The gospels summarise Jesus' activities as "preaching, teaching and healing". As a preacher, he drew large crowds who followed him constantly. He taught with a vivid simplicity and with an authority which contrasted sharply with other Jewish teachers.

Jesus quickly gathered a group of committed followers as "disciples". They acted as the spokesmen, going out on preaching and healing missions of their own. An inner group of 12 apostles were his constant companions.

Jesus recorded miracles, such as curing of many different types of illnesses and deformity, usually by a simple word or touch, sometimes by words alone. He also displayed supernatural control over nature. These were in response to actual needs, ed the feeding of 5000 people with a few loaves of bread and some fishes, calming the storm on the Lake by a command.

While Jesus was popular with the ordinary people, he very quickly aroused the opposition of the leaders. Eventually he was arrested by the Jewish leaders with the help of Judas, one of his disillusioned apostles. He was tried according to Jewish law on a charge of blasphemy because he claimed to be the Messiah, the son of God.

He was put to death on Good Friday by crucifixion, a barbaric method reserved by Romans for slaves and rebels. However, he rose from death the following Sunday, known as Easter Sunday. There was a series of encounters between the risen Christ and his disciples indicating Christ was alive and real although no longer bounded by time and space.

Forty days after his resurrection, Christ ascended into heavens. The followers of Jesus Christ travelled far and wide to proclaim his message of God's love for all people and began gathering believers into groups called churches.