The Life of Christ Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Life of Christ - Term Paper Example Luke stated that Christ’s ministry was instigated by John the Baptist in the 15th year of the sovereignty of Tiberius Caesar, who became the emperor after King Augustus1. Emphasising on the various biblical specifications, the discussion henceforth intends to briefly outline the life of Christ, taking into consideration the three years of his ministry. Christ’s Birth Luke 2:1-7: History of Christ’s Birth The history of Christ’s birth has roots in the social context of the then Roman dynasty, which was strongly influenced by social segregations, brutal and inhuman treatments of slavery, and replication of dominion powers over the weak. As per the Synoptic Gospels, it was during the reign of King Augustus that Jesus was born in the midst of conflicts between emperors and various social classes. Jesus was the child of Mary and Joseph, who were peasants belonging to the tribe of Judah and were the citizens under the lordship of King Herod2. It was during this period that social conflicts began within the region due to taxation imposed by King Augustus and the reluctance of Jewish community to abide by such norms. Consequently, the Jewish community members were asked to travel to Bethlehem, where the register was located to perform census of the Jewish people and make them entitled to the taxation charges3. Thus, Mary and Joseph had to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem. At that time, Mary was expecting a child, owing to which the long journey to Bethlehem imposed a vast suffering upon her. Irrespective of the physical weakness, the couple had to travel as per the decree of King Augustus. However, the actual reason for Mary and Joseph enduring such suffering was the verdict of God ordering that the child should be born in Bethlehem. After the weary travel, when the couple learnt that all the inns had been already filled with travellers from Nazareth and other regions of the realm of King Herod, they lodged in an animal shed. It was in this shed that Mother Mary gave birth to Lord Jesus Christ, which was known to only few people in the village. The circumcision and the naming of the child had been arranged when he was 8 days old, according to the Hebrew Law, and he was formally given the name of Jesus. Therefore, the word of God was conveyed by Gabriel, who said, â€Å"You shall call his name Jesus for He will save His people from their sins†4. Christ’s Ministry Similar to the history of the birth of Holy Christ, the instigation of His ministry can also be observed as enlightened with spirituality and chronology of mesmerizing events. The historical content depicts that Christ’s ministry began during the period of AD 27 and continued till his crucifixion. However, contradictions have been persisting concerning the duration of His ministry, which has often been deliberated as a period of 3 years, 2 years, and even 3 and a half years. However, most of the testaments obtained affirmed that Christâ₠¬â„¢s ministry continued for 3 years5. Christ’s ministry began with His baptism, which was performed by John the Baptist and which led Holy Spirit to â€Å"come on Him in a special way†. As per the predicaments, Christ had to fast for 40 days following His baptism in order to defeat the ‘Satan’, a spirit who dared to challenge the religious beliefs of Hebrews. However, as per the true meaning, the word ‘Satan’ refers to the fallen angel who was entitled by the God Himself to test the strength of human