Hearing the message of Jesus Christ is the first step to salvation. That is why Romans 10:17 says, "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ." When we hear the message about Jesus, it presents us with the story of Jesus of Nazareth.
The Apostle Peter (one of the first followers of Jesus) presents the story of Jesus very well in his first sermon in Acts 2:22-41:
" Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. David said about him: 'I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.'
Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, The Lord said to my Lord: Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet." '
Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."
YOU CAN READ ABOUT (books of the Bible and chapters are listed):
The Birth of Jesus in =
Matthew 1-2 and Luke 1-2
The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus in =
Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23, and John 19
The Resurrection of Jesus in =
Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, and John 20-21, 1 Corinthians 15
Jesus was a Jewish person and so was born into the nation of Israel
Jesus and His family were from a town called Nazareth
The reason Peter says "God's set purpose and foreknowledge" was that it was part of God's plan for salvation that Jesus die for the sins of anyone who would accept Him. God used these people at this time to accomplish His plan.
Nailing a person to a cross was a common way to kill in Jesus' day.
David was a king who ruled Israel 1000 years before Jesus was born. God allowed David to see the salvation that would come through Jesus and the fact that Jesus would raise from the dead. Peter calls him a 'patriarch' because David was a great leader and calls him a 'prophet' because he gave this prediction.
Peter and the other disciples saw Jesus raised from the dead with their own eyes.
Peter's last statement is the most important. Peter identifies Jesus as two things. Jesus is:
1) LORD = this means He is in charge and in authority, just like God
2) CHRIST = this means Jesus offers salvation