Alpha

Everyday life is full of banalities, sometimes surprises and also very important decisions. But what is the core of everyday life and what does the Christian faith have to say about it? We want everything life has to offer and seek meaning in relationships or in great jobs. We try to earn prestige, build dream houses and exciting hobbies. Nevertheless, an emptiness remains deep inside – we are hungry for meaning. Jesus says of himself: «I am the bread of life.» (John 6:35) When we are hungry for more from life, Jesus satisfies our spiritual hunger. A lasting relationship with God can fill the hunger within us. God can and wants to give us a lasting, loving relationship with Him. That is what life has more to offer.

The Christian faith is based on circumstantial evidence. There is incredibly interesting historical evidence that Jesus lived and rose from the dead. For many, they allow no other conclusion than «there is a God». The evidence is found in historical writings outside the Bible and in the New Testament of the Bible. There are more than 25,000 written proofs that Jesus existed. So, there is no question that he lived and walked around in this world. The evidence gives ground and strength to faith, so that we can say we do not blindly believe.

We know that Jesus was absolutely human. He ate, He was tired, He slept, He was in pain, He died. There are many who say Jesus existed, but that He was only a man. Maybe He was a great religious leader, but He was definitely not the Son of God. What evidence is there that Jesus was more than simply a religious leader? What did He say about himself?

Here are three indications that Jesus was the Son of God: 

• Jesus points to himself with His teaching. He says, «I am the way and the truth and the life.» (John 14:6) Materialism is not the way that brings fulfillment in life – I am. Jesus says the values that make life worth living, that’s me. 

• Jesus puts himself on the same level as God with His words. For example, He says, «Your sins are forgiven.» (Mark 2:5)

• Jesus also claims to be God’s Son.

He claims for himself to be God’s only Son (John 3:16). God who became man.

The general opinion about the Bible is: It is totally boring, extremely old and has nothing to say for today. But what is so special about the Bible? As the most translated and best-selling book in the world, it is incredibly popular. The past and present show that the Bible has the power to change people’s lives. From the first page of the Bible to the last, we see a common thread. Augustine, a Roman bishop, said, «The Bible does nothing but talk about God’s love for us.» It is written for anyone seeking faith and for Christians. It is a manual for life, so to speak. People find in it, for example, joy and peace in the midst of storms (Psalm 23:4), guidance for their lives (Psalm 119:105) as well as healing and health (Proverbs 4:20-22). It helps if we choose a quiet moment to read the Bible. We can ask God to speak to us through what we read. Then we read a short Bible passage and ask ourselves questions like: What does the passage say? How can we apply it practically?

We can go to church, but it is not a building, a museum, or an event. But what is church then? Church is a diverse group of people thrown together in search of the only perfect man who ever lived – Jesus. The church stands for friends. It is a great privilege to be a Christian, a friend of Jesus. But Jesus also leads us into relationship with each other. Moreover, the church is not an organization we join, it is a family we belong to. The church is about love. God has sent his infinite love in our direction because He loves us. Unreservedly, sincerely and forever.