-667  

He Will Come Again   Nos 668-677,  Nos 678-679
IN BRIEF Nos 680-682