Topic 15 Jesus

1
Topic 15 Jesus Teaching on Himself

• Question of Jesus messianic consciousness
• To what extent did Jesus claim the messianic
  titles attributed to him by the early church?
• What did these titles mean in early Judaism?
• Messiah/Christ
• Background
• Anointed one title for OT kings.
• Future ideal king human figure descendant of
  David would redeem/restore Israel rule over
  Golden Age of peace/justice.
• Expectations varied often military-political
  figure.

2

• A. Messiah/Christ cont.
• Messiah in the Gospels
• So prevalent in early church (Acts letters) that
  infrequency in Synoptics is striking.
• Found mostly in editorial framework (cf. Mk.
  11).
• Only twice on lips of Jesus (Mk. 941 Mt.
  2310) both have parallels without title.
• Twice Jesus appears to reluctantly accept title
  from others
• Mk. 827-33 ( 122) Peters Confession at
  most, accepts title with reserve discourages its
  use quickly modifies it.
• Mk. 1461-63 ( 241) Trial before Sanhedrin.
• Historicity of trial is questionable (who was
  witness?)
• Is Jesus response affirmation (Mk.),
  non-committal (Mt., Lk.), or veiled denial?
• At most, accepts with reserve shifts focus to
  Son of Man.
• 3. Messianic actions such as triumphal entry.
• 4. Execution as messianic pretender (king of
  the Jews) strongest evidence of messianic
  claims (Stein).

3

• A. Messiah/Christ cont.
• 5. Conclusion
• Some think Jesus made no messianic claims title
  was applied after resurrection.
• Others unless there were messianic hopes before
  crucifixion, it is hard to understand how they
  arose afterward.
• Perhaps Jesus accepted role of Messiah (restoring
  Israel) but avoided title because of connotations
  he wished to avoid.

4

• B. Son of God
• Background
• OT
• Used of heavenly beings, angels (Gen. 62 Job
  16).
• Earthly figures Israel (Hos. 111) king (1 Sam.
  714 Ps. 27).
• Judaism
• Royal texts interpreted messianically Son of
  God becomes messianic title (DSS).
• Also used of righteous persons who bear character
  of God.
• Hellenism
• Concept of divine men wonder-working heroes
  (Hercules Apollonius of Tyana).
• Hybrid demi-gods born of intercourse between gods
  and women (Hercules Alexander the Great).
• Early church traditions of Jesus divine
  sonship
• Became Son of God at resurrection (Rom. 12-4).
• Adopted at baptism (Mk. 111).
• Already from virgin birth (Mt. 120 Lk. 135).
• From all of eternity (Jn. 118).

5

• B. Son of God cont.
• Son of God in Synoptics
• Occasionally called Son of God by others (Mk.
  311 1539).
• Only twice on lips of Jesus
• Mk. 1332 No one knows time of the end, not
  even the Son.
• Authenticity debated.
• Affirms Jesus unique relationship to God
  distinct from other humans and from angels.
• Mt. 1127 No one knows the Father except the
  Son.
• A Johannine thunderbolt in the Synoptic sky
  authenticity debated.
• Jeremias genuine but not a title metaphor
  Jesus has intimate knowledge of God, of the sort
  that only a father reveals to a son.
• Conclusion
• Jesus expresses unique, intimate relationship
  with God calls God Abba claims special
  knowledge of Gods will.
• Little evidence that he expressed that
  relationship by claiming the title Son of God.

6

• C. Son of Man
• Background
• OT generic sense a man, human being, mortal
  (Ps. 84 Ezek. 41, etc.).
• Apocalyptic lit. title for heavenly
  eschatological figure.
• Dan. 713-14 After rise and fall of 4 beastly
  kingdoms, one like a son of man is elevated to
  heaven given an eternal kingdom interpreted as
  saints of Most High (faithful Israel v. 18).
• Later apocalypses becomes pre-existent figure
  who rises from Sea or appears on clouds at End to
  pronounce judgment, destroy enemies, and
  establish Gods reign (4 Ezra 1 Enoch).
• Aramaic usage
• Sometimes in generic sense.
• Sometimes as a polite form for I.

7

• C. Son of Man cont.
• 2. Son of Man in Gospels
• Most frequent title (80 times) only on lips of
  Jesus all sources infrequent outside gospels.
• Used three main ways
• Earthly ministry (Mk. 210, 28 etc.) all
  sources.
• At least some are probably authentic.
• Some may be generic (man) or polite form of
  I.
• Passion predictions (Mk. 831 931 1031-33)
  not in Q.
• Authenticity debated.
• If authentic, this would be new with Jesus
  (Jewish tradition knows nothing of a suffering
  Son of Man).
• May be reinterpretation of Dan. 7 Son of Man
  rep. faithful Israel, which suffers and is
  vindicated (cf. Suffering Servant of Isa. 53).
• Future coming in glory (Mk. 1326 1462
  838etc.) all sources.
• Many say this group most likely to be authentic
  others suspect later Parousia expectation is
  being read back into gospels.
• Bultmann genuine but refer to apocalyptic figure
  other than Jesus (always in 3rd person).
• Jeremias Jesus will become Son of Man upon
  heavenly exaltation (cf. Mk. 838).

8

• D. Son of Man cont.
• Conclusion
• Many may be Jesus preferred self-designation
  chosen because of ambiguity lacked
  politico-military connotations.
• Others not authentic or only generic sense or
  polite I usage is authentic.

9

• (Suffering) Servant
• Did Jesus combine roles of Messiah and Suffering
  Servant (cf. Mk. 111 You are my beloved Son
  with you I am well pleased)?
• Servant Songs (Isa. 421-4 491-6 504-9
  5213-5312).
• Orig. referred to Israel called to be light to
  nations.
• Suffers vicariously for sins of others is
  vindicated.
• Many find echoes in Jesus sayings about his
  suffering.
• Mk. 1045 To give his life as a ransom for
  many.
• Mk. 1422-25 My blood of the covenant which is
  poured out for many (cf. Isa. 5310-12).
• Conclusion
• Jesus may have viewed his suffering in light of
  Servant Songs.
• Others find echoes unconvincing.
• Either way, he does not use the title.
• We may view Jesus as fulfilling the role of
  Servant to which Israel was called and to which
  those committed to Jesus are also called.

10
Jesus as Suffering Servant
Israel
Church
Jesus
11

• Implicit Christology
• Even if Jesus claimed no titles, he acted in ways
  that imply a Christology
• Many sayings and deeds imply arrival of messianic
  age (Mt. 114-6 Lk. 418-21).
• Jesus acts with authority exorcisms
  temple-cleansing.
• Assumes divine prerogatives forgiving sins.
• Teaching transcends Torah but I say to you.
• Use of amen formula to claim certainty/finality
  for own words.
• Claims total commitment of followers following
  him is necessary/sufficient for entrance into
  kingdom (Sanders).
• Conclusion
• Jesus cared little for titles did not emphasize
  or demand them.
• His words/deeds imply a Christology he makes
  God present, offering salvation or judgment.
• Whoever takes Jesus seriously must decide
  for/against him.
• Whoever decides for him appropriately uses the
  titles.
• After Easter, the Christology implicit in Jesus
  ministry became explicit in the churchs
  confessions of faith.