Lesson 2: Origins of Christianity (Growth of Christianity)
The Miracle of the Resurrection 🌅
Christians believe that Jesus rose from the dead three days after He was crucified.
After His death, Jesus' body was placed in a tomb sealed with a large stone.
But when His followers visited the tomb, it was empty!
Christians believe this shows that God gave Jesus life again and that death had been defeated.
This event, called the Resurrection, is why Easter is the most important Christian holiday. 🐣🌸
The Cross: A Symbol of Hope ✝️
The cross was the way Jesus was killed — a painful Roman punishment for criminals and rebels.
For Christians, however, the cross became a symbol of hope, love, and forgiveness.
They believe that Jesus' death on the cross saved people from sin.
Today, crosses are worn as jewelry, placed on churches, and drawn in many Christian places to remember His sacrifice.
The Promise of Salvation 🕊️
Jesus taught that salvation means being saved from sin and receiving eternal life with God.
He said that salvation was a free gift from God — not something people could earn just by following many strict laws.
By believing in Jesus and living by His teachings, people could be close to God forever.
This idea made Christianity very different from many other religions at the time.
The Apostles: Messengers of the Good News 🧔👩🦱👨🦰
The apostles were Jesus' closest followers and students.
Jesus chose twelve men to travel with Him, learn from Him, and later teach the world about God's love.
After Jesus' death and resurrection, the apostles traveled all over the Roman Empire to spread His message.
Some famous apostles were Peter, John, and James. Later, Paul became one of the most important teachers too, even though he first opposed Christianity.
Different Views on Jesus and His Followers 🤔
In the beginning, different groups had very different views about Jesus:
Many Jews: Some believed Jesus was the Messiah, the savior God had promised. But many others rejected this because Jesus died — they expected a Messiah who would defeat the Romans and become a powerful king on Earth.
Jesus’ followers: They believed that Jesus was the Son of God and that His death and resurrection gave new life and forgiveness to all people. They began living a new way called "The Way," later known as Christianity.
The Romans: At first, the Romans saw the Christians as just a small Jewish group. But as Christians refused to worship Roman gods or the emperor, the Romans began to see them as a danger to Roman order. Some Christians were punished or killed for their faith.
Stories to Bring It Alive 📜✨
Doubting Thomas
One apostle, Thomas, did not believe that Jesus had risen.
He said, "I will not believe unless I see His wounds!"
Later, Jesus appeared to him and said, "Touch my hands and side."
Thomas believed and said, "My Lord and my God!"
This story reminds us that even the closest followers sometimes needed faith and proof.
The Secret Symbol of the Fish 🐟
Early Christians were often afraid of Roman soldiers.
To show secretly that they were Christians, they used a sign of a fish called "Ichthys" in Greek.
Each letter stood for "Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior."
If someone drew a fish in the dirt, it meant, "I am a Christian too!"