Jesus of Nazareth

1. Jesus of Nazareth Christianity: An Introduction

2. A New Movement • Year 60: Roman authorities noticed a new movement • “Chrestus” or “Christus” cause of trouble • Emperor Nero: Great fire of Rome 64 • Tacitus :”the Christians” • 313: Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire Nero

3. Questions to Consider: • What was this new religion? • What did it teach? • Where did it come from? • What made it so attractive? • How did it come to be so influential in its first few centuries? • What happened after it had achieved such success at Rome? • How has it shaped the lives individuals and the history of the human race?

4. Gateways to Encountering Christianity • Texts • Services • Buildings • Music • Art

5. Centrality of Jesus to the Christian Faith • Christianity is Jesus Christ • Christianity represents a sustained response to the questions raised by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. • Is a historical religion, coming into being in response to a specific set of events that center around Jesus Christ. • Life, death, resurrection • Jesus is more than a founder; he makes God known, salvation possible, who models a new life with God that results from faith. • Jesus tell us and shows us what God is like. • Jesus makes a new relationship with God possible • Jesus himself lives out a God-focused life, which Christians are encouraged to imitate

6. Centrality of Jesus to the Christian Faith 1. Jesus reveals both the will and face of God • Colossians 1:15 “Image of the invisible God” = eikon – Emperor on coinage • Hebrews 1:3 “The exact representation of God’s being” - charakter • John 14:9 “No one comes to the Father but through me” 2. Jesus is understood to be the ground of salvation • Significant title: “Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10) • Ichthus – “fish” “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior • Saves people from sins (Matthew 1:21) • In his name alone is there salvation (Acts 4;12) • “Author of Salvation” (Hebrews 2:10)

7. Centrality of Jesus to the Christian Faith 3. Jesus is the model of the redeemed life; Christians called to “imitate Christ” • Paul: “Be imitators of God” (Ephesians 5:1) • But – must know what God is like • “Love one another” (John 4:7-11) • The Kingdom was for all, without hesitation. • What groups were they hesitant of? • Who do you think people would be hesitant of today?

8. The Gospels and Jesus • Mark 1:1 “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” • Gospel – “Good news” • What is the good news? • Koine – Greek of the “common” people; used for the Gospels • Evangelion – “good” and “news” or “message” • “Jesus Christ” – Hebrew Yeshua “God saves”; “Christ” is a title – Greek version of word “messiah” • Judaism – a new King David would open up a new age; expectations ranged from political to priestly, to greater • “Messianic age”

9. The Gospels and Jesus • Christianity first existed within/alongside Judaism • God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob became more revealed in Jesus • In Gospels/Acts of the Apostles “Jesus of Nazareth” • Nazareth – 100 miles north of Jerusalem, in region of Galilee • Those in Jerusalem saw them as less than authentic Jews, and many failed to think that the messiah could come from Galilee • Four Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke, John • Matthew, Mark, Luke – “synoptic” Gospels • John very theological/philosophical • Gospels cannot be thought of as biographies, but ways of making Jesus known to their audiences Sea of Galilee

10. Jesus and Roman Historians • Three Roman historians make reference to Jesus: • Pliny the Younger (111AD) • Tacitus (115ad) • Suetonius (120AD) • In their writings we see mention of: • Christ condemned to death by Pontius Pilate, procurator of Judaea, during the reign of Roman emperor Tiberius. Pilate worked years 26-36; Tiberius 14-37; Jesus’ crucifixion was sometime between 30 and 33. • By the time of Nero, Christ had attracted enough followers to be a scapegoat for Rome’s fire • “Chrestus” was the founder of a distinctive group within Judaism (Suetonius) • In 112 AD Christians worshipped Jesus “as if he were a god” , abandoning worship of the Roman emperor Pliny the Younger

11. Jesus and Israel • Jesus is born into Israel. • What is Israel? • Christians stress that God is the God of the great saints of Judaism, such as Abraham, Moses • Israel is seen as preparation for God’s coming in Jesus • Hebrew Scriptures are of great importance to Christian writers (which we will spend time discussing • Jesus came “not to abolish the Law or the Prophets, but to fulfill them.” (Matthew 5:17) • Paul – Jesus is “the goal of the Law” • telos • Paul stresses the relationship between Moses and Jesus; and Christians and the great figures of the faith of Israel

12. Jesus and Israel • In the Christian Scriptures, the New Testament, the same theme reoccurs: • “Law, Prophets, and Writings” are the “Old Testament” to Christians • Old Testament prophecies are fulfilled in Jesus; 12 points in the Gospel of Matthew are shown to fulfill Old Testament prophecy • Psalm 22: Jesus quotes as he is dying on the cross. • Personal difficulties of King David are those of Jesus: Eloi, eloi, Eloi, Eloi, Lama Sabachthani: “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” • Isaiah 52:13-53:12: Servant is despised and rejected by others • Jesus is crucified between two criminals

13. Jesus and Jewish Groups • Judaism – Palestinian Judaism • Diaspora -Jews scatter • Five major groups existed within Palestinian Judaism • Samaritans – lived in nearby areas, with similar beliefs in Judaism • Assyrian invasion – some syncretism • Separate worship center • Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25), Samaritan woman (John 4:4-32)

14. Jesus and Jewish Groups • Pharisees – saw law as evolving; with doctrinal developments “Torah and tradition” • Distanced themselves from what they thought to be unacceptable • Believed in the resurrection of the dead • Sadducees – Five books of law – binding authority; did not believe in the afterlife • Zealots – politically radical Jews, concerned to overthrow Roman occupation of the land • Essenes- emphasis on religious purity; lived in communities in the wilderness; lived simple lives, and were celibate

15. The Birth of Jesus • Matthew and Luke: provide the “Christmas card” accounts. • Birthdate unknown; Christians chose December 25th. • Traditional Roman holiday • Clement of Alexandria advocated May 20th • Actual date a non-issue for Christians • Story develops: • Three gifts: Wise men? • Birthplace?

16. The Birth of Jesus • Joseph – in King David’s legal bloodline; never referred to as “father of Jesus” • Mary – “Mother of Jesus” • To Christians, the conception of Jesus is divine

17. The Beginning of the Public Ministry of Jesus • John the Baptist: Prepare the way • Return of Elijah? • “Baptism”: Greek “to bathe” • Temptation – 40 days 40 nights in the wilderness • Now he’s ready to go • Comes into public ministry, with a theme of rejection. • Disciples • Apostles – “the twelve” • Teaching, healing; helping people understand the fullness of the Jewish law.

18. Jesus and Women • In Jesus’ ministry, women were: • Affirmed by him • Witness to the crucifixion • First witnesses of the Resurrection • Named as disciples (males were not) • Shown to be more spiritually perceptive than men. • Kept from being lone scapegoats in adultery • Jewish teaching: “Not converse much with women, as this will eventually lead you to unchastity” • Luke: Focus on Mary; showed women important for spreading the Gospel

19. Teaching of Jesus: Parables of the Kingdom • “Kingdom of God” or “Kingdom of Heaven” movement: often told in parables • Basileia – not a physical land • The “Lord’s prayer” • Parables – short stories that were allegories to express the tenants of the kingdom – spiritual truths that require one to think, and act. • Prodigal Son

20. The Crucifixion • Crucifixion – being placed on a cross • Common Roman execution • Passover – Last Supper • Sacrificial Lamb • Eucharist, or “Holy Communion” rooted here • Holy Thursday • Betrayed by Apostle Judas • Seized by Roman authorities and questioned • Sanhedrin – Jewish ruling council; could not sentence someone to death

21. The Crucifixion • Pontius Pilate seemed to want to give Jesus a token punishment and move on, but the crowd rallies against him • Jesus was scourged; set to carry his cross to his place of crucifixion. • Helped along the way by Simon of Cyrene, pulled from the crowd • Golgotha/Calvary – “the place of the skull” • “My God, My God, why have you abandoned me?” • Good Friday – Christians mourn the death of Jesus • Jesus dies and is laid in the tomb

22. The Resurrection • Resurrection – used to refer to series of events, summarized as follows: • Jesus’ tomb is discovered empty • Disciples report personal appearances • Jesus preached about as living Lord, not past teacher • “Empty tomb” – eye-witness accounts in Gospels • A woman’s testimony would be dismissed • Jewish views on the afterlife were mixed

23. Events and Meanings • Christian faith presupposes Jesus was a real historical figure • Christianity, however is not just facts about Jesus • Paul – saw behind mere external event itself to what it signified and was not interested in merely facts; for Paul the crucifixion meant salvation, forgiveness, and victory over death • Jesus died, in order that all may life; was numbered among sinners so sinners can be forgiven. Paul

24. New Testament Understandings of Jesus • Messiah: Hebrew title; “the Lord’s anointed”or the “divinely appointed King of Israel” • Christ – title • Lord: used as a divine being • Often used in the Old Testament to describe the holy name of God • Savior – “captain of salvation” • The one who saves • Forgiver of Sins

25. New Testament Understandings of Jesus • Son of God – Old Testament: emphasis on exclusiveness as an angelic or supernatural person • Incarnation • All are children of God – “Our Father” • Son of Man – counterpart to “Son of God”; an affirmation to Jesus’ humanity • Shows Jesus’ humanity and willingness to suffer alongside others • God – “My Lord and my God” • Shows Jesus’ divinity to Christians