The teachings of Jesus and his divine status as the Son of God form the foundation of the Christian religion.
Having something that serves as a constant reminder of those principles is beneficial.
But before we get into his central teachings, let us first talk about who Christ asserts he is.
This will allow us, as Christians, to refresh our memory of the faith we once had and rededicate ourselves to serving the Lord.
Jesus’ Teaching About His Role In The Kingdom Of God
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life…” (John 14:6)
This dialogue occurs on the evening before Jesus’ crucifixion, over the Passover dinner.
At this point, Jesus had already washed the disciples’ feet, foretold that Judas would betray him, foretold that Peter would deny him, and reminded them he would soon be leaving (John 13).
Because of this, they naturally wanted to know where Jesus was going and why they weren’t permitted to go with him.
“…No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
Jesus clarifies that knowing Him is the sole means of understanding God the Father when He says this.
Let us dissect the above verse to understand Christ’s message further.
“I Am…”
The Greek word for “I am” has a lot of weight because of how it is used in that culture.
What it would amount to is total and unchallenged ownership.
Jesus also uses this expression many times elsewhere in the Gospels. Jesus cites Exodus 3:6, where God also used the profound form to state, in Matthew 22:32:
“I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.”
On the eve of His crucifixion, when the guards searched for Jesus in the garden, He told them, “I am he.”
The truth of His words struck their hearts, and they collapsed to the earth (John 18:4–6).
The Hebrew name for God, Yahweh, literally means “to be” or “the self-existing one.”
Jesus claimed ownership over this name of majesty and authority.
“…The Way”
By referring to Himself as “the only way,” Jesus emphasized His unique status.
The followers had previously voiced their uncertainty regarding His destination and how to follow Him along the course (or “way”) He was taking.
Jesus’ repeated command to “follow me” was consistent with what He had said from the start.
There’s no other pathway to paradise, no other gateway to God. Several years later, while speaking to the authorities in Jerusalem, Peter echoed the same message:
“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
The phrase “I am the way” emphasizes this redemption road’s uniqueness.
“…The Truth”
Jesus again emphasized His uniqueness as “the only truth” by using the definite article to describe Himself.
What is the definition of truth? Moreover, how do we find the truth?
This question was addressed by Jesus in John 14:6 when he assured his disciples, “I am the truth.”
Since he is the truth, Jesus is uniquely positioned to bear witness to and impart knowledge of that truth.
Every one of us may have access to the truth, yet not one of us may lay claim to being the truth.
We make too many mistakes and have too many gaps in our knowledge.
Yet, Jesus professes to be the truth, meaning he also claims to be one with God. Yet, Jesus professes to be the truth, meaning he also claims to be one with God.
This is established in John 1:1: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
By identifying Jesus as “the Word,” John is saying that he is the source and fulfillment of all truth from the beginning of time to the future and that every pursuit of truth will inevitably lead to him.
The teachings of Jesus, the Truth, may serve as a measuring stick as we sort through the integrity of various arguments.
“…The Life”
Jesus had just finished explaining to His followers that He was about to die, and now He was proclaiming Himself to be the giver of all life.
He said in John 10:17-18 that He was willing to die for His flock and that He would rise from the dead.
Jesus said that the Father had given Him dominion over the cycle of life and death.
“Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.” (John 14:19)
The redemption He would bring was not the ideological or social relief that most Jews expected but rather a deliverance from the curse of death and sin.
Jesus’ Three Main Teachings
Even though Jesus covered a multitude of topics in his teachings, we may distill his core message down to the following passages:
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Matthew 22:37-39)
Loving God and Loving Others
As was previously noted, we may encapsulate Jesus’ teachings in Matthew 27:37-39.
The lawyer’s question to Jesus, “Which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” may have been an attempt to bait Jesus into making an irresponsible statement.
He doesn’t grasp he’s asking God the Son the same thing he might have asked God the Father.
Instead, Jesus said that loving God and neighbor was the summation of the law.
The significance of this event is amplified when seen in the context of the individuals involved who had devoted their lives to studying and teaching legal doctrine.
Observing The Golden Rule
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you; this is the Golden Rule, taught in the Gospel of Matthew (7:12).
This moral code encapsulates a basic ethical concept and describes the Christian’s obligation to his neighbor.
Jesus practiced this principle during his ministry by showing compassion and charity to his day’s social outcasts and rejects.
Embodying Forgiveness
In Matthew 18:21–35, Jesus teaches about kindness and mercy.
This is a ground-breaking and crucial message of Jesus. Jesus teaches us about the depths of forgiveness.
He implied that there are no constraints on forgiveness, no “ifs” or “whys” involved.
In addition, He hopes that, as a result of His forgiving us, we will forgive others.
Forgiving people requires a tremendous deal of empathy and love, yet it is this sort of love and empathy that Jesus and our Heavenly Father would like us to offer each other.
How To Do Our Part In Sharing Jesus’ Teachings
A common misconception is that evangelism aims to win people over to Christianity.
Only the Holy Spirit can bring someone to faith in Christ. Sharing the Good News may help the Holy Spirit in His mission.
Yet, evangelism does not need a persuasive speech about the Christian faith to anybody who would listen.
Yet, gaining new converts isn’t the main goal of preaching the gospel.
To effectively spread the gospel, it takes more than simple words.
Evangelism is more about forming connections with people than arguing for religion.
Your actions are also important. In reality, the common evangelist is more akin to the kind friend who helps clear the snow off your driveway than the stereotypical salvation-for-a-few-dollars televangelist.
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