In an age of scandals and hardline, regressive right-wing politics, it’s hard to argue with the sentiment. But perhaps the people protesting at abortion clinics and railing against Islam have far less in common with Jesus than you’d think.

While people have argued about the existence of God for centuries, there’s no doubt that a man named Jesus of Nazareth walked the earth in the first century. Roman historian named Josephus wrote in his book Antiquities of the Jews that Jesus was “a wise man… a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure”. Josephus went on to write that Jesus was put to death by Pilate and that his followers believed he had appeared to them alive three days later.

Of course there can be no way to prove this resurrection, but this independent corroboration of the bible story has led many sceptics to concede that there was, in fact, a real Jesus of Nazareth.

So who was Jesus? Well, according to the biblical account of his life, Jesus spent three years of his life spreading a message of peace and love throughout Roman-occupied Palestine, calling people to a new type of spirituality and challenging the established Jewish religion.

The “sermon on the mount”, as recorded in the Gospel According to Matthew, is probably the clearest collection of Jesus’ teachings. He encouraged people to be merciful, gentle and peacemakers, promising blessings from God. But he also pointed out that things like murder and adultery begin in the heart long before the deed is done. In the Gospel According to John, he simplified the Ten Commandments by telling his followers to love God and love their fellow man.

Such a revolutionary – some would say heretical – message made Jesus a victim of his own popularity and he ran afoul of Jerusalem’s religious elite, who convinced Roman governor Pontius Pilate to have him put to death by crucifixion.

The brutal death of a man of peace would go on to become a key moment in history. Christians would spread their message throughout the Roman Empire, eventually leading to the conversion of Emperor Constantine and the establishment of a religious authority that would rule the western world for more than 1000 years.

But the abuse of that power – from crusades to inquisitions, animosity towards science and strict patriarchy – would also lead to the decline of Christianity in the west, which in turn led many to abandon the teachings of Jesus altogether.

Father Paddy Sykes from Our Lady of Fatima conceded that the failings of “the church” had contributed to the decline of the faith.

“The heralds of the message of Christ, the churches, have been tarnished in the eyes of many in Australia and the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Sexual Abuse has reinforced that,” Father Paddy said. “The challenge in our secular and multi-faith culture is to find new ways to present what is an eternal message for the good of all. The events of this week are at the core of our belief as Christians – that Christ suffered, died and rose again – not just for Himself but for all of us; we experience the sadness of Good Friday and the joy of the resurrection on Easter Sunday which mirrors many of our life experiences.”

Christians believe Jesus bore God’s punishment for their sins upon the cross, allowing them to be forgiven and one day go to Heaven. It is the cornerstone of the faith and Archdeacon David Ruthven from St John’s Anglican Church said Christ’s message asserted that the true things of value were not power, money and prestige but rather love, forgiveness, grace and sacrifice. 

“In a world where money and power is increasingly concentrated among an elite few the message that God’s power is perfected in weakness and not strength is incredibly seductive to the disenfranchised,” he said. “The message that Jesus reached his greatest power and glory in His supreme moment of weakness, as He lay dying on the cross, directly challenges the belief today that the only the strong and powerful can bring about lasting change to the world.”

Pastor Ross Brinkman, head of Wagga’s interchurch council, said Easter was far more significant than Christmas. 

“Easter is the central point of Christianity,” he said. “Easter is the reason Jesus was born… not just to die, but to be resurrected as the first of many to come. In an increasingly secular world the message of Jesus Christ is just as relevant as ever, people need hope.”

As families share hot cross buns and enjoy chocolate eggs this weekend, it’s clear those Christian traditions remain part of our broader culture. From sayings like “I wash my hands of this” (Pilate’s words to the religious elite) to the notion of a “Judas” being a traitor (he was the disciple who sold Jesus out to authorities), right through to traditions in our legal system and government, the impact of Jesus’ life remains in our day to day lives.

And while the eggs traditionally symbolise a new life in Christ and buns keep “the cross” firmly connected to Easter, perhaps there are other things that the broader culture would do well to accept.

After all, what’s wrong with a little more peace and love in the world?