Waypoint 1 of 10
Who Is Jesus?
At the center of the Christian faith is a person — Jesus of Nazareth. Understanding who He is changes everything.
Who Jesus Is
Jesus is not simply a historical figure or a moral teacher. The New Testament presents Him as the fulfillment of every Old Testament promise — fully God and fully human, the one in whom all things hold together.
Jesus is the eternal Son of God who came into the world as a human being. He is fully divine and fully human. Through Jesus, we see God's character, love, truth, and grace revealed clearly. He was not simply a wise teacher or prophet—He came from the Father and shares in God's divine nature. (John 1:1–3, 14; Colossians 1:15–17)
Jesus is also the promised Messiah, the Savior whom God promised throughout the Old Testament. His birth, ministry, teachings, miracles, death, and resurrection fulfilled God's plan of redemption. Jesus proclaimed the Kingdom of God, showed compassion to those who were hurting, and demonstrated His authority over sickness, sin, nature, and death. (Matthew 16:15–16; Luke 4:18–21)
Jesus is Savior and Lord. He lived without sin, willingly died on the cross for our sins, and rose from the dead. Through Him, we can receive forgiveness, a restored relationship with God, and the promise of eternal life. Calling Jesus "Lord" means more than knowing who He is—it means trusting Him, following His teachings, and allowing Him to guide the way we live. (John 3:16–17; Romans 10:9–10)
Key Scripture
For God so loved 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
Follow His Life, Step by Step
The timeline above provides the big picture of Jesus' earthly life and ministry. Explore each stage below to learn what happened, why it matters, and where you can read about it in Scripture.
Choose a stage of Jesus' life to begin.
Why Jesus Came
Jesus came to rescue us from sin and restore our relationship with God. Through His death and resurrection, He offers salvation and forgiveness to everyone who places their faith in Him.
Because of Jesus, we can be reconciled with God, made new, and given the promise of eternal life. Salvation is not something we earn through good works—it is God's gift of grace received through faith in Jesus Christ.
Salvation
Jesus came to save us from sin and bring us into a new relationship with God.
John 3:16–17; Ephesians 2:8–9
Forgiveness
Through Jesus, our sins can be forgiven and we can receive a new beginning.
Acts 10:43; 1 John 1:9
Reconciliation
Jesus restores the relationship between humanity and God that was broken by sin.
Romans 5:10–11; 2 Corinthians 5:18–19
Eternal Life
Jesus gives His followers the promise of eternal life with God.
John 10:27–28; John 11:25–26
Read in Context
Each of these passages reveals a different dimension of who Jesus is. Click any reference to read it in full on BibleGateway (NIV).
What Does This Mean for You?
Learning who Jesus is invites a personal response. Jesus calls you to believe in Him, receive His forgiveness, and begin following Him.
You do not have to understand everything before taking your first step. Begin by trusting Jesus, learning His teachings, speaking with Him through prayer, and allowing His words to shape how you live. Faith grows as you continue walking with Him one step at a time.
"Come, follow Me."
— Matthew 4:19
Your journey doesn't end here.
Continue to Waypoint 02: What Is Faith? Each Waypoint builds on the last as you explore Christianity and grow in your understanding of Scripture.
Continue to Waypoint 02: What Is Faith?