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But 'freewill' implies there's a choice. It's very much harder to choose to behave as God wants, in fact we always find it impossible, it's much easier to choose a lesser standard. It's always been like that, right from the first thinking people (see the account of Adam and Eve in the Bible - Genesis 3:1-24). (Return to top).

Sin: As humanity evolves we're able to understand God more and more, so he's able to reveal more about himself through his messengers, prophets, teachers and inspired writings.... especially the Bible. This includes how he wants us to behave, such as that great list of do's and don'ts - the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17). As we aren't able to live up to God's standard, we create a gulf between him and us, rather like you might push away a naughty child - we call it sin. (Return to top)

However, because of his great love for his creation, God wanted to reconcile us back to himself - to correct the rift that exists between himself and humanity caused by our disobedience, which disobedience we call 'sin'. In order to make reconciliation between himself and humanity, God needed a human who was sufficiently perfect, but there's only one who's that good, God himself. (Return to top)

How do we know? God's coming was foretold through his many prophets in the the Christian holy book, The Bible, it's in the first part known as the 'Old Testament'. Jesus' birth as a human, his life, his teaching and his reconciling action on the cross are recorded in the second part of the Bible known as the 'New Testament'. (Return to top)

Christ is a title not a surname, if Jesus had a surname no-one knows it. ‘Messiah’ is the Hebrew word for ‘chosen’ or ‘anointed one’. God chose Jesus as the way to create our salvation from sin and ‘Christ’ is the Greek translation for ‘Messiah’, so it's Jesus – the chosen one. (Return to top)

At that time, Jesus offered himself for baptism for the forgiveness of any sin in his earlier life. Christians believe that uniquely, Jesus was perfect, so he was free from any sin, but he did this in order that he was completely like us, who need to be baptised for our sin. As he came up out of the water, the Bible tells us that God's Spirit descended on him much like a dove, and a voice was heard saying, "You are my Son, whom I love" (Matthew 3:13-17). He then went off on his own into the desert (the Judean 'wilderness') for 40 days and nights whilst he came to terms with who he was and what he was to do. During this time he was tempted to do spectacular things to prove his divinity and to demonstrate his powers, but he resisted (Luke 4:1-13). (Return to top)

From the desert, Jesus moved on to Caperneum in northern Israel, in the area known as Galilee. There he gathered together a group of 12 men as 'Apostles' (Apostle is Greek for 'Messenger') who accompanied him during his ministry in order to learn his message and his ways so that they could take it them out to the world after his death (Mark 3:13-19). (Return to top)

Jesus began by going around the towns and villages of Galilee and its immediate area, teaching and healing. At this time he was well received by those who heard him and he drew large crowds. His teaching explained the correct way God wants us to live to be in relationship with him, as had been revealed to us through the prophets in the Hebrew Scriptures, rather than the false and over-fussy ways the religious leaders had been forcing on people. In addition, he healed many people brought to him with all types of diseases, especially those considered incurable for the times, such as Leprosy, 'demons' (mental disorders), blindness, lameness, etc. In this way he revealed God to us and established his own divinity, because only God could initiate the unusual deeds ('miracles') that Jesus performed (Matthew chapter 4-chapter 9). (Return to top)

He and his Apostles then gradually made their way to Jerusalem in order to bring his ministry to its intended conclusion. To their amazement, Jesus told his Apostles that he would be arrested and executed, but that he would rise again from the dead 3 days later (Mark 10:32-34). Despite this, he continued on his way, teaching and healing as he went. His message became less and less acceptable to the religious authorities because it was in direct conflict with their corrupt interpretation of God's way of living and the self-indulgent life-style they had created for themselves. Jesus forced this to a head as the nation prepared to celebrate the major festival of 'Passover', which recalls how God had previously freed them from slavery in Egypt (Matthew 26:1-5). (Return to top)

Jesus was betrayed by one of his own Apostles, Judas, taken before the Jewish religious court (Mark 14:43-65), then the Roman occupying authorities, and falsely accused of plotting to set himself up as king of the Jews against the Roman king - Caesar (John 19:1-16). To prevent the threat of civil unrest if they did nothing, the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, had Jesus executed using the painful method reserved for common criminals - crucifixion (Luke 25:26-49). As Jesus had predicted, on the third day after his crucifixion, two of his female followers went to the tomb to anoint his body but found it empty, he had risen from the dead back to life (John 20:1-18). The Bible tells us that over the next 40 days, Jesus appeared to over 500 people to prove that he was indeed alive again (1 Corinthians 15:6). (Return to top)

By offering himself, the perfect human, as a sacrifice on the cross, Jesus-God made reconciliation between himself and humanity for our our sinful disobedience. Humanity again has the opportunity to relate directly with God as God had intended and to enter into eternal life with God after the death of our human bodies on this earth. Jesus did this not just for the people alive at the time he took the form of a human but for all people who have, and who ever will, live - including you and me. (Return to top)

The birth of all 'special' people is often shrouded in unique or special circumstances, and Jesus was no different. Jesus' human birth was somewhat unusual and is the subject of the most popular Christian celebration, 'Christmas'. The most detailed account in the Bible is given by Luke (chapters 1 and 2). (Return to top)

The familiar story includes the annunciation to Mary, his human mother, by God's messenger Gabriel that she would bear God's son. The journey by donkey of Mary and Joseph, her earthly husband, from their home town of Nazareth to the town of Bethlehem because the Roman authorities decreed that everyone should be registered for a census. The use of a manger (a feeding trough) in a stable as a crib, because there was no room for them in the inn due to the crowds attending the census. Visits to view the newborn baby Jesus by lowly shepherds and elevated wise men who brought gifts, and Mary and Joseph becoming refugees because they had to flee to Egypt to escape the wrath of the Roman ruler, Herod, who killed all the innocent children in Bethlehem under two years old to prevent the threat of a rival king. (Return to top)