JESUS CHRIST

I have been planning for some time now to devote a page to Jesus Christ, Lord of my life. Not only did he change me, but he changed the whole direction my life was to take. That is certainly not unusual for nobody has changed the world the way Jesus has. NOBODY. The influence that Jesus has had on the lives of people throughout history has never been surpassed. There has never been any other great leader who has inspired so many positive changes in the lives of his followers. Whenever anyone encounters the risen Christ he is totally transformed. His outlook on life is altered forever.

After Jesus was crucified, his disciples were devastated. They had forsaken him in the Garden of Gethsemane to save their own skins. However after they met with the resurrected Christ, they became radically changed men and women. All at once they were willing to give their lives to witness to the world. Many of them were tortured and killed because they proclaimed to all that Jesus was alive. Skeptics and enemies were likewise transformed. Jesus’ younger brother, James, didn’t believe Jesus was anybody special. But immediately following his resurrected brother’s appearance, James not only believed that Jesus was Lord, but he became the leader of the Jerusalem church and died a martyr in 62 A.D. Saul of Tarsus was one of the chief persecutors of the early Christians. He dragged them to prison. When they refused to recant their faith, he was a party to their execution. But he also had a dramatic encounter with the risen Christ on the road to Damascus and he was transformed from Saul, the enemy of Christianity, to Paul, the main one to publicize its message. In fact he left his position of prestige in Jewish society, to become a travelling missionary, carrying the Gospel message far and wide throughout the Roman empire. He suffered tremendous persecution because of it. For centuries, true Christians around the world have stood as shining examples of the standards of truth and love established by Jesus of Nazareth.

Historian Philip Schraff described the overwhelming influence that Jesus had on subsequent history and culture of the world. “This Jesus of Nazareth, without money and arms, conquered more millions than Alexander, Caesar, Mohammed, and Napoleon; without science...he shed more light on things human and divine than all philosophers and scholars combined, without the eloquence of schools, he spoke such words of life as were never spoken before or since, and produced effects which lie beyond the reach of orator or poet; without writing a single line, he set more pens in motion, and furnished themes for more sermons, orations, discussions, learned volumes, works of art, and songs of praise than a whole army of men and women of ancient and modern times.”

All of these men and women have found fulfillment and joy in following the teachings of Jesus. They were transformed when they met Jesus and yielded their lives to him. Each of them has made a positive impact on our world.

I am convinced that Christianity is still relevant to the needs of the world today. You may also wish to encounter the living God and experience His transforming power. It was Jesus, who was the greatest revelation of God our world has ever known, who said all that is required "Is to love God and to love your neighbor." That is about as clear as it can be isn't it. I encourage you to accept his challenge and become one more of his followers. Do it TODAY!