As John tells us, Jesus was not merely a man who lived in the first century AD, but He was with God in the beginning, not as one of God’s creations, but as God. This distinction is important because, while other religions talk about Jesus as a prophet or a moral teacher, we as Christians recognize Him as God incarnate. And, we also believe that Christ was fully man. He took on flesh to become man and walked a life on earth being tempted in the ways we are all tempted. As someone fully man, He was able to walk in our shoes and understand what it is like to go through every trial and temptation we might face. As fully God, He was able to lead a life free of sin and stand in our place, atoning for our sins. This belief that Jesus was fully God and fully man is central and necessary to the Christian faith. When we consider what He did and what He taught, we do so in the light of this mysterious wonder of Him being both fully God and fully man.

Jesus came as an Israelite, part of the lineage of King David, descendant of Abraham. This lineage matters because it reminds us that Jesus didn’t arrive as an outsider. He entered a real family, a real culture, a real story — the story of Israel. This culture was shaped by the ritual practice of animal sacrifice, where the people would routinely sacrifice an unblemished animal to atone for their sins. These rituals, though meaningful, were never enough to fully atone for Israel’s sin. As Christians, we now see that these ritual sacrifices point to the coming of Christ. Jesus Christ, being fully God and fully man, lived a sinless life fulfilling the role of the unblemished lamb. Thus, He was able to atone for our sins in a way a lamb never could, by choosing to die in our place and rising again on the third day. Unlike the animals who stayed dead, Jesus rose again, defeating death, thus fulfilling the law of the Israelites. Jesus’ death is what reconciles us to the Father. But it’s just as important to remember that Jesus is not still on the cross — He rose again. It is the belief in His resurrection life that separates us from those who say Jesus was merely a prophet or a good teacher.

While belief in Jesus’ death and resurrection is a necessary component of the Christian faith, it is not the only thing we must remember from Jesus. Jesus coming as an Israelite is significant. The Israelites were a people with specific traditions and laws that had been given to them by God. While they failed time and time again to follow the laws set forth by God, Jesus came as the fulfillment of the laws and the prophets. Jesus didn’t do this in a legalistic sense, but by instead understanding the heart of the law: love God and love people. God is love and created us to love. Therefore the law was only ever intended to help people live out their love for God and for others. Jesus fulfilled the law, but He didn’t discard it. Instead, He revealed its heart for us to follow. As Christians we strive to follow Jesus by loving God and loving people, which is the sum of the law given to the Israelites, but is also much bigger than mere laws. 

 After living a life steeped in Jewish tradition, following all the laws and the spirit of the laws, being crucified as Messiah, and rising again as Lord, Jesus left his disciples with one final command: 

 “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20). 

This command was the culmination of Jesus’ life, given to the disciples just before his ascension to heaven. This command was not about abstract laws, but rather a way of living that could be replicated by anyone who believed, yet it required these new missionaries to live out their lives in front of others. They were being called to bring his words to life, to be present with others like He was present with them. 

Jesus’ parting words open the door to Gentiles (non-Jews) to become disciples, baptized in His name, and learning to live out his commands. This fulfills God’s promise to Abraham that his offspring would bless the entire world. This is not a command to stay where we are and love God and those who are like us, but rather Jesus is officially extending this invitation into the Kingdom of Heaven, His Kingdom, to all people who believe in Him.

In the story of Jesus’ life we see someone, fully God, fully man, who came to fulfill the law of the Israelites and reconcile first the Jews and then the whole world with God. In His life Jesus was blameless, leading a life without sin. He then willingly died on the cross for the sins of all mankind, fulfilling the need for a sacrifice once and for all. He was then buried in a tomb for three days and rose again, coming back to life, meeting, talking, and eating, first with His disciples and then with several hundred ofHhis followers. After this He ascended to heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father. 

 However, this wasn’t the end. Jesus, still fully God and fully man, sits at the right hand of the Father interceding on our behalf and sending the Holy Spirit to be with us. As Christians we can daily commune with Jesus and with the Father through the Holy Spirit. Once Jesus returned to heaven, He sent us the Holy Spirit, who lives in us. The Spirit reminds us and teaches us how to live out what Jesus taught. Thus, there is no longer a need for priests to mediate between us and God. Though, pastors, the Bible, church leaders, and the church community all remain important parts of living out of our faith. The purpose behind each one of them is to point us to Jesus and the reality of our connection to Him wherever we go. Jesus is the only way to the Father. As Friends, this direct connection to Jesus, the God incarnate, lies at the heart of all we do.