Who was Jesus?How would you answer this question?

The Historical Jesus vs.

The Christ of FaithHistorical Jesus

Born 4-7 BCE in NazarethA carpenter’s sonBorn, raised, lived and died a JewA wise, story telling teacherA miracle worker and healerA radical revolutionaryCrucified at the hands of the Romans

Jesus, the ChristBorn to a virgin in a barn in BethlehemDivine Son of GodMessiah (Christ)Killed by the JewsResurrectedSaviorAscended into heavenComing back

SourcesNew Testament gospels:Only two of them tell the birth story and report events in Jesus’ early lifeThe synoptics vs. John

Other gospelsJosephus (1st century Jewish historian)ArcheologySocial & political history of the time

The New Testament Gospels

Written between 40 – 60 years after Jesus’ deathWritten in Greek, but Jesus spoke AramaicWritten from a perspective of faith (not an objective report of historical facts)Not the only gospels writtenNot canonized until 4th century

The ProblemDistinguishing 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 ContextGreek culture, philosophy & mystery religionsRoman political power and religionJewish religion:Sadducees: priests and temple JudaismPharisees: rabbis and synagogue JudaismEsseans: ascetic and messianic Jewish movementZealots: Jewish political revolutionariesMessianic hopefuls and followings

Jesus, the JewHebrew name: Yeshu’a (Joshua)Jewish from birth to deathCircumcision 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 followersThe Sermon on the Mount (MT ch. 5-7)Story telling (parables) (MT ch. 13)Themes:

The Kingdom of God and the end-timesThe nature of GodForgivenessThe 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 HealerDid 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

RevolutionaryLove 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 WebThe Jesus Seminar: Scholars seek to identify the historical words of Jesus within the Gospel passages http://religion.rutgers.edu/jseminar/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 http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/Pictures from: “Faces of Jesus” http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/jesus/photo/photo.html

Created by Laura Ellen Shulman