Jesus of Nazareth Messiah? Founder of a religion? Man? God?

WHO WAS JESUS?

Jesus?

Jesus? (and Mary?)

Jesus as a Jew  Enjoyed historical background of his people  Spirit had been known to other Jewish prophets  Fasting and solitude were known routes to knowing God  Enjoyed historical background of his people  Spirit had been known to other Jewish prophets  Fasting and solitude were known routes to knowing God

Palestine during Jesus’ time

Politics of Jesus' Time  In Roman servitude for more than a century: Not free and taxed excessively  Several different sub-groups of Jews:  Sadducees  Essenes  Pharisees  “Zealots”  In Roman servitude for more than a century: Not free and taxed excessively  Several different sub-groups of Jews:  Sadducees  Essenes  Pharisees  “Zealots”

Sadducees  Fairly well off  Many members of priestly families  In charge of Temple  Tried to make the best of a bad situation  Accommodated themselves to Hellenic culture and Roman Rule  Mostly about assimilation  Accepted Torah not other books, created conflicts  Fairly well off  Many members of priestly families  In charge of Temple  Tried to make the best of a bad situation  Accommodated themselves to Hellenic culture and Roman Rule  Mostly about assimilation  Accepted Torah not other books, created conflicts

Essenes  Considered world too corrupt to allow Judaism to remake itself  Essentially “dropped out”  Lived in property sharing communes  Lives were characterized by piety and a certain amount of asceticism  Considered world too corrupt to allow Judaism to remake itself  Essentially “dropped out”  Lived in property sharing communes  Lives were characterized by piety and a certain amount of asceticism

Pharisees  Remained within society  Wanted to ensure piety of priests  Wanted to revitalize Judaism through adhering to Jewish law  Emphasized daily practice & Scriptures  Accepted more writings than Sadduccees  Appreciated Oral tradition  Foundations of Rabbinical Judaism  Remained within society  Wanted to ensure piety of priests  Wanted to revitalize Judaism through adhering to Jewish law  Emphasized daily practice & Scriptures  Accepted more writings than Sadduccees  Appreciated Oral tradition  Foundations of Rabbinical Judaism

“Zealots”  Perhaps not highly organized  Thought that the fate of the Jewish people would only change through violence  Acts of Resistance culminated in revolt of CE which led to the Second Destruction of the Temple  Perhaps not highly organized  Thought that the fate of the Jewish people would only change through violence  Acts of Resistance culminated in revolt of CE which led to the Second Destruction of the Temple

Jesus as another option  Wanted Change, unlike Sadducees  Unlike Essenes, stayed in the world (did he?)  Wanted peace and said “love your enemy” (unlike “Zealots”)  Wanted Change, unlike Sadducees  Unlike Essenes, stayed in the world (did he?)  Wanted peace and said “love your enemy” (unlike “Zealots”)

Jesus as another option (continued)  Pharisees emphasized Yahweh’s holiness  Jesus emphasized Yahweh’s compassion  Although Jesus believed Yahweh was holy, his emphasis would change his notion of the Jews’ relationships to other groups  Pharisees emphasized Yahweh’s holiness  Jesus emphasized Yahweh’s compassion  Although Jesus believed Yahweh was holy, his emphasis would change his notion of the Jews’ relationships to other groups

How was Jesus both “deeply Jewish” and yet standing in tension with Judaism?

Jerusalem in Jesus’ Time

Holy Week Palm Sunday Other Days  Maundy Thursday  Good Friday  Easter Sunday

Sequence of Key Events  Last Supper – Passover, basis of “communion” or Eucharist celebrations  Prayer in Gethsemane  Arrest “betrayal”  Last Supper – Passover, basis of “communion” or Eucharist celebrations  Prayer in Gethsemane  Arrest “betrayal”  Trial(s)  Crucifixion  Burial  Resurrection

Gospel of Matthew  Written ca CE  Intended for Jewish Audience  “New Moses/New Torah”  Quotes Hebrew Scriptures  Sermon on the Mount like Moses preaching from Sinai  Written ca CE  Intended for Jewish Audience  “New Moses/New Torah”  Quotes Hebrew Scriptures  Sermon on the Mount like Moses preaching from Sinai Winged Angel, symbol of help during Jesus’ birth & Infancy

Gospel of Mark  Perhaps oldest: written CE  Source for Matthew and Luke  Shortest, simplest gospel  No infancy stories  Begins with Jesus’ adult life  Perhaps oldest: written CE  Source for Matthew and Luke  Shortest, simplest gospel  No infancy stories  Begins with Jesus’ adult life Winged lion signifies the opening of the gospel in the desert

Gospel of Luke  Written ca 85 CE  Characterized by sense of wonder  Speaks of God’s spirit in the world  Called the “women’s gospel”: Mary & Elizabeth  Good Samaritan story epitomizes role of underdog  Written for Greco-Roman people  Notion of all as neighbors  Written ca 85 CE  Characterized by sense of wonder  Speaks of God’s spirit in the world  Called the “women’s gospel”: Mary & Elizabeth  Good Samaritan story epitomizes role of underdog  Written for Greco-Roman people  Notion of all as neighbors Winged Ox signifies the gospel’s opening in Jerusalem, sacrifice of animals at Temple there

 Written CE  Views human life as a struggle  Images of light and darkness  Rays of light: have an open heart  Connections to Zoroastrianism? Gnosticism?  Jesus depicted as God incarnate  “I am the light of the world”  “I am the bread of life”  Written CE  Views human life as a struggle  Images of light and darkness  Rays of light: have an open heart  Connections to Zoroastrianism? Gnosticism?  Jesus depicted as God incarnate  “I am the light of the world”  “I am the bread of life” Eagle signifies the majesty and “height” of God’s word Gospel of John