Who is Jesus?
Everything starts with a person.
In short. The Church teaches that Jesus Christ is true God and true man: the Son of God who, without ceasing to be God, became a man and our brother.1,2 He came to save us by reconciling us with God, and his Resurrection is the crowning truth of our faith in him.3,4
Key points
- Jesus is true God and true man, not part God and part man.1
- The Word became flesh to save us and so that we might know God’s love.3,5
- Christ died for our sins and rose again; the Resurrection is a real event.6,7
- Faith is a personal act: the free response of the human person to God who reveals himself.8
Try this, this week
- Read one Gospel slowly. Mark is the shortest. One chapter a day is plenty.
- Ask his question out loud. Read Mark 8:29 and answer it honestly, even if your answer is “I don’t know yet.”
- Write down your questions. Keep a short list. Every question is welcome.
- Bring the list to someone. A priest or a Catholic friend will be glad to talk it through.
“Jesus saith to them: But whom do you say that I am? Simon Peter answered and said: Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Common questions
Was Jesus just a good teacher?
The Church confesses that Jesus is inseparably true God and true man.2 He said of himself, “I and the Father are one.”9
How do we know he rose from the dead?
The Catechism calls the Resurrection a real event, with manifestations that were historically verified, as the New Testament bears witness.7 Peter and the Twelve were the primary witnesses, and Paul speaks of more than five hundred others to whom Jesus appeared.10,11 It also remains at the very heart of the mystery of faith, as something that transcends and surpasses history.12
Remember: Start with the person, not the rules.