Jesus of Nazareth

1
Jesus of Nazareth

• The Center and Focus of
• Christianity

2
Jesus Center and Focus

• Jesus not only Founder, but Center and Focus of
  Christianity. He is the One Who makes God known.
  He is God Incarnate in human flesh.
• A. Jesus reveals God the will face of God.
• Col 115 Jesus image of God (eikon) icon
  
• Heb13 exact representation (charakter)
• image likeness on a coin
• John 149 Jesus seen Me, seen God

3
Jesus (continued)

• Jesus Ground of salvation, makes a new
  relationship w/ God possible. Savior
• Mt.121 Lk 211 Acts 412, Heb. 210
• ICHTHUS Meaning
• Jesus Christ, Gods Son, Savior
• Jesus God saves (Yeshua)
• Christ title Messian

4
Jesus Center Focus

• C. Model of the redeemed life lives out a
  God-focused life which Xns are to model.
• Life- Teachings, Miracles, Healings, Death and
  Resurrection.

5
Jesus and the Gospels

• Gospels euangelion good news message
• Written in common Greek (koine) language
• Matthew (Jewish) kingdom of heaven 75-90 AD
• Luke (Gentile) kingdom of God 80- 95 AD
• Mark (first written gospel) 64 70 AD
• John (more reflective) 90 AD

6
Jesus and Israel

• Continuity between OT/NT Xnity seen as a
  fulfillment of Judaism.
• Matthew 12 Scriptures fulfillment of OT
  prophecy in the life of Christ (122 215.23
  315, 414 517 817 1217 1314, 335 214
  279)
• Other OT passages fulfilled in the life of Jesus
• Ps 22 Isaiah 5213 5312 Crucifixion of Christ

7
Jesus and Jewish Groups

• Samaritans, Pharisees, Sadducees, Zealots
  Essenes
• Samaritans
• Beginnings Assyrian overthrow the Northern
  Kingdom in 722 B.C. Assyrians and the Jews
  living there began to marry one another, have
  families (half Jew, half Gentile)
• resulting in the Samaritan race, intertwined
  religious and cultural practices, etc.
• Hated by the Jews of the Southern Kingdom
  (Israel) regarded as outsiders, even though they
  shared some common religious beliefs.
• Scandalous story Jesus Parable of the Good
  Samaritan (Luke 10)
• Jesus meeting with the Samaritan woman at the
  well (John 4)

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Jesus and Jewish Groups

• Sadducees
• Began after the Maccabean revolt in 167 BC
• Antiochus Epiphanes slaughtered a pig in the
  Temple.
• Judas Maccabee (Hammer) led revolt. Temple
  restored.
• Hanukkah (lights) began.
• Sadducees conservative party Pentateuch only
  authoritative. Aristocratic in league with
  Roman officials.
• allowed some semblance of religious
  authority/autonomy.

9
Jesus and Jewish Groups

• Pharisees (Separated Ones) physically
  spiritually
• Law (Torah, Pentateuch,etc.) is
  evolving,rather than static,
• adapting the Law to new situations faced by
  Judaism.
• Accepted doctrines not explicitly stated in the
  Law, such as the resurrection from the dead.
• Torah (Law) and tradition fidelity to the Law
  as interpreted by the scribes, official teachers
  of the Law.
• 6000 Pharisees at the time of Jesus, influence
  far greater than their number.

10
Jesus and Jewish Groups

• Essenes
• Religious purity, formed communities out in the
  desert.
• Dead Sea scrolls detailed the belief and practice
  of the Essenes.
• Zealots
• political radicals terrorists who mainly
  sought a violent overthrow of the Roman
  government.
• 66 70 AD. Uprising squashed by Rome in 70 AD.

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Life of Jesus His Birth

• His Birth recorded in Matthew and Luke.
• Matthew standpoint of Joseph Luke - Mary
• Date of Birth 8 4 BC. (Dec 25th probably not
  birthday. Chosen to replace a Roman holiday.
• Matthew Bethlehem birthplace, fulfillment of
  OT prophecy, Wise Men gifts, importance of Mary
• Luke humility lowliness of circumstances of
  Jesus birth. Manger, Shepherds 1st visitors,
  marginalized
• Joseph at no point called the father of Jesus,
  though Mary is called the mother of Jesus.
  Virgin birth (conception).

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Public Ministry of Jesus

• Beginnings
• John the Baptist forerunner (Mk. 1) baptized
  Jesus
• Jesus in the wilderness 40 days nights
  temptation by Satan.
• Jesus inaugural sermon (Luke 418-19)
• Disciples/followers 12

13
Jesus and Women

• Affirmed by Jesus. Women witnesses to His
  crucifixion and resurrection.
• Jesus welcomed women in his inner circle.
• Jesus meeting with the woman at the well (John
  4).
• In contrast to a Jewish male prayer,thanking God
  he was not born a woman. Women considered as
  second class citizens, property.

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Teachings of JesusParables of the Kingdom of God

• Kingdom of God Gods rule and reign in the
  lives of humanity. Kingdom emphasis is on
  expectation.
• In the kingdom, physical wholeness no disease
• In the kingdom, relational wholeness
  community, church, Israel
• In the kingdom, spiritual wholeness
  forgiveness of sins.
• Kingdom of God is both present and future.

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Teachings of Jesus

• Mk. 115 Kingdom of God has drawn near. Time is
  fulfilled.
• Sermon On The Mount (Matthew 5 7) a Christian
  lifestyle based upon ones repentance from sin
  and trust in Jesus as Lord.
• Mt 53-12 Beatitudes, Matt.69 13 Lords
  Prayer.
• Matt. 619-34 Seeking Gods rule first in your
  life.
• High demands made possible by Gods grace
• One must repent and receive.

16
Teachings of Jesus

• Two Greatest Commandments
• Love God w/ all your heart, soul, mind strength
  
• Love your neighbor as yourself.
• Jesus preaching about the kingdom of God is
  understood in terms of inauguration. Something
  has happened which sets in motion a series of
  events which has yet to reach its fulfillment.
  From the smallest to the greatest.

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Teachings of Jesus

• Jesus Parables
• Illustrate a spiritual truth to be learned and
  lived.
• A mystery, a riddle
• Parable of the Mustard Seed Matt. 1331-32
• Parable of the Prodigal Son Luke 1511 32
• The father sees the returning son long before the
  son notices the father and the father rushes out
  to meet his prodigal son. (Unheard of in Jesus
  day). Truth is an example of Gods mercy.
• Christianity is not just what Jesus taught, but
  who He is. And why He is so important. Now,
  look at his meaningful moments in life,
  crucifixion and resurrection and ascension.