Who was Jesus? How would you answer this question?

The Historical Jesus vs. The Christ of Faith Historical Jesus Born 4-7 BCE in Nazareth A carpenter’s son Born, raised, lived and died a Jew A wise, story telling teacher A miracle worker and healer A radical revolutionary Crucified at the hands of the Romans Jesus, the Christ Born to a virgin in a barn in Bethlehem Divine Son of God Messiah (Christ) Killed by the Jews Resurrected Savior Ascended into heaven Coming back

Sources New Testament gospels: Only two of them tell the birth story and report events in Jesus’ early life The synoptics vs. John Other gospels Josephus (1 st century Jewish historian) Archeology Social & political history of the time

The New Testament Gospels Written between 40 – 60 years after Jesus’ death Written in Greek, but Jesus spoke Aramaic Written from a perspective of faith (not an objective report of historical facts) Not the only gospels written Not canonized until 4 th century

The Problem Distinguishing between what Jesus said and did and what he is “said to have said” and done (as reported in the sources) – reading between the lines (The Jesus Seminar) Reconciling Biblical scholarship (literary criticism, historical criticism) with faith

Historical Context Greek culture, philosophy & mystery religions Roman political power and religion Jewish religion: Sadducees: priests and temple Judaism Pharisees: rabbis and synagogue Judaism Esseans: ascetic and messianic Jewish movement Zealots: Jewish political revolutionaries Messianic hopefuls and followings

Jesus, the Jew Hebrew name: Yeshu’a (Joshua) Jewish from birth to death Circumcision and redemption of the first born (LK 2:21-24) Observing the Passover (as a youth and an adult) (LK 2:41-42, MT 26:17-19) Reading and teaching in the synagogue (LK 4:15-22) The Greatest Commandment (based on Torah) (MK 12:28-31)

Jesus the Teacher (“rabbi”) Disciples and followers The Sermon on the Mount (MT ch. 5-7) Story telling (parables) (MT ch. 13) Themes: The Kingdom of God and the end-times The nature of God Forgiveness The power of faith (MT 17:19-20, MT 21:21) Imagery includes familiar settings and events: farming, fishing, herding, baking, business

Jesus the Miracle Worker & Faith Healer Did he really do Miracles? Did he really raise Lazarus from the dead? (JN 11:1-45) What about the little girl? (MT 9:18-26) And another dead man (LK 7:12-15) Casting out demons? (MK 5:1-20) Healing of Jews, Romans, Canaanites and Samaritans alike (JN 4:46-50, LK 7:2-10, MT 15:21-28) “Your faith has made you well” (MT 15:28, LK 17:19)

Jesus the Social and Religious Revolutionary Love over the “letter of the law” - mercy and compassion over ritual and rules (LK 14:1-6, Mk 2:23-28, MK 7:14-23) A threat and challenge to authority: Debates with Jewish religious authorities (MT 15:1-12, MT 21:42-46, MK 3:1-6) Criticism of political and religious leaders (LK 13:10-17) A favorite among the underdogs of society – the masses, the little people

Who Killed Jesus & Why? Crucifixion: a common form of capital punishment for crimes against Rome (MK 15:27) Claim to be “king of the Jews” (MK 15:2-5, 16-18, 26) Role of Jewish authorities? (MK 14:10-11, 43-46) Saw Jesus as a threat to Jewish security under Roman power

Did Jesus Raise from the Dead? Is He Still Alive? The empty tomb: Was it empty? Was the body stolen? Was he not really dead? Did he ascend into heaven? Is he “seated at the right hand of God?” Will he “come again to judge the living and the dead?” A matter of faith, not history

Questions for Reflection What was most surprising about the historical information? How does learning new historical information affect faith? What new insights do you have about Jesus and Christianity?

Resources on the Web The Jesus Seminar: Scholars seek to identify the historical words of Jesus within the Gospel passages From Jesus to Christ: The First Christians: PBS Frontline four hour series explores the life and death of Jesus and the development of Christianity during its first four centuries gion/ gion/ Pictures from: “Faces of Jesus” hoto.html hoto.html Created by Laura Ellen Shulman