Jesus in Christianity

==Teachings, parables and miracles==
{{Main|Parables of Jesus|Miracles of Jesus}}
[[File:Ostromir Gospel 1.jpg|thumb|upright|A [[Gospel of John]], 1056]]
{{blockquote|''The words that I say unto you I speak not from myself: but the Father who dwells in me does his works.'' — [[s:Bible (American Standard)/John#14:10|John 14:10]]<ref name="autogenerated98" />}}
In the New Testament the teachings of Jesus are presented in terms of his "words and works".<ref name=Zuck100 /><ref name=WPent212 /> The words of Jesus include several sermons, in addition to parables that appear throughout the narrative of the Synoptic Gospels (the gospel of John includes no parables). The works include the miracles and other acts performed during his ministry.<ref name=WPent212 />

Although the [[Canonical Gospel]]s are the major source of the teachings of Jesus, the Pauline epistles, which were likely written decades before the gospels, provide some of the earliest written accounts of the teachings of Jesus.<ref name=Blomb442 >Blomberg, Craig L. ''Jesus and the Gospels: An Introduction and Survey''. B & H Academic, 2009. {{ISBN|0-8054-4482-3}}. pp. 441-442</ref>

The New Testament does not present the teachings of Jesus as merely his own teachings, but equates the words of Jesus with divine revelation, with [[John the Baptist]] stating in [[s:Bible (NIV)/John#3:34|John 3:34]]: "For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit." and Jesus stating in [[s:Bible (NIV)/John#7:16|John 7:16]]: "My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me".<ref name="autogenerated98">Osborn, Eric Francis. ''The Emergence of Christian Theology''. Cambridge University Press, 1993. {{ISBN|978-0521430784}}  p.98</ref><ref name=And108 >Köstenberger, Andreas J. ''The missions of Jesus and the disciples according to the Fourth Gospel''. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1998. {{ISBN|0-8028-4255-0}} pages 108-109</ref> In [[s:Bible (American Standard)/Matthew#11:27|Matthew 11:27]] Jesus claims divine knowledge, stating: "No one knows the Son except the Father and no one knows the Father except the Son", asserting the mutual knowledge he has with the Father.<ref name="Bromiley571"/><ref>Talbert, Charles H. ''Matthew''. Baker Academic, 2010. {{ISBN|0-8010-3192-3}} p. 149</ref>

One of the most important of [[Jesus']] teachings is his [[second coming]] in [[Matthew 24]] and [[Luke 21]]. There [[Jesus]] explained the signs of the [[Eschatology|last days]], popularly known as the [[Eschatology|end-time]]. These are the days that precedes the [[second coming]] of [[Jesus Christ]], there he spoke of the signs of the end of days and what will happen to the believers in Christ, the [[persecution]] and the troubles that will come upon the world. The second coming of Jesus is mainly divided into two, namely; the [[Rapture]] and the [[Second Coming]]. The rapture being the time Jesus comes in the air to take up his saints to [[Heaven]] for a period of seven years and the second coming, being a time he comes with the [[saints]] to rule the [[earth]] for a thousand years. It is also referred to as the millennial reign.

===Discourses===
{{See also|Five Discourses of Matthew|Sermon on the Mount|Beatitudes}}
[[File:Christ Taking Leave of the Apostles.jpg|thumb|Jesus' ''[[Farewell Discourse]]'' to his eleven remaining disciples after the [[Last Supper]], from the ''[[Maestà (Duccio)|Maestà]]'' by [[Duccio]]]]
The gospels include several discourses by Jesus on specific occasions, such as the [[Farewell discourse]] delivered after the [[Last Supper]], the night before his Crucifixion.<ref name=Gail142 >O'Day, Gail R., Susan Hylen. ''John (Westminster Bible Companion)''  Westminster John Knox Press, 2006. {{ISBN|978-0-664-25260-1}}, Chapter 15: The Farewell Discourse, pages 142-168</ref> Although some of the teachings of Jesus are reported as taking place within the formal atmosphere of a synagogue (e.g., in {{Bibleverse|Matthew|4:23|KJV
}}) many  of the discourses are more like conversations than formal lectures.<ref name=Howick7 >Howick, E. Keith. ''The Sermons of Jesus the Messiah''. WindRiver Publishing, 2003. {{ISBN|978-1-886249-02-8}} pp. 7-9</ref>

The [[Gospel of Matthew]] has a structured set of sermons, often grouped as the [[Five Discourses of Matthew]] which present many of the key teachings of Jesus.<ref name=Cradle194 >Köstenberger, Andreas J.L. Scott Kellum, Charles L. Quarles. ''The Cradle, the Cross, and the Crown: An Introduction to the New Testament''. B&H Academic, 2009. {{ISBN|978-0-8054-4365-3}}. pp. 194-196</ref><ref name=Keener37 >Keener, Craig S. ''The Gospel of Matthew''. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2009. {{ISBN|978-0-8028-6498-7}}. pp. 37-38</ref> Each of the five discourses has some parallel passages in the [[Gospel of Mark]] or the [[Gospel of Luke]].<ref name=RTFrance >France, R.T. ''The Gospel of Matthew (New International Commentary on the New Testament)''. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2007. {{ISBN|978-0-8028-2501-8}}. p.9</ref> The five discourses in Matthew begin with the [[Sermon on the Mount]], which encapsulates many of the moral teaching of Jesus and which is one of the best known and most quoted elements of the New Testament.<ref name=Howick7 /><ref name="ReferenceA">Vaught, Carl G. ''The Sermon on the Mount: a Theological Investigation''. Baylor University Press; 2nd edition, 2001. {{ISBN|978-0-918954-76-3}}. pp. xi-xiv</ref> The Sermon on the Mount includes the ''[[Beatitudes]]'' which describe the character of the people of the [[Kingdom of God]], expressed as "blessings".<ref>"Beatitudes." F. L. Cross (Editor), E. A. Livingstone (Editor). ''The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church.'' New York: Oxford University Press, 2005. {{ISBN|978-0192802903}}</ref> The Beatitudes focus on love and humility rather than force and exaction and echo the key ideals of Jesus' teachings on spirituality and compassion.<ref name=Haste >Hastings, James. ''A Dictionary Of The Bible''. Oxford University Press, USA; 3rd Revised edition, 2005. {{ISBN|1-4102-1730-2}} pp.15-19</ref><ref name=Peace >Jegen, Carol Frances. ''Jesus the Peacemaker''. Sheed & Ward,  1986. {{ISBN|0-934134-36-7}}. pp. 68-71</ref><ref name=Synop >Majerník Ján, Joseph Ponessa, Laurie Watson Manhardt. ''The Synoptics: Matthew, Mark, Luke''. Sheed & Ward, 2005. {{ISBN|1-931018-31-6}}, pp.63-68</ref> The other discourses in Matthew include the ''Missionary Discourse'' in [[Matthew 10]] and the ''Discourse on the Church'' in [[Matthew 18]], providing instructions to the disciples and laying the foundation of the codes of conduct for the anticipated community of followers.<ref name=Toussaint >Toussaint, Stanley D. ''Behold the King: A Study of Matthew''. Kregel Academic & Professional, 2005. {{ISBN|0-8254-3845-4}}. pp.215-216</ref><ref>Jensen, Richard A. ''Preaching Matthew's Gospel''. CSS Publishing Company, 1998. {{ISBN|978-0-7880-1221-1}}. pp. 25 & 158</ref><ref>Chouinard, Larry. ''Matthew (The College Press NIV Commentary)''. College Press Publishing Company, 1997. {{ISBN|0-89900-628-0}}. p.321</ref>

===Parables===
[[File:Brooklyn Museum - The Good Samaritan (Le bon samaritain) - James Tissot.jpg|thumb|upright|''The Good Samaritan'' is a painting by [[James Tissot]]. The [[Parable of the Good Samaritan]] is one of the parables of Jesus.]]
The [[parables of Jesus]] represent a major component of his teachings in the gospels, the approximately thirty parables forming about one third of his recorded teachings.<ref name="Lockyer174">Lockyer, Herbert. ''All the Parables of the Bible''. Zondervan, 1988. {{ISBN|978-0-310-28111-5}}. p.174</ref><ref name="JDPentecost10">Pentecost, J. Dwight. ''The parables of Jesus: Lessons in Life from the Master Teacher''. Zondervan, 1998. {{ISBN|0-8254-3458-0}}. p.10</ref> The parables may appear within longer sermons, as well as other places within the narrative.<ref name=Howick7 /> Jesus' parables are seemingly simple and memorable stories, often with imagery, and each conveys a teaching which usually relates the physical world to the [[Spirituality|spiritual]] world.<ref name="Lisco9-11">Lisco, Friedrich Gustav, and Patrick Fairbairn. ''The parables of Jesus Explained and Illustrated Volume 29''. Nabu Press, 2010. {{ISBN|978-1149508398}}. pp.9-11</ref><ref>Oxenden, Ashton. ''The parables of our Lord.'' William Macintosh Publishers, London, 1864. ASIN: B008RW5N2S. p.6</ref>

In the 19th century, Lisco and [[Patrick Fairbairn|Fairbairn]] stated that in the parables of Jesus, "the image borrowed from the visible world is accompanied by a truth from the invisible (spiritual) world" and that the parables of Jesus are not "mere similitudes which serve the purpose of illustration, but are internal analogies where nature becomes a witness for the spiritual world".<ref name="Lisco9-11"/> Similarly, in the 20th century, calling a parable "an earthly story with a heavenly meaning",<ref name="Barclay12"/> William Barclay states that the parables of Jesus use familiar examples to lead others' minds towards heavenly concepts. He suggests that Jesus did not form his parables merely as analogies but based on an "inward affinity between the natural and the spiritual order."<ref name="Barclay12">Barclay, William. ''The Parables of Jesus''. Westminster John Knox Press, 1999. {{ISBN|0-664-25828-X}} p.12.</ref>

One of the major reasons why Jesus spoke in parables to the [[Jews]] was explained to the disciples of Jesus by Jesus himself. It is found in Matthew 13:13-14; there Jesus explains why he used much of parables to the people of [[Israel]]. Jesus explained that it was so for the fulfillment of the prophecy of [[Isaiah]] the prophet, and this is found in Isaiah 6:9-10. This was for the people of Israel not to understand and realize who Jesus is and accept him, he purposely did this to make provision for [[Gentiles]]<ref>{{Citation|title=The Temple and Gentiles|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.5040/9781472550286.ch-006|work=Attitudes to Gentiles in Ancient Judaism and Early Christianity|year=2013 |publisher=Bloomsbury T&T Clark|doi=10.5040/9781472550286.ch-006 |isbn=978-0-56763-766-6 |access-date=2022-01-02}}</ref> to be part of the children of God.

=== Miracles of Jesus ===
{{blockquote|''Believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father''. —[[s:Bible (American Standard)/John#10:38|John 10:38]]<ref>''The emergence of Christian theology'' by Eric Francis Osborn 1993 {{ISBN|0-521-43078-X}} page 100</ref>}}
In Christian teachings, the miracles of Jesus were as much a vehicle for his message as were his words. Many of the miracles emphasize the importance of faith, for instance in [[cleansing ten lepers]],<ref>{{bibleverse|Lk|17:19}}</ref> Jesus did not say: "My power has saved you" but says "Rise and go; your faith has saved you."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Marthaler |first1=Berard L. |title=The creed: the apostolic faith in contemporary theology |url=https://archive.org/details/creedapostolicfa0000mart/page/220 |year=1993 |publisher=Twenty-Third Publications; 3rd Revised edition |isbn=0-89622-537-2 |page=[https://archive.org/details/creedapostolicfa0000mart/page/220 220] }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1= Lockyer|first1=Herbert |title= All the Parables of the Bible|year=1988 |publisher= Zondervan|isbn=978-0-310-28111-5 |page=235}}</ref> Similarly, in the [[Jesus walks on water|Walking on Water]] miracle, [[Apostle Peter]] learns an important lesson about faith in that as his faith wavers, he begins to sink.<ref>{{bibleverse|Mt|14:34-36}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Perkins |first1=Pheme |title=Reading the New Testament: An Introduction |url=https://archive.org/details/readingnewtesta00perk/page/54 |year=1988 |publisher=Paulist Press |isbn=0-8091-2939-6 |page=[https://archive.org/details/readingnewtesta00perk/page/54 54] }}</ref>

[[File:Palma il Giovane 001.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Jesus [[Healing the paralytic at Bethesda|healing the paralytic]] in ''The Pool'' by [[Palma il Giovane]], 1592]]

One characteristic shared among all miracles of Jesus in the Gospel accounts is that he delivered benefits freely and never requested or accepted any form of payment for his healing miracles, unlike some high priests of his time who charged those who were healed.<ref name="Blomberg197" /> In [[s:Bible (NIV)/Matthew#10:8|Matthew 10:8]] he advised his disciples to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, and drive out demons without payment and stated: "Freely you have received; freely give".<ref name="Blomberg197">{{cite book |last1=Blomberg |first1=Craig L.  |title=Jesus and the Gospels: An Introduction and Survey |year=2009 |publisher=B & H Academic |isbn=978-0-8054-4482-7 |page=197}}</ref>

Christians in general believe that Jesus' miracles were actual historical events and that his miraculous works were an important part of his life, attesting to his divinity and the [[Hypostatic union]], i.e., the dual natures of Christ's humanity and divinity in one [[hypostasis (philosophy)|hypostasis.]]<ref name="Catholic Encyclopedia on Miracles">{{Cite web |url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10338a.htm |title=Catholic Encyclopedia on Miracles |access-date=2011-10-14 |archive-date=2017-11-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171116010649/http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10338a.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Christians believe that while Jesus' experiences of hunger, weariness, and death were evidences of his humanity, the miracles were evidences of his deity.<ref>Lockyer, Herbert. ''All the Parables of the Bible''. Zondervan, 1988. {{ISBN|978-0-310-28111-5}}. p.25</ref><ref>Brande, William Thomas, George William Cox. ''A dictionary of science, literature, & art''. London, 1867, also Published by Old Classics on Kindle, 2009, page 655</ref><ref>Ramm, Bernard L. ''An Evangelical Christology: Ecumenic and Historic''. Regent College Publishing, 1993. {{ISBN|1-57383-008-9}}. p.45</ref>

Christian authors also view the miracles of Jesus not merely as acts of power and omnipotence, but as works of love and mercy: they were performed to show compassion for sinful and suffering humanity.<ref name="Catholic Encyclopedia on Miracles" /> Authors Ken and Jim Stocker state that "every single miracle Jesus performed was an act of love".<ref>Stocker, Ken. Jim Stocker.  ''Facts, Faith, and the FAQs''. Xulon Press, 2006. {{ISBN|978-1600347535}}. p.139</ref> And each miracle involves specific teachings.<ref>Maguire, Robert. ''The Miracles of Christ''. Ulan Press, 2012. ASIN: B009QMIYOW. p.133</ref><ref>Wiersbe, Warren W. ''Classic Sermons on the Miracles of Jesus''. Kregel Academic & Professional, 1995. {{ISBN|0-8254-3999-X}}. p.132</ref>

Since according to the [[Gospel of John]]<ref>{{bibleverse|Jn|20:30||20:30}}</ref> it was impossible to narrate all the miracles performed by Jesus, the [[Catholic Encyclopedia]] states that the miracles presented in the Gospels were selected for a twofold reason: first for the manifestation of God's glory, and then for their evidential value. Jesus referred to his "works" as evidences of his mission and his divinity, and in {{Bibleref2|John|5:36}} he declared that his miracles have greater evidential value than the testimony of [[John the Baptist]].<ref name="Catholic Encyclopedia on Miracles" />