There are 41,300 of us in the Bathurst Local Government Area. Almost half are male, almost half are married and we have a slightly younger population than normal.

And 71.9 per cent of Bathurstians indicate some kind of Christian faith.

It is fascinating that in what is supposed to be a ‘post Christian’ world, where there are many competing voices in the ‘faith’ market, that the vast majority of people of our city still believe in the Christian God. But it should be no surprise.

Jesus, the founder of the Christian faith is the most refreshing person in human history.

In my own reading, I have taken a fresh look at the four Gospels; the accounts of Jesus’ life in the Bible – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Sifting through the writings of the early witnesses, Jesus cared deeply for people, people of all backgrounds.

He cured sick people and delivered them from demonic oppression. He taught an ethical system that is still the basis for our society today.

He battled religious institutions and challenged people who had all the answers, yet no love for others.

Yet if I am honest, I find it really hard to read the end of each Gospel – the bit where Jesus is killed. I try to rush over it and skip bits.

Yet here is the key to why Jesus continues to be such an influence 2000 years on.

Jesus was killed because he dared to call himself the son of God, even God. He then proved it by rising from the dead, something that is quite difficult for dead people to do, unless of course, they are God.

This is what sets our faith apart. No other God has actually died for his people, to give them a chance at life.

In other faiths, people die for God, or spend their entire life hoping they have done ‘enough’ for when they face their maker.

Not so with Jesus. It is as simple as believing in him.

John 1:12 says: “But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God”. How simple is that!

Why not take a fresh look at Jesus? Grab a bible, either a book or an app, read one of the books on Jesus and discover how refreshing he is!