JESUS’ MINISTRY
Introduction
• The earthly Jesus is the origin of Christology of the Church if we are to take seriously the Incarnation which is the Word taking on a human history, with consideration to the continuity in the discontinuity between the implicit and the explicit Christology.
• Our knowledge of Jesus' earthly life and work is limited, and there is controversy about many sayings and deeds of Jesus recorded in the Gospels as being the reflections of the early Church, yet multiple attestation of the evangelists do allow us to reconstruct something of the message, activity, claim of Jesus at least during the last few years of his life. Something which biblical scholars commonly agree that we can be certain about are:
Jesus' preaching of the Kingdom of God
His self-designation as the Son of man
His consciousness of God as Abba.
1. The Teaching of His Kingdom
There is hardly anything more certain about the ministry of Jesus than his proclamation of God's Kingdom / reign.
In the time of Jesus, there were different ways of conceiving the Kingdom of God which is the definitive saving act of God, but Jesus gave it a new meaning:
◘ It is the loving rule of God over the world that began to manifest itself with the mission of Jesus. Jesus himself was inseparably connected with the in breaking of the divine kingdom in both his preaching and his miraculous deeds. Jesus announced the Kingdom of God and made it present in His own Person (JS=Kgdm) “Jesus is the Kingdom of God realized in himself” (Origin).
◘ Unlike John the Baptist who preached the Kingdom was imminent, Jesus taught that it was already present though not yet consummated.
◘ The Kingdom is addressed to the poor (anawin). What counts for Jesus is their trust in God.
Kingdom centered= God centered
2. His Self-designation as Son of man
This term also appears in Ezk (the prophet is called “Son of Man” to mean being human, limited, weak, not a transcendental figure.
But in Daniel 7, it is a transcendental figure
Jesus' self-designation: neither his contemporaries nor the succeeding generations use the title of Him. It was Jesus’ characteristic way of referring to Himself. He also gave it an innovative interpretation to sum up much of the thrust of His message.
Jesus used it in 3 senses:
◘ Being in the midst of man, having an earthly life with a human quality and humble condition
Mt 11:19 “The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they said, 'Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.' But wisdom is vindicated by her works."
Mk 2:10 “But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth”
Lk 9:58 Jesus answered him, "Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”
◘ A mortal being to refer to his coming suffering, death and resurrection
Mk 9:12 “He told them, "Elijah will indeed come first and restore all things, yet how is it written regarding the Son of Man that he must suffer greatly and be treated with contempt?”
◘ As a glorious figure coming at the end like the mysterious redeemer-judge of Dan 7
Jesus was relating himself to a figure who delivers his people and receives kingly dominion. In this context, an appeal to Dn 7 meant that Jesus made a messianic use of the self-designation Son of Man.
Point: Only God can judge; only God can destroy evil; only God can require the sacrifice of self.
Conclusion:
• Thus the use of this term respectively portray this figure as a human being serving others, being rejected and killed and coming in future glory to judge them
Theological Dimension
• Title "Son of Man" unites true God and true man.
“Son of God made man” (Galot: The divine powers that are his are effective through his humanity, communicated through his flesh and blood. As Son of Man he can represent all men to the Father.
The term suggests that the richness of the divine person lies hidden and is revealed through the human nature.
The ontological and the functional: Jesus does not identify himself with a function (e.g., "Messiah"); his personal reality as "Son" comes before his mission. Mission follows his identity.
O’Collins remarks
• Jesus used “Son of Man” in such a way as not to bring his own person into prominence, while maintaining his Father’s reign (and not self-witness) at the center of his public proclamation.
• As Jesus went on to speak more directly to the inner group of his disciples about his impending suffering and future vindication, he presented himself as the Son of man who represented the new Israel in obediently suffering and trusting that he would be vindicated beyond death and thus bring God’s judgment and kingdom.
3. His Understanding of God as Father
• ABBA Experience - A term of endearment.
In OT it was used a few time but in Hebrew (=Father), not in Aramaic
(Mk. 14:36—Jesus in Gethsemane), Gal 4: Rom 8—Holy Spirit cries in us.
Jesus never called himself Son of God (the term certainly belongs to the Creed of the Church). Yet He did characteristically refer to God as Father, most strikingly in his address to God as Abba.
A distinctive and unusual term expressing simple, deep intimacy with God (this seems to capture the essential self-understanding of Jesus). This is unique or something highly unusual in Palestinian Judaism.
In OT the special relationship to God enjoyed by angels, the king and the Jewish nation allowed them to be called sons of God.
He consistently made a distinction between "my father" and "your father" except in the Pater Noster.
All these show that he clearly experienced God in a special way and he thought of his sonship as a unique relationship with God the Father
When Jesus was crucified he was already the Son of God, but this divine sonship was confirmed and given clearer definition by resurrection.
Certainly its use in Gethsemene reveals Jesus consciousness that his filial identity is linked to his redemptive mission.
Theological Consequence
ABBA experience reveals Jesus as the true Son of God the Father. We, as adopted sons, can call Abba for Christ has extended the intimacy of his unique relationship with the Father to us (without lessening the uniqueness of being God's only begotten).
The Universality of the Mediation of Christ
• NT does not waver in acknowledging Christ as the one Savior for all people, that his redemptive role is universal (w/out exception), unique (one of a kind), complete (convey fullness of salvation) and definitive (cannot be surpassed).
• This redemptive role will also have its impact on the whole of creation.
• Biblical texts on the universal role of Christ: Acts 4:11-12: There is no salvation in anyone else, for there is no other name in the world given to men by which we are to be saved.
• 1Tim 2:5-6 God is one. One also is the Mediator between God and men, the man JC, who gave Himself as a ransom for all.
• Claims about Js as the mediator of salvation for all people emerge from faith in him as the Risen Lord. His resurrection has inaugurated the general resurrection. At the end he will be the saving goal for all men and women --as the universal judge and the light of the heavenly Jerusalem.
• The teleological conviction that Christ is goal of humankind goes hand in hand with a strong sense of his universal salvific role here and now.
• It was Js' humanity that made his dying and rising possible, it was his divinity that gave that dying and rising a cosmic value.
The personal pre-existence of Christ and his Incarnation
According to J.D.G. Dunn (Christology in the Making, 2ed., 1989) such a pre-existence of Christ is found for the first time in the prologue of John.
1 Cor 8:6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.
2 Cor 8:9 For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.
Gal 4:4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
Phil 2:6-11
6. though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped at, 7. but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, 8. he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death-- even death on a cross. 9. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10. so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11. and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
◘ Paul is more interested in the post-existence than the pre-existence of Christ
◘ Yet pre-existence is important for the Incarnation.
WHO IS THE HISTORICAL JESUS?
The Church encourages us to know Jesus historically.
• Divino Afflante Spiritu (- “Inspired by the Holy Spirit”) – 1943 encyclical of Pope Pius XII, which encouraged biblical research and the use of the historical-critical method.
What do we know about Jesus today?
•Big Boss Papa
•Master and Commander
•Big Brother
The Creed
• I believe in God, the Father Almighty, the creator of Heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was
crucified, died and was buried…
Images/titles of Jesus:
• 3 Filipino favorite images of Christ – Nazareno, Santo Nino, and Crucified Christ.
•Appeal of the Nazareno – always grant petitions, consistent with hero martyr symbol. Also because Easter was only emphasized after Vatican II, so more time spent on focusing on the suffering Christ.
•Sto Nino – miraculous wood. It is told that one day, long before the coming of the Spaniards, a native went out into the sea to fish. He did not catch anything for the better part of the day until finally, he felt a weight at the end of his line. He brought it in only to discover that it was nothing but a piece of wood. This occurred several times until, tired and angry, he decided to keep the stubborn piece of wood in his boat. And viola! Like magic, all the fish swum towards his boat and he went home with a bountiful catch.
The natives of Cebu soon discovered that this piece of wood had other magical powers. They could use it as a scarecrow to keep animals away from their dying crops. In times of drought, they only had to immerse it in the sea and the rains would come. Apparently, this same piece of wood was fashioned into the image of the Santo Niño.
Other images/titles:
• The “Christ”
• “Son of God”
• “Messiah”
• “Savior” and “Lord”
The Cosmic Christ
Jesus Christ: Bio data
• If we are to be like Jesus, then we should know his life – what he said, what he did, and WHY.
• To understand WHY, then we should know his historical background, thus the Historical Jesus.
• Born in Nazareth around 4 BCE.
– Rural area but close to commercial centers in Galilee and Mediterranean.
• Nazareth is in Palestine (now Israel and part of Jordan).
•Nazareth is about 150 kilometers north of Jerusalem
Gospels: our source of information of historical Jesus:
• A record of the disciples’ experience of Jesus
• Historical account (what Jesus said and did remembered)
• Interpreted account (what Jesus said and did interpreted after he died and resurrected)
They were fascinated by this person who had a lot of common sense, who related warmly with people, mingled freely with the poor and the outcast, and spoke openly against the injustices of his time. Being with him was an inspiriting experience of the disciples who, most probably, had been victims themselves of the discrimination and oppression in the Jewish society. They felt this man gave them back their dignity, their confidence in life. In Jesus of Nazareth, the disciples experienced a very free man, caring for the concrete needs of the oppressed poor people because God, his Father, loved them – never mind if they failed to fully love God (Mt 4:23-25; 11:2-6; Luke 4:16-21; 5:29-32).
•Interpreted account – Jesus was crucified but in faith the disciples were convinced that he was alive; he has risen. The conviction that Jesus continued to live and inspire the community added a new meaning to the disciples’ initial understanding of Jesus. They believed that Jesus’ spirit was challenging them to give a new answer to people's search for happiness. Thus they believed in the CHRIST OF FAITH as we Christians of today, followers of Christ, also believe.
BETHANY
A village on the southeastern slopes of the MOUNT OF OLIVES (see Map 6, B-4)
about three kilometers (two miles) east of Jerusalem near the road to Jericho . Bethany was the scene of some of the most important events of Jesus' life. It was the home of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus and the place where Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead . During Jesus' final week, He spent at least one night in Bethany . At Bethany Jesus was anointed by Mary in the home of Simon the leper .
What else do we know about Jesus?
• A carpenter, which makes him lower middle class.
• Probably studied in the synagogue of Nazareth, where he learned to read and write, and studied the Hebrew bible.
• Eventually, became a religious seeker and found John the Baptist.
•Nazareth is about 150 kilometers north of Jerusalem
•Carpenters did not build houses but made wooden products: doors, door frames, roof beams, furniture, yokes and plows.
1. A man of faith
• Had a deep relationship with God, referring to God as “abba.”
2. Jesus as healer and exorcist
• Reasons for healing: To show compassion. To show that God is accessible
• Jesus associated healing with the Kingdom of God.
3. A teacher of transformative wisdom
• Not just a teacher of doctrine and morals, but of a “new way of life.”
• Relationship with God – not based on rules but being God-centered.
• Purpose of life – not fulfilling the requirements of religion, but based on a relationship with God.
4. An initiator of a renewal movement
• Aware of the corruption and deterioration of Jewish society, and wanted to renew it.
• Jesus’ movement: the way of Love
• Everyone is welcome, including sinners, the poor, and women. Everyone is equal
5. Jesus as prophet
– Jesus condemned a social system that was unjust, favored the wealthy, the powerful, and those who based their relationship with God on the law, but which rejected the poor, the powerless and those unable to keep the law.
Summary:
•We sometimes transform Jesus to a magician who fulfils prayers if we are obedient. Others turn him into a masochist whose purpose was to die for our sins, and did not consider well being in this life as important.
Now, we can understand better the titles used for Jesus by his early disciples.
Images/titles of Jesus by his early disciples:
• The “Christ” Greek “christos”
Hebrew “mashiah” which means “the anointed.”
• “Messiah” – as above, but had kingly and militaristic connotations.
The titles give us an insight on how Jesus was perceived by the people around him. A mere historical presentation of Jesus would not give us much insight. He was poor, lived in an obscure village, did miracles which were not totally unknown that time, (there were others who healed the sick), challenged the Romans or criticized the priest (again there were many who did this), was a trouble maker in the temple, was convicted of sedition, and then crucified. Many lived and died this way.
But it is how he was perceived and experienced by the people around Him, especially those close to Him, that give us a deeper insight. What I would like to present to you is that this experience of Jesus can be known through the titles that the Gospel writers assigned to Him.
One of these titles is Christ:
Matt 16:15-16 (15 "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"
16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.")
Christ is not Jesus surname. Mashiah means “the anointed”: Priests, kings, prophets were anointed. The disciples were saying this person belonged to God, or was a man of God. They felt that this was no ordinary person that lived among them, but they could not at that time say “true man and true God.” That was an expression developed much later (around 400 AD) by the Church. So they had to make use of titles that were already there at that time.
• “Son of God” – not yet as second person of Trinity, but as “a man of God.”
-Son of God – not in the sense that we use it in the Creed. Son of God meant:
-For the Jews, that divine sonship meant for the Jews themselves. Israel was considered the
first born (Exodus 4:22)
-A king from the line of David, who is considered as Yahweh’s son. The Lord’s promise to David: “I will be his father, and he will be my son.” (2 Samuel, 7:11-16)
-Powerful persons or rulers
-Angels and heavenly beings.
-A righteous person
• “Savior” and “Lord” – titles used for the Roman emperor, applied to Jesus.
-Savior and Lord – both used to refer to the Roman Emperor.
-Two titles of Roman emperor were Savior and Lord. They brought control and order. They brought
Pax Romana, so indeed the Emperor is Savior, but also Lord since his orders have to be followed, he
knows best. The Romans also brought a system of justice that brought peace.
• “Son of Man” – the representative man, or the ideal man.
The Son of Man appeared to speak and act in these cases as the representative man. If God
had given man dominion over all the works of His hands, then He who was the Son of Man in this special
representative sense was in a position to exercise that dominion.
-Jesus is Christ and Son of God, because He stood apart from everyone, a man of God, he possessed strength and power which came from within. When he spoke people listened.
-Jesus is Messiah, who is just like a Davidic king because the time of David was when there was peace and prosperity, there was no foreign power who oppressed them, they freedom to worship, but without the pomp and circumstance associated with the kingly connotations of the title.
-Jesus is Savior who proclaimed peace, but did so through love and forgiveness, and not through force and oppression of the Emperor. Jesus’ proclamation is God’s love, not God’s unbending justice. Jesus is also Savior from the suffocating demands of the Pharisees in obeying laws.
-Jesus is Lord, but one who gives commands to take care of the people, but not the legalistic and demanding obedience to laws similar to the Pharisees
Summary:
1. To imitate Jesus, then you must know the historical Jesus.
2. The message of the historical Jesus is not only about the next life, but THIS LIFE:
• A relationship with God based on love and compassion and not on rules.
• A society based on justice, equality and well-being, where everyone is welcome and accepted.
“GOSPEL”
• Greek euangelion “good news”
• Refers to:
– Message taught by Jesus
– Message about Jesus
• Transmitted orally at first
– E.g. Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:23 “I received from
the Lord what I also handed on to you …”
Why not write a Gospel?
• Apocalyptic expectations (Mark 13:30)
• Respect for oral tradition (e.g. Papias)
Why write a Gospel?
• Death of the eyewitnesses
• Delay of Jesus’ parousia “appearance”
• Missionary needs
• Controversies over doctrine
The Synoptic Gospels: Mt. Mk, & Lk
• Very similar, frequently identical in wording;
sometimes:
– All 3 the same
– Any 2 the same
– All 3 different
Who wrote the Gospels?
• All 4 NT Gospels are anonymous
• Original title: Gospel of Jesus Christ
• Church attached “according to…” in 2nd
cent. CE to distinguish one from another
Gospel according to Mark
• Church tradition: John Mark, Jewish
associate of Paul in Acts
– Wrote from Peter’s preaching in Rome
– But inaccurate re. Jewish customs &
local geography
• For gentile Christians, 70 CE?
Gospel according to Matthew
• Church tradition: Matthew, Jewish, one of
the 12 disciples
• For: Matt is expert in Jewish customs and
local geography
• Written for Jewish-Christians, 85-90 CE?
Gospel according to Luke
• Church tradition: Luke, Greek physician
and associate of Paul in Acts (also by Luke)
• Supported by:
– good Greek style
– Pauline influence
– emphasis on healing
• Written for gentile Christians, 70-100 CE
Gospel according to John
• Differs from Synoptics:
– Style & theology
– Contents
– Arrangement
• But similar to 1,2,3 Letters of John and Rev
• Source is “the beloved disciple,” John 21:24
• Church tradition: John, son of Zebedee, one of
12 disciples, Jewish
• Modern historians: who knows?
Date of Composition
Mark: 68-73 AD
Matthew: 70-100 AD
Luke: 80-100 AD
John: 90-110 AD
Gospels were written in Greek, although
Jesus and the disciples spoke Aramaic
There were many gospels written about Jesus,
but only four are considered canonical
Other gospel accounts include the Gospel of
Thomas, the Gospel of Philip, the Gospel of
Mary Magdalene.
These gospels were not accepted into the Bible
because they were not widely used by the early
church or because they presented material that the
early Church Fathers thought were heretical.
Gospel authors were not attempting to write an
historical or biographical account of the birth, life,
death, and resurrection of Jesus
Trying to write their theological understanding of
what Jesus’ birth, life, death & resurrection meant
for the salvation of the world.
We have to remember that the Gospels were written in a series of stages; 1st stage in development of the Gospels was in the life and teachings of Jesus.
Jesus traveled thru out the land preaching, speaking, teaching, & performing miracles. These events became the basis for the historical accounts about the Historical Jesus. 2nd stage is the oral preaching of the followers of Christ, when they spread the good news throughout the land. 3rd stage is the Writing of the Gospels.
The second stage of the Gospels grew out of the
testimony and preaching of the eyewitnesses to
Jesus’ ministry and/or Resurrection and to early
practices in the Church, such as the Lord’s
Supper; these traditions may have been oral or
written & occurred @ 30 years after Jesus’ death.
It’s important to remember the context of this
second stage;
– Gospels ≠ modern newspapers or CNN
Jesus’ words were not transcribed word for word;
– Disciples were more concerned about proclaiming
the significance of what God was doing in human
history thru the life, death and resurrection of Jesus
We have to remember that as they were
sharing the Good News, the disciples were
talking to different people from different cultures.
That’s why in some of the Gospels (e.g.,
Mark 7:3) the writers will stop and explain
Jewish customs because they were talking
about Jewish traditions to Gentiles
As church matures, movement begins to develop
a different THEOLOGICAL understandings of
what the Christ event meant
– Christ event = birth, life, death & resurrection
– Why John talks about Jesus as God Incarnate while
the other three Gospels do not
– Jesus as God incarnate is a later theological
understanding of who Jesus is.
The Synoptic Gospels =Matthew, Mark, & Luke
– Synoptic = seeing together
Called Synoptic Gospels because
– Often recount same stories about Jesus
– Often recount stories in same order
Gospel of John is very different in style,
content & emphasis from Synoptic Gospels
Mark
This Gospel is short and to the point; written for
Gentile audience in Rome
Mark is action packed –focuses more on what
Jesus did, not what Jesus said
Mark’s Jesus is mysterious, Jesus is always
asking the disciples who he is & they never
quite get it.
Mark focuses a lot on the Passion narrative because Jesus, the Son of God, the Son of Man had to die so we might live –focuses more on the suffering of Jesus.
Matthew
Jesus is the fulfillment of OT Scriptures
Matthew sets out to prove that Jesus is the Messiah prophesied in the OT
Genealogy links Jesus to David and Abraham thru his adoptive father Joseph
More focus on Jesus coming for the
“House of Israel” first, only goes to Gentiles
when Jews refuse to accept him
Luke
Luke is the longest & most comprehensive Gospel;
covers Jesus’ life from birth to death
He was a Gentile physician and companion of Paul’s
Only Gospel with detailed infant & childhood stories
Luke’s Gospel is Universal: Jesus came to save everyone.
Jesus came to save lost souls, to care for those who are marginalized, including the poor, children, women
There are more stories about women in Luke than in any other Gospel
People are receptive to Jesus but the leaders are not because he came to change the social order.
John
He sets out to prove that Jesus is God incarnate;
Jesus is God revealed to the world
John focuses more on what Jesus says, not what
Jesus does
Focused more on his ministry in Judea and
Jerusalem, not Galilee
John talks about Jesus as the Redeemer and
focuses more on the role of the Holy Spirit than
the other Gospels
Talks more about Love & about himself than any
of the other Gospels
In Synoptic Gospels, Jesus’ public ministry lasts one year; in John, it’s three years
In the Synoptics, Jesus speaks in short parables, in John, he speaks in long discourses.
A view of Christ from the Gospels
Matthew The Messiah is King
Mark The Messiah is Servant
Luke The Messiah is Savior of All
John The Messiah is the Son
of God who Became Man
The Gospel of Matthew
Jesus is the Messiah,
the son of David, the King of the Jews.
" A record of the genealogy of Jesus
Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham…”
Matthew 1:1-18
"All this took place to fulfill what the Lord
had said through the prophet: “The virgin
will be with child and will give birth to a
son, and they will call him Emmanuel”—
which means, “God with us.”"
Matthew 1:22-23
" This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about:
His mother Mary was pledged to be married to
Joseph, but before they came together, she was
found to be with child through the Holy Spirit."
"But after he had considered this, an angel of the
Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
“Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to
take Mary home as your wife, because
what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit."
Matthew 1:18, 20
The Gospel of Mark
Jesus is the Suffering Servant,
"For even the Son of Man did not come
to be served, but to serve, and to give his life
as a ransom for many.”"
Mark 10:45
The Gospel of Luke
Jesus as the Son of Man,
rejected by Israel, offered to the Gentiles.
" Many have undertaken to draw up an account of
the things that have been fulfilled among us...
Therefore, since I myself have carefully
investigated everything from the beginning, it
seemed good also to me to write an orderly
account for you…so that you may know the
certainty of the things you have been taught."
Luke 1:1-4
“The birth of Jesus Christ was a birth in normal
human flesh from a normal human mother,
whose conception was not the result of sexual
intercourse with any man, but by the supernatural
activity of the Holy spirit.”
The Gospel of John
Jesus Is the Son of God
" In the beginning was the Word, and the
Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning. Through
him all things were made; without him nothing
was made that has been made."
John 1:1-3
"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling
among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of
the One and Only, who came from the Father, full
of grace and truth. John testifies concerning him.
He cries out, saying, “This was he of whom I said,
‘He who comes after me has surpassed me
because he was before me.’”
John 1:14-15
The Eternal Son Took on Human Flesh to Reveal God to Men. (John 1:18)
The Word Became Flesh to Reign Over His People.
(Luke 1:33a; Matthew 2:2)
He Came to Redeem. (Mark 10:45)
GOD BLESS YOU
IN YOUR PRELIMINARY EXAMINATIONS!
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