Come and See

Why Jesus?

Whatever you believe about God, Jesus of Nazareth is one of the most consequential people who ever lived, honoured across cultures and faiths. This is an honest look at who he was in history, what he claimed, why he was crucified, why Christians believe he rose, and why, for billions of people, he changed everything, so you can weigh it for yourself.

Who Jesus was, historically

Jesus was a first-century Jewish teacher in Roman-occupied Judea. That he lived, gathered followers, and was crucified under Pontius Pilate is affirmed by the Gospels and by non-Christian writers such as the Roman historian Tacitus and the Jewish historian Josephus. Almost no serious historian doubts he existed and was crucified.

What he taught

Jesus taught a startling ethic of love, love God with everything, love your neighbour as yourself, and even love your enemies. He welcomed the outcast, forgave sinners, blessed the poor and the mourning, and told unforgettable stories about a father running to embrace a lost son.

What he claimed

Jesus did not present himself as merely a wise teacher. He forgave sins, received worship, spoke of God as his own Father, and made a claim no other founder of a major religion made about himself:

Why he was crucified, and why Christians believe he rose

Jesus was executed by crucifixion. His followers claimed that three days later the tomb was empty and that they saw him alive, and they were so certain of it that they faced persecution and death rather than deny it. The empty tomb, the eyewitness claims, and the transformation of the disciples are the historical facts Christians believe are best explained by the resurrection.

Why he matters, from wherever you stand

If you are Muslim, the Qur’an already calls Jesus Messiah, a word from God, and a spirit from Him. If you are Jewish, Jesus is a son of your own people who read your Scriptures as his own. If you are Buddhist or Hindu, his teaching on compassion and the self may surprise you. If you are an atheist, the historical figure and his moral vision are worth taking seriously on their own terms. Wherever you begin, you can meet him in the sources and decide for yourself.

Frequently asked questions

Who was Jesus historically?

Jesus of Nazareth was a first-century Jewish teacher in Roman Judea. His existence and death by crucifixion under Pontius Pilate are affirmed by Christian and non-Christian sources alike (e.g. Tacitus, Josephus) and accepted by nearly all historians.

What did Jesus claim about himself?

Jesus forgave sins, accepted worship, called God his Father in a unique way, and said 'I am the way, the truth, and the life' (John 14:6). His first followers concluded he was the divine Son of God.

Why do Christians believe Jesus rose from the dead?

Because of the empty tomb, the many eyewitnesses who claimed to see him alive, and the transformation of frightened disciples into bold witnesses willing to die for what they saw. Christians hold the resurrection as the best explanation of these facts.

Why does Jesus matter to people of other faiths?

Because nearly every tradition honours or reckons with Jesus in some way, and his teaching on love, forgiveness, and God speaks to the deepest human questions. The invitation is simply to read his words and consider them.