Ben Wilson

According to Luke, Jesus actually ascends up into heaven as his final act. And it came to pass while he blessed them, he was parted from them and carried up into heaven. Okay, so there you have it. The life of Jesus, the most influential man of all time. I will finish this account with a quick summary. I have tried throughout this to demonstrate the Jesus according to the gospels.

According to Luke, Jesus actually ascends up into heaven as his final act. And it came to pass while he blessed them, he was parted from them and carried up into heaven. Okay, so there you have it. The life of Jesus, the most influential man of all time. I will finish this account with a quick summary. I have tried throughout this to demonstrate the Jesus according to the gospels.

For the non-believers, I think it is also helpful to give the summary of the historical Jesus. Historically speaking, we don't know much. Most of what we know about his life does come from the Gospels. But we don't know nothing. And so here is what N.T. Wright says about his life. It is quite easy to lay out a brief list of things that few will deny about Jesus' life and public activity.

For the non-believers, I think it is also helpful to give the summary of the historical Jesus. Historically speaking, we don't know much. Most of what we know about his life does come from the Gospels. But we don't know nothing. And so here is what N.T. Wright says about his life. It is quite easy to lay out a brief list of things that few will deny about Jesus' life and public activity.

He was most likely born in what we now call 4 BC. The calculation of the BC-AD divide took place in the 6th century based on limited information. He grew up in Galilee, in the town of Nazareth, close to the major city of Sepphoris. He spoke Aramaic, at least some Hebrew, and probably some Greek as well.

He was most likely born in what we now call 4 BC. The calculation of the BC-AD divide took place in the 6th century based on limited information. He grew up in Galilee, in the town of Nazareth, close to the major city of Sepphoris. He spoke Aramaic, at least some Hebrew, and probably some Greek as well.

He emerged as a public figure in around AD 28, in the context of the initially similar work of John the Baptist. He summoned people to repent, in other words, to turn back from the ways they were going, and announced the kingdom, or reign, of Israel's God, using parables in particular to do so.

He emerged as a public figure in around AD 28, in the context of the initially similar work of John the Baptist. He summoned people to repent, in other words, to turn back from the ways they were going, and announced the kingdom, or reign, of Israel's God, using parables in particular to do so.

He journeyed around the villages of Galilee announcing his message and enacting it by effecting remarkable cures, including exorcisms, and by sharing in table fellowship with a socioculturally wide group. He called a group of close disciples, among whom 12 were given special status.

He journeyed around the villages of Galilee announcing his message and enacting it by effecting remarkable cures, including exorcisms, and by sharing in table fellowship with a socioculturally wide group. He called a group of close disciples, among whom 12 were given special status.

His activities, especially one dramatic action in the temple, incurred the wrath of some elements in the Jewish world, notably, at least toward the end, of the high priestly establishment. Partly as a result of this, he was handed over to the Romans and executed in the manner regularly used for insurrectionists. His followers claimed soon afterwards that he had been raised from the dead.

His activities, especially one dramatic action in the temple, incurred the wrath of some elements in the Jewish world, notably, at least toward the end, of the high priestly establishment. Partly as a result of this, he was handed over to the Romans and executed in the manner regularly used for insurrectionists. His followers claimed soon afterwards that he had been raised from the dead.

They carried on his work in a new way, and some of them were persecuted for doing so, both by Jews and by pagans. Okay. And I think that's a good summary of who Jesus was. Hopefully throughout this episode, you've been able to take away some of those lessons of how he was able to do what he did and what made him remarkable.

They carried on his work in a new way, and some of them were persecuted for doing so, both by Jews and by pagans. Okay. And I think that's a good summary of who Jesus was. Hopefully throughout this episode, you've been able to take away some of those lessons of how he was able to do what he did and what made him remarkable.

So if you're a premium subscriber, I'm going to give you all my takeaways here shortly, as well as a bunch of my end notes. But I do want to end with one last takeaway, which is that Jesus's willingness to die for his message was obviously a huge key to his success and a huge key to the success of the early Christian church.

So if you're a premium subscriber, I'm going to give you all my takeaways here shortly, as well as a bunch of my end notes. But I do want to end with one last takeaway, which is that Jesus's willingness to die for his message was obviously a huge key to his success and a huge key to the success of the early Christian church.

Almost all of the apostles followed his example and were killed for their beliefs. Many of the rank and file were persecuted and killed as well. And the willingness to die for their beliefs is a big part of what created even more converts. When you read firsthand accounts of people who converted to Christianity,

Almost all of the apostles followed his example and were killed for their beliefs. Many of the rank and file were persecuted and killed as well. And the willingness to die for their beliefs is a big part of what created even more converts. When you read firsthand accounts of people who converted to Christianity,

Many of them saw these people being killed and said, wow, they really must believe in what they're saying to be willing to die for it. It's why the Pope wears red shoes. It represents that they have been dipped in the blood of the martyrs. That is why Paul, one of the most important early apostles, becomes a Christian.

Many of them saw these people being killed and said, wow, they really must believe in what they're saying to be willing to die for it. It's why the Pope wears red shoes. It represents that they have been dipped in the blood of the martyrs. That is why Paul, one of the most important early apostles, becomes a Christian.