• Who is the most outstanding personality of all time?
• Who is the greatest leader?
• Who is the greatest teacher?
• Who has done most good for mankind?
• Who has lived the most holy life anyone has ever lived??

It doesn't matter which part of the world you visit. It doesn't matter whom you speak with. It doesn't matter which religion someone clings to. If you know anything about history you'll have to admit there has never been anyone like Jesus of Nazareth. He is the most unique personality of all time.

Jesus has changed the direction of history. Even the date on your morning newspaper testifies to the fact that Jesus of Nazareth lived on this earth nearly 2,000 years ago. B.C. means "before Christ"; A.D. Anno Domini, "the year of our Lord".

His coming foretold

Hundreds of years before Jesus" birth, Scripture records the words of the prophets of Israel concerning His coming. The Old Testament, written by many different people over a period of 1,500 years, contains more than 300 prophecies concerning the coming of Jesus. All of these details came true, including His miraculous birth, His sinless life, His many miracles, His death and His resurrection.

The life Jesus led, the miracles He did, the words He spoke, His death on the cross, His resurrection, His ascent to heaven - all point to the fact that He was not merely man, but much more than that. Jesus claimed, "I and the Father are One", "He who has seen Me has seen the Father", and "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me."

In history you can observe the life and influence of Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ. You'll see that His message has brought enormous changes to the lives of people and nations. Where His life and teachings influenced society the sanctity of marriage and the rights of women were acknowledged, schools and universities were founded and slavery was abolished. The life and influence of Jesus has brought many positive changes to mankind as a whole and also to many individual lives.

Who is Jesus of Nazareth to you?

Your answer to this question will determine the rest of your life - now and for all eternity.

If you would take Jesus Christ out of Christianity, there would be nothing left. Biblical Christianity is not just a philosophy of life, nor an ethical standard or obedience to religious ritual. True Christianity is based on a vital, personal relationship with the risen, living Saviour and Lord, Jesus Christ.

A risen Founder

Jesus of Nazareth was crucified on a cross, buried in a borrowed grave, and three days later He raised from the dead; Christianity is unique in this regard.

The resurrection is central to the Christian faith. There are several reasons why those who study the resurrection believe it is true:

Foretold
Firstly, Jesus Himself foretold His death and resurrection and these events occured exactly as He had predicted.

The empty grave
Secondly, the resurrection is the only plausible explanation for His empty grave. A careful reading of the biblical story shows that the grave where the body of Jesus was laid was closely guarded by Roman soldiers and sealed with an enormous boulder.

Personal encounters
Thirdly, after His resurrection, Jesus appeared at least ten times to those who had known Him. The Lord proved that these appearances were not hallucinations: He ate and talked with them and they were allowed to touch Him.

Birth of the Church
Fourthly, the resurrection is the only reasonable explanation for the beginning of the Christian Church. The Christian Church is by far the largest institution that exists or has ever existed in the history of the world.

Transformed lives
Fifthly, only the resurrection provides a logical explanation for the disciples' transformed lives. Before His resurrection they deserted Him; after His death they were discouraged and fearful. They did not expect Jesus to rise from the dead.

Yet after His resurrection and their experience at Pentecost, these discouraged, disappointed men and women were transformed by the mighty power of the risen Christ. In His name, they turned the world upside down.

No-one who has honestly considered the overwhelming evidence proving the Deity and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth will be able to deny that He is the Son of God, the promised Messiah.

A living Lord
Jesus Christ lives today and faithfully blesses and enriches the lives of all those who trust and obey Him, including many who have greatly influenced history.

French physicist and philosopher Blaise Pascal spoke of the need of mankind for Jesus when he said, "There is a vacuum created by God in the heart of every man, which only God can fill through His Son Jesus Christ."