The Bible, I've heard, is the right place to start when you have a desire to know who Jesus is.
But I also get that picking up a Bible, especially if you haven't before, is a lot of things. It's scary. It's new. Depending on the version, it might be written in a language only the Princess Bride can decipher. If it's a study Bible, it's probably a pretty hefty number of pages.
I don't claim or even pretend to know everything there is about Jesus. In fact, I will dig my heels in for the rest of my life and never really understand all there is to know. So don't come into this thinking you've got to know everything...you never will. But, that's meant to be an encouragement.
There's an awful lot to learn about who Jesus is. But, the first thing you need to understand is that He loves you. God is crazy about you. And he died for you because of those two things...and because it was ultimately the Father's will. Jesus is fully God and yet, He walked the earth fully man. Weird, huh? There's a lot to His story. But, here's where I suggest you start if you're ready to discover Jesus.
First. Plug into a local church.
No one is meant to walk this path without the support and community of others. I won't reference any specific ones per se, because there's so many variables. But, I can encourage you that if you don't quite fit with one body of believers, try another. But try not to let preference totally overrule purpose (which is, to know and be known by Christ.) So many churches have online services as well, (including the one I attend.) if physical attendance isn't an option.
Second. Start with the New Testament.
Reading the Bible in its entirety is possible and very rewarding. But, if you're just dipping in, start with the New Testament gospels. (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.) They'll walk you through accounts of Jesus' time on earth as he ultimately fulfills all of the Old Testament prophecies. It's where I personally started, and I found it made a lot more sense to my non-Christian brain at the time then reading from Genesis to Revelation. I still struggle with Revelation today.
Third. Everyone is different.
God ordained a time and a place for all things, and his desire is that no one should perish but instead, have everlasting life. Take your time, read, pray, study, plug into a church family, ask for help. But always remember that God's authority over your life is supreme. Wise counsel can suggest, advise, encourage, but we are not God and much of how we might interpret things might differ from what God is calling you to, or speaking to you.
And, remember. God's Crazy About You.
