Jesus was a man who lived in Israel sometime between 6 B.C. and 33 A.D. He was a Jewish teacher who claimed to be the Son of God—the "Messiah" or savior.1 Thousands of people followed him and his teaching. He was considered a revolutionary leader. Reports of miracles and healings powerfully caught people's attention.
He made some incredibly bold statements. He claimed to be the only way to gain a relationship with God.2 He claimed that by believing in him, all people could be forgiven of their sins and made right with God.3 He claimed that when he died—executed by the Roman government controlling Palestine at the time—he would rise from the dead and ascend to heaven.4 He claimed that when we who have faith in him also die, we will live forever with him in heaven.5
| 1 — | The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us. Then Jesus declared, "I who speak to you am he." |
| — John 4:25-26 | |
| 2 — | Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." |
| — John 14:6 | |
| 3 — | For God so love the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life. |
| — John 3:16 | |
| 4 — | Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days..." But the temple he had spoken of was his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had spoken. |
| — John 2:18-22 | |
| 5 — | Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die." |
| — John 11:25-26 | |