Jesus and the Gospels
...us. Everything before Jesus’ death seems to be an introduction. Mark is much shorter than all the other Gospels and it is one of the synoptic Gospels. Luke was written between 80 and 90 C.E. Luke more than any other Gospel writer stresses Jesus’ mercy and compassion. He was writing primarily to Gentiles. Luke emphasizes the central role of the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ life. Outcasts and sinners have main roles in Luke’s Gospel Luke is also one of the synoptic Gospels. John is not one of the synoptic Gospels. John’s Gospel was written between 90 and 100 C.E. Jesus as the divine Son of God, Symbolism, and a deep reflection on meaning are the themes of this Gospel. Scholars don’t know exactly who wrote this Gospel. The infancy narratives are stories about the birth of Jesus and his early life. They are found in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. The visit of the Magi is one of the infancy narratives. It is found in Matthew (2:1-12) and it is when the wise men follow a star to the place of Jesus’ birth and presents gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Luke begins his infancy narratives with events that happened before Jesus was born, mainly dealing with Jesus’ announcer, John the Baptist. One of Luke’s infancy narratives is when the angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she is to bear a son named Jesus, who will be called the “Son of the Most High”. It is important to remember when reading the infancy narratives not ask how it happened but why it happened. We can only speculate on what Jesus’ childhood was like but we can make solid assumptions. Jesus probably worked as a carpenter with his father. He had a good education because he knew Hebrew which was rare among the lower- class people of his day. Jesus probably spoke three languages Aramaic, Hebrew, and Greek. He likely attended synagogue school at age 8-13 where he studied scriptures, faith, and the history of Judaism. He had a faith- filled family life because Mary and Joseph were deeply prayerful and committed Jews. John the Baptist’s Baptism of Repentance was at the beginning of Jesus’ Public Life. John’s task was to prepare the way for Jesus. He announced that a whole new order was about to begin. The symbol of this repentance was a ritual bath, “baptism” of repentance. There were two problems with Jesus’ being baptized by John the Baptist. One is John’s baptism is a sign of repentance for sins, but Jesus is divine, sinless. And another is the early church wanted to show that Jesus was greater than John, but Jesus seems to be submitting to John. Jesus’ baptism was a moment of self discovery. Jesus learns two chief lessons about himself that he was chosen in a special way to proclaim and begin a new kingdom, and that he would be given the power to fulfill that role through the spirit of God. Jesus was like other rabbis of his day because it was common for teachers of the law, to ram from place to place teaching. Also rabbis were often followed by disciples who studied under them. Jesus was unlike other rabbis of his day because he proclaimed a new kingdom of God. He claimed that he was not just announcing it but establishing it! He taught on his own authority, not quoting other rabbis of Scripture. Jesus used parables and performed miracles, a dramatic difference from other rabbis. Jesus also had a unique relationship with his disciples. He chose them, they didn’t choose him. His disciples would never claim their own authority, but always rely on Jesus. They were not just to watch and learn, but were called to share in his mission of proclaiming the kingdom. Jesus had a strong vision of an ideal future. Jesus referred to his visions as “The Kingdom of God”. By kingdom of God we mean the reign of God the rule of God over the created world. The Jewish notion of The Kingdom of God is the Jews accepted God as the king over all creation in the wonders of creation and in the law. Jesus accepted this Jewish notion, but went beyond it. The Jews’ idea of a kingdom had become bound up with national and political kingship. They expected the kingdom to begin with an overthrow of the Romans by a military messiah. Jesus rejected political kingship. Jesus’ vision of the kingdom is closely tied to his understanding of God. His idea of God differed dramatically from common Jewish understanding. Jews held God in awe. They wouldn’t say his name and calling God father was out of the question. Jesus shattered Jewish belief and practice. He called God “Abba”. Abba is an Aramaic word used by kids, an intimate felling for Daddy or Dada. Jesus’ personal experience of an intimate relationship with God led him to teach about God’s relationship with all people. Jesus saw God as a passionately caring parent, whose love is tireless, healing, limitless, and unreserved. The kingdom that Jesus announced was a new understanding of our relationship with God. Jesus’ understanding of the command to love was the ability to participate fully in the reign of God which requires a conversion (change of heart). Jesus called people to love beyond the boundaries of their own Judaism, to love all people even their enemies. Jesus’ call to love your enemies was unique to him. It was not found in the OT or in teachings of other rabbis. Jesus’ dream, the kingdom, will be fully realized only when people conform their lives to God’s will. Then there will be peace, joy, and, love. Jesus’ dream of the kingdom of God is made a reality whenever people are compassionate, concerned, and willing to extend themselves in service to others. The kingdom is among us but not right know. At one point the kingdom seems very close to us but at others it seems like something to be achieved at the end of time. At one point Jesus tells you that the kingdom of God is among you but at another he tells you to pray for it. Three things can be realized from these contradictions. Jesus embodied the Kingdom of God, Jesus’ followers fully recognized the Kingdom only after Jesus’ Resurrection, and we must respond to Jesus’ invitation to enter the Kingdom. The kingdom can’t be described or explained precisely. It’s far greater and more magnificent than anything we can imagine or understand. This is why Jesus used parables to describe a reality that is too big for words. Jesus had 4 main styles of speech. One is Pronouncement Stories. These stories use a story as a setup for a pronouncement the “punch line”. Another style of speech is Short Sayings. These are sayings or words to the wise, with no story leading up to them. Classic collection of short sayings is “Sermon on the Mount”. Another style of speech is Instructions to Disciples. Some of Jesus’ teachings are recorded as instructions to those who want to follow him. Sometimes these include short sayings or pronouncement stories. His instructions on prayer include “The Lords Prayer” The final style of speech Jesus used was Parables. Parables are based on everyday life and are fiction, but never fantasies, fables, or sci-fi. Parables have only one message, only one simple point. They don’t have descriptive details and are filled with surprises. The Parables have several themes like Descriptions of the king which deals with God’s nature, qualities, and attitudes in dealing with people. Requirements of the kingdom which emphasize how we should act if we hope to enter the kingdom. Relationships with our neighbors which address people’s relationships with one another and with the world around them. The Refillment of the kingdom which refers to the future coming of God’s kingdom in it’s fullness. There are four kinds of miracles that we have covered in this course. They are healing miracles, exorcisms, restorations of life, and nature miracles. There are two typical responses to the miracles “take ‘em” and “leave ‘em”. Take em is accepting all Gospel miracles at face value. Rejecting modern scientific and biblical findings, and allowing only a literal reading of bible, with no possibility that a passage might be symbolic. Leave em is rejected any possibility of miracles and considering miracle stories as illusions of primitive people or as simply made-up tales. There is however an in between option a middle ground of looking at the miracles. The middle ground says don’t treat all miracle stories the same. Don’t get so caught up in “explanation” that you miss the “meaning”. Each story has something true and valid to say about the kingdom and we can be sure that Jesus worked at least some wonders. We can be sure that Jesus worked at least some wonders because non Christian historians refer to him as “wonder- worker”, none of his enemies ever denied that he worked miracles, and certain witnesses were willing to die for their faith in him. Holy Thursday is the day on which the Last Supper took place. On the evening before...