Theo 2 - Who IsJesus?

The Church encourages us to
know Jesus historically.
• Divino Afflante Spiritu – 1943 encyclical
of Pope Pius XII, which encouraged
biblical research and the use of the
historical-critical method.
- “Inspired by the Holy Spirit”


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.


What do we know about
Jesus today?
•Big Boss Papa
•Master and Commander
•Shep or “Abandon Shep”

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
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”.

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.



Jesus Christ
• 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

BETHANY
1. 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 .
(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary)
(Copyright (C) 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)



POLITICAL SITUATION

1. Roman empire divided into:
– Peaceful, loyal or senatorial provinces
– Turbulent provinces – Had pockets of
revolt. Palestine in this category.

2. Jewish kings – from the Herodian
family. Were despised because they
were Roman puppets.
-Senatorial provinces were under the Senate
-Turbulent provinces: governors were called PREFECT if concern is financial, or PROCURATOR
if military. Pontius Pilate is a Procurator.
-After their dispersal, no Jewish nation until World War II. Politically, the Jewish nation died, but
Judaism did not die.
-A group established an academy in Jamnia to keep the faith and instruction of the law. Priests
and sacrifices in the temple ended, but teachers of the Law persisted. Study of the Law took the
place of sacrifice.
-Declared Birkat Hamminim (ban heretics, literally), referring to the Christians. Thinking was that
we suffered and temple was destroyed because Christians were allowed to mingle. Thus, started
the break of Christians from Judaism. This was around the 80’s.

3. Priests and scribes had lots of power.

4. Widespread discontent and constant
uprising due to heavy taxation.
• Villages who could not pay were
destroyed
• Conflict was Jewish lower class vs
Roman rulers & Jewish upper class
(which included the priests and
Sadducees).
Thus, most of our NT manuscripts are in Greek.
Pilate reported to the emperor. Was technically a Prefect, because Judea was considered a
turbulent province, hence a military concern, because there were many problematic factions:
Zealots, Scarii.
Note the difference between Herod the Great during Jesus birth (who died around 4 BC), and
Herod Antipas, who ruled Galilee (technically, a tetrarch because also ruled one-fourth).
Situation very similar to when Philippines was a colony under Spanish rule.
Optional:
Herod the Great executed two brothers in law. Built the temple, though he himself offered gifts to
pagan cults. He was ruthless, hence his plot to find Jesus by saying “I also want to worship him.”
Maccabean kings also known as Hasmonean kings because grandfather of Mattathias was
named Hasmoneus.




SOCIO ECONOMIC – Social classes

1. Wealthy merchants and traders

2. Artisans and service providers
(tentmakers, like Paul, skilled workers,
barbers, innkeepers, carpentry)

3. Unskilled workers – daily wage earners
(parable of the hired hands),
construction workers, message carriers,
ditch digging, begging.

4. Debt bondsmen – paid debt by working.

5. Slaves – lowest, but could be better off
because usually have rich patrons.
-Senators could not legally marry slaves. Had special places in table, depending on rank.
-Debts were widespread. Slavery is a big institution, and Paul did not make any effort to change
the situation.
-Senators could not legally marry slaves. Had special places in table, depending on rank.
-Debts were widespread.
-Slavery is a big institution, and Paul did not make any effort to change the situation, the reason
being that there was a belief in the imminent parousia, he was a community builder, not social
reformer, and for practical reasons, the Christians were a small minority which would have been
crushed by the Romans.
-Paul’s converts came from the middle class, and mostly from the poor. Christianity promised a
glorious future, and Christ’s suffering made them identify with the religion.
-Paul refers to himself as the BONDSERVANT of Christ (Romans 1:1-2).

SOCIO ECONOMIC
• Very much like the Philippines
under Spanish rule:
– Gap between rich and poor.
– Turbulence and unrest against Romans who
were corrupt and abusive and collected
heavy taxes.
– Revolutionary prophets and messianic
pretenders.
Samaritans only believed in the Torah, or the first five books.
So people longed for the time of David where they had a powerful king and prosperity. Waiting
for a Messiah.

MESSIAH
[meh SIGH uh] (anointed one)-- the one anointed by God and empowered by God's
spirit to deliver His people and establish His kingdom. In Jewish thought, the Messiah would be
the king of the Jews, a political leader who would defeat their enemies and bring in a golden era
of peace and prosperity. In Christian thought, the term Messiah refers to Jesus' role as a spiritual
deliverer, setting His people free from sin and death.
The word Messiah comes from a Hebrew term that means "anointed one." Its Greek
counterpart is Christos, from which the word Christ comes. Messiah was one of the titles used by
early Christians to describe who Jesus was.
(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary)
(Copyright (C) 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)
Explain that the expectation is that He is the Messiah in military terms. But Jesus did not want
this proclaimed because it was a misconception:
Mark 8:29-30
29 "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are
the Christ."
30 Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.
(NIV)
There was an incident of some Samaritans infiltrating some Jews and mixing human bones in
their sacrifice, which is a great act of sacrilege.



As a result of abuses and
oppression, there were
protest and renewal
movements.


Protest and Renewal Movements

1. Social bandits – people who lost their land
because of failure to pay taxes; robbed the
rich to give to the poor.

2. Messianic movements – groups who
clamored for revolt because foreign
oppressors were against the kingship of
Yahweh.

3. Essenes – withdrew from society into the
wilderness to avoid corruption.

4. Zealots – armed attacks against the
Romans.

5. Pharisees – oppression was the result of
disobedience, so one must be strictly
faithful to the law, and Yahweh will deliver
Israel.

•Essenes – they lived a disciplined life, holding all things in common. They called
themselves “men of holiness” and required separation from the “unholy society.”
They claimed to be children of light.


Pharisees:
• The largest and most influential
group.
– Believed that ritual purity applied to
priests should include all people.
– Believed in entire Hebrew Bible,
Resurrection, punishment and
reward after death, tithing,
Sabbath, fasting
– Socially exclusive, shunned non-
Pharisees who were deemed
unclean.
– Members were common people,
unlike Sadducees.
Pharisees had a detailed program of life. Often accused of turning religion into a very legalistic
system. Emphasized external instead of internal. So Jesus says, you whitened tombs, inside are
bones.
Matt 23:27
27 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like
whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's
bones and everything unclean.
(NIV)
Matt 16:6
6 "Be careful," Jesus said to them. "Be on your guard against the yeast of the
Pharisees and Sadducees."
(NIV)
Matt 23:13
13 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the
kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who
are trying to.
(NIV)
Matt 5:20
20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the
teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
(NIV)
26


RELIGIOUS
• Sadducees - a Jewish faction
who believed only in Torah
– Not believe in tradition, or
interpretation of the Mosaic
law.
– No Resurrection of the dead.
– The good prosper now. Usually
from aristocratic class.
– Resented social reformers and
renewal movements.
Sadducees - did not believe in oral tradition, unlike the Pharisees who were fond of the various
interpretations.
Torah - the first 5 books: Genesis, Exodus, Deuteronomy, Leviticus and Numbers.
Canon in stages- Pentateuch in the 5th BC, entire Hebrew Bible 70 AD, NT in 400 AD.
27

• Scribes - not religious or political,
but a professional class.
– Copied the law, and as a result
became experts and teachers.

• Rabbi - means “my great one”,
used to show respect to the
teacher of the law.

• Sanhedrin - like the Supreme
court.
– Tackled big issues.
– Composed of Pharisees,
Sadducees, priests, and
prominent families.



What else do we know
about Jesus?



Jesus Christ
• A carpenter, which makes him lowermiddle
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.”
• God is not “out there,” but
everything is sacred.
• Moses, Ezekiel, Isaiah and all the
prophets had this kind of
relationship with God, and so can
speak with authority.
-But Prophets would say “thus says the Lord,” but Jesus would say “I tell you…”
-Jesus, just like other spirit persons at that time, saw reality more than just the
physical world.

2. Jesus as healer and exorcist
• Mark 1:32-39 indicates these were
frequent occurrences.
• Conditions treated were: fever, paralysis,
withered hand, hemorrhage, deafness and
dumbness, blindness, coma, and skin
diseases.
• Reasons for healing:
• To show compassion
• Jesus associated healing with the
Kingdom of God.
• To show that God is accessible
Mark 1:32-39 (NABWRNT)
32 When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed
by demons. The whole town was gathered at the door.
34 He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many
demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him.
35 Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he
prayed. Simon and those who were with him pursued him
37 and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.”
38 He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For
this purpose have I come.”
39 So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the
whole of Galilee.
•On God being accessible: priests and scribes felt threatened by this direct
manifestation of God’s spirit and ascribed the healing to the power of Satan.
Mark 3:22-26 (NABWRNT)
22 The scribes who had come from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,”
and “By the prince of demons he drives out demons.”
23 Summoning them, he began to speak to them in parables, “How can Satan drive out
Satan?
24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.
26 And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand; that is the
end of him.

3. A teacher of transformative wisdom
• Not just a teacher of doctrine and morals,
but of a “new way of life.”
• Wealth – not as a reward from God, but
as something that can enslave.
• God – not the source of law to be
followed but one who is gracious and
compassionate
• 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.
•Wealth that can enslave – You cannot serve both God and mammon. – Luke
16:3
•God – failure to obey meant exclusion from the community of the righteous, thus
there are boundaries and divisions in society between the righteous and the
sinner, the wealthy and the poor, the blessed and the cursed.
•Purpose of life – Jesus led us away from a life of anxiety to a life of peace and
trust.
• Used parables – a short story which
usually reverses a prevailing notion.
• Used stories based on everyday things:
“lilies in the field,” “a good tree bears good
fruit,” “a city on a hill cannot be hidden,”
“you are salt and light.”

4. An initiator of a renewal movement
• Aware of the corruption and deterioration
of Jewish society, and wanted to renew it.
• Jesus’ movement:
• Everyone is welcome, including sinners,
the poor, and women
• Everyone is equal
• A joyful community (Mt 11:18-19)
• A compassionate community: Prodigal
Son, Good Samaritan
•Twelve – symbolic of the 12 tribes of Israel, meaning the “new Israel.”
•Women membership was unacceptable in a patriarchal society.
Matthew 11:18-19 (NABWRNT)
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they said, ‘He is possessed by
a demon.’
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.”
- Judaism emphasized the holiness of God, Jesus the compassion of god
37

5. Jesus as prophet
– What a prophet does:
1. How does God look at the social
situation?
2. What did God do in the past in a similar
situation?
3. They warn of the future. “If you do not
change, God will do this.”
– 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.
• Convicted of sedition and crucified,
probably precipitated by the temple
incident.
•Crucifixion is the Roman capital punishment for rebellion and other serious
crimes.

Summary:
1. Jesus as man of faith.
2. Jesus as healer and exorcist.
3. Jesus as teacher of transformative
wisdom
4. Jesus as initiator of a renewal
movement.
5. Jesus as prophet.
•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
gives 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."
(NIV)
-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.
To authorize, or set apart, a person for a particular work or service . The anointed
person belonged to God in a special sense. The phrases, "the Lord's anointed," "God's anointed," "My anointed,"
"Your anointed," or "His anointed" are used of Saul <1 Sam. 26:9, 11>, David <2 Sam. 22:51>, and Solomon <2
Chr. 6:42>.
Priests, kings, and prophets were anointed. Oil was poured on the head of the person being
anointed . Kings were set apart through the ritual of anointing, which was performed by a prophet
who acted in God's power and authority <1 Sam. 15:1>. The Old Testament also records two instances of the
anointing of a prophet <1 Kin. 19:16; Is. 61:1>.


• “Son of God” – not yet as second person
of Trinity, but as “a man of God.”
• “Savior” and “Lord” – titles used for the
Roman emperor, applied to Jesus.
-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 – 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.
-So this gives us a composite of what Jesus was to the persons who were close to him. At the same time, the
disciples did not exactly adapt the titles without modifying them in their minds because their experience of Jesus
did not exactly fit the titles that they used. For example: she’s a diva (which refers to an opera singer) does not
necessarily mean she sings in the opera, but has a fantastic voice. The title only approximates our perception of
that person, but is the closest we can use to express how we feel about that person. For example: When we
say, nagpa-alam ka na ba kay commander (we do not really mean that the wife is from the military). Or when
we call a learned man who teaches well as “professor” or I am sometimes referred to as “monsignor.” Or
“Kabigting” or “champion” as someone really good in something. “champion” sometimes even used to describe
food.


-Just like when these titles were used of Jesus. They were modified from the traditional or usual meaning at
that time.
-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


What now?
1. Which aspect of the historical Jesus is
most significant to you and you would
like to imitate?
2. What is your personal title or image of
Jesus?




Matthew 25:34-40
Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come,
you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the
kingdom prepared for you from the foundation
of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me
food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a
stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you
clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison
and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will
answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you
hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you
drink? When did we see you a stranger and
welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When
did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’
And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I
say to you, whatever you did for one of these
least brothers of mine, you did for me.’