Essay- Christianity and Jesus

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Christianity and Jesus

In the early days of Christianity there was a man named Jesus that changed the world as we know it. Of course, he did not set on this journey to change the world with bloody wars and to change civilization that came later on and still going on today.  He was a humble man that spent his last years on Earth preaching and teaching people how to live and how to love one another, while embracing the old written Hebrew laws and accomplishing what prophets before him said. Jesus complemented the written laws by encouraging people to be humble and honest when they followed the laws, and yet at the same time criticizing those that followed the laws to gain respect and admiration from the community.

In the book of Mathew chapter 5 Jesus affirms what his intentions are in regards to the law and the prophets. “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill” (5:17-20).  Here he makes himself clear to the skeptics around him that think that he has come to change the laws they have established, but that is not the case.  In this chapter Jesus, talks about some of the Hebrew laws that are in place; like for example the one concerning adultery, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone that looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (5:27-28).  With his words we can see that he is interpreting the law in a different level than most of people would have at that time. We see how Jesus’ point of view comes across and when he tells this to the people that were following him and maybe they found it a little complicated and difficult to understand. Because adultery was always considered something that one did with the body and not with the mind or just the thought of it.  In the rest of the chapter he continues to give examples like this but his main point is that we all sin, maybe not using the word “sin” per se, but referring that we all make mistakes. At the end of the chapter he encourages us to love one another even enemies and tax collectors. Here he tries to unite the divided people even among their group.

In the next chapter Jesus criticizes the way some people pray and do good “deeds”. Jesus says, “Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven” (6:1).  Here he is referring to the way some people pray like “hypocrites” and some other activities that God sent them to do. Here he is still talking about the law and is inviting them to be humble when doing a service to their Father. Another example he gives is that of serving two masters; “No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one or love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and Wealth” (6:24).  In those times slaves were still a common practice and I think these words would have made sense to them. Besides that, Jesus reminds them that there is just one God to follow and that two cannot co-exist. He again points out to those that are “hypocrites” and try to worship the god of wealth and the spiritual one. Jesus says to them that they do not need to worry about the material wealth as long as they have the spiritual one.  I think here his message is very profound and invites those less fortunate to feel welcome into participating in praying and other services to god.  When Jesus invites people to be humble is not just for the rich people but also for the poor that are too worried about what they will eat next, but Jesus promises them that as long as they have faith they will eat tomorrow.

In the next chapter he invites people to respect each other. Jesus talks about judging others, “Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you make you will be judged.” (7:1-2) Here he invites people again to be humble and is inviting everyone to participate in a peaceful way and reconcile their differences and that there is nothing to gain from judging others. Jesus with his words appeals to both the poor and the rich, and also the not believers. I would imagine that this really inspired people to follow his teachings, but at the same time it would have made the ruling class because they were always quick to judge the poor and unfortunate ones. But he also is talking to the poor class that judge the tax collectors as evil doers when all they are doing is their job.

Jesus gives useful advice for living life and finding answers to their troubles, “Ask, and it will be given to you; knock and the door will be open for you.” (7:7)  I think this is one of the most powerful advices Jesus gave because I think it inspires the early Christians to move forward with their ideas and also I would imagine that the people less fortunate would take this advice to bring hope into their lives.  In this part he also talks about how they should be humble to each other by offering what they have to others that do not have, like giving bread to the hungry person that knocks the door or the thirsty. He also encourages them to help everyone not just the ones in need of material things, but also to those that need spiritual help.  He finishes this chapter by saying that those that have heard his words now need to act now and not be foolish to just keep his advices under a rock.  Here Jesus is seen more as man of action and yet an action that is both peaceful and probably to improve their quality of life.

This later on is going to help him when he reminds the people of prophesies about the messiah that prophets before him said.  Isaiah said, “Here is my servant, whom I have chosen, my beloved, with whom my soul is pleased I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles” (12:18-21). These prophesy is one that he is going to fulfill and he says that he must bring justice to the Gentiles, in this case to the not believers.  I find this very interesting and can see some connection with the way Christianity was spread in the name of bringing justice to those not believers. But I think what Jesus meant by justice was to have peace with them and let them be by respecting each other and by not engaging in wars and massacres.  Jesus is often seen as the peacemaker among the people. By God entrusting in Jesus the task of bringing justice to those that do not follow him speaks volumes of his intentions towards the world.  This gives the same playing field to everyone no matter what they believe in and what their purpose in life is as long as they are humble and repent for their bad deeds.

Jesus went from completing the law of Hebrews all the way to brining new hope the rest of the world. By being humble and respecting each other our service to God will be worth it that’s what Jesus taught us.  Also if we search and knock door after door our prayers will be answered that’s what Jesus promised each of us no matter if one is a believer or not everyone is welcome to follow his advices and teachings.