Jesus

Two thousand years ago... In the small, conquered province of Palestine... The impoverished remnant of a Jewish nation is chafing under the rule of the Roman empire...

In this setting, the 30-year-old son of a carpenter began a walking ministry that lasted only a few short years.

He spoke of the fulfilment of Jewish scripture, pointing to himself as the centerpiece of century-old promises. He spoke of God's love with authority that amazed his followers and critics. He performed miraculous healings. He avoided politics. And he so enraged the established religious leaders that they plotted his death and succeeded in having the Roman authorities execute him. He was killed at age 33.

Jesus himself never wrote down any of his teachings. The disciples who carried on after his death didn't have the benefit of mass media. Yet at the turn of the year 2000, nearly 2 billion people described themselves as followers of Jesus Christ (source: www.adherents.com).

In dealing with the "sect" of Jesus' followers after his death, a Jewish leader gave this advice: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourself fighting against God. Acts 5:38