Who Was Jesus?

Jesus of Nazareth was a 1st-century Jewish teacher, healer, and miracle-worker who claimed—and was believed by his followers—to be the long-awaited Messiah, the Son of God. Though he lived a short life, his teachings and actions turned the world upside down. He was not a political revolutionary, yet he profoundly changed hearts and societies. His words were unlike anything the world had heard before—so powerful, so pure, and so penetrating that they continue to shape history, morality, and human conscience to this day.

Why Are His Teachings Important?

Unlike any other teacher in history, Jesus didn’t just offer moral insight—he spoke with divine authority. His words carried not only truth, but transformative power. He taught with perfect clarity and compassion, inviting people into a radically different way of living rooted in humility, mercy, integrity, and love—even love for enemies. His teachings didn’t merely reform behavior—they exposed the inner life and called people to deep personal transformation.

The Quality of His Teaching Was Revolutionary

What makes Jesus’ teaching so extraordinary is not just its content, but its quality. The coherence, simplicity, and moral genius of his words reveal a level of insight that transcends what any human mind—especially in first-century Palestine—could reasonably be expected to conceive.

• He taught radical humility in a world obsessed with power.

• He elevated the meek, the poor in spirit, the merciful, and the persecuted—not the privileged or mighty.

• He declared that true righteousness flows from the heart, not just external behavior.

• He called people to forgive those who wrong them, love their enemies, and turn the other cheek.

These ideas were not only rare—they were completely countercultural, and remain revolutionary even today. As philosopher J. Gresham Machen said, “Jesus gave ethical teaching that has never been surpassed—and indeed never equaled.”

How could a carpenter from an obscure village offer a moral vision so advanced that even modern thinkers are still wrestling to live up to it? The quality of his teaching is evidence of its divine origin. As C.S. Lewis put it, “Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse.”

What Was the Sermon on the Mount?

The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7) is Jesus’ most famous and comprehensive teaching. It’s a collection of moral and spiritual truths he delivered on a hillside in Galilee to his disciples and the gathered crowds. In it, Jesus lays out the foundation of the Kingdom of Heaven—what it means to live under God’s reign.

Key Points of the Sermon on the Mount:

• The Beatitudes: Blessings for the poor in spirit, the meek, the merciful, and others who reflect God’s heart (Matt. 5:1–12).

• Salt and Light: A call to be distinct and impactful in a decaying world (Matt. 5:13–16).

• Heart-Level Righteousness: Teaching that murder begins with anger, adultery with lust—emphasizing the heart over actions (Matt. 5:21–30).

• Love Your Enemies: Perhaps the most radical command—to pray for and forgive those who wrong you (Matt. 5:43–48).

• Authentic Spirituality: Rejecting performative religion in favor of private devotion (e.g., the Lord’s Prayer, Matt. 6).

• Trust in God: A call to live free from anxiety by seeking first God’s Kingdom (Matt. 6:25–34).

• Obedience from the Heart: The wise build their lives on obedience to these words, not just hearing them (Matt. 7:24–27).

How Were These Teachings New and Different?

Jesus didn’t abolish the Law of Moses—he fulfilled it and revealed its true depth. Rather than replacing old commands, he revealed their spiritual and relational intent. Where others taught legal precision, Jesus taught heart-motivated holiness. Where others emphasized revenge or ritual purity, Jesus emphasized forgiveness, purity of heart, and peacemaking.

Did His Teachings Conflict With the Old, or Just Raise the Bar?

They didn’t contradict—but they clarified and elevated. Jesus said, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill” (Matt. 5:17, NKJV). His teachings raised the moral and spiritual bar by showing that true righteousness must be internal, relational, and grace-filled. It was not about rule-following, but about becoming the kind of person who naturally lives out God’s love.

What Do His Teachings Tell Us About Him and About His Father?

Jesus’ words unveil a God who is not only holy and just—but tender, compassionate, and deeply invested in the hearts of His children. He reveals a Father who blesses the lowly, forgives the undeserving, and calls all people to Himself. Jesus reflects that heart perfectly, showing that he is not merely speaking about God—he is speaking as God. His teachings demonstrate divine wisdom, divine authority, and divine love.

What Do His Teachings Tell Us About Us?

They show us our need and our potential. We fall short of his perfect standard—but we are invited into a new life by grace. His words convict us, but also invite us into transformation. They show that we are not just sinners to be condemned, but image-bearers to be restored. Jesus’ teachings call us to live as sons and daughters of the Most High—people shaped by humility, mercy, and radical love.

1. Books:

   • The Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard – A deep dive into the Sermon and its transformative power.

   • Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes by Kenneth E. Bailey – Cultural context that magnifies Jesus’ genius.

   • Studies in the Sermon on the Mount by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones – Classic theological exploration.

   • The Incomparable Christ by John Stott – Reflects on Jesus’ uniqueness in history and thought.

2. Videos & Articles:

   • The Bible Project – Sermon on the Mount Overview

   • NT Wright – Jesus and the Kingdom of God

   • GotQuestions.org – What is the Sermon on the Mount?

3. Study Tools:

   • Blue Letter Bible – Matthew 5 Interlinear & Commentary

   • Logos Bible Software – Powerful digital library for digging into biblical texts.

Conclusion

Jesus didn’t come to start a religion. He came to reveal the heart of God and to call people into a new kind of life. His teachings remain unmatched in beauty, depth, and wisdom—not just for what they say, but for who they reveal. No mere man could have spoken the way he did. His words invite us to a Kingdom not of this world, and to a life we could never build on our own.

To hear Jesus is to hear the voice of God. To follow Jesus is to begin to live as we were truly meant to live.