Ch 4, Section 1-Jesus of Nazareth

1.Jesus was born in Bethlehem but was raised in Nazareth.

2.The Gospels do not provide us with a comprehensive biography about the life of Jesus , but they do provide us with the best account available.

Knowing Jesus: Jesus of Nazareth

3/5. There is almost no information about Jesus’ childhood or upbringing. We hear almost nothing about what sort of teenager He was. Only in Luke, do we get a little glimpse into something significant he did as a 12-year-old boy: he separated from Mary and Joseph for 3 days, spending time in the temple to worship. (What does this show about Jesus?)

Knowing Jesus: Jesus of Nazareth

4.The Gospel writers were most interested in helping us see Jesus as God, or Christ.

5.Jesus, though he is/was God, should been seen also as a historical human being. He is a direct descendant of King David.

Knowing Jesus: Jesus of Nazareth

6.At the age of thirty, Jesus began his public ministry- preaching the Good News, performing miracles, and reaching out to outcasts to promote the Kingdom of God.

7.Some of Jesus’ more ‘human’ qualities & emotions: concern for others, anger, sorrow, compassion, joy, friendship, generosity, obedience, little tolerance for hypocrisy…..

Knowing Jesus: Jesus of Nazareth

8.During Jesus’ time, people were not encouraged to rebel. They were encouraged to follow the established order. The Zealots, though, were known for their interest in rebelling against authority.

(Bear in mind that Jesus had enemies. Many felt uncomfortable and threatened by his rising power….)

How is the date of Easter calculated?

• The Council of Nicaea (A.D. 325) set the date of Easter as the Sunday following the paschal full moon, which is the full moon that falls on or after the vernal (spring) equinox.

• We know that Easter must always occur on a Sunday, because Sunday was the day of Christ's Resurrection. But why the paschal full moon? Because that was the date of Passover in the Jewish calendar, and the Last Supper (Holy Thursday) occurred on the Passover. Therefore, Easter was the Sunday after Passover.

Section 2: A Lifetime of Revelation

1. Jesus is often referred to as the “Suffering Servant” since he would not publicly defend himself at time when we might expect Him to. By staying “silent”, he is showing that he will not engage with any sort of injustice. In his silence, he is actually making a powerful statement.

Section 2: A Lifetime of Revelation

2. The miracles of Jesus are often referred to as signs.

3. Jesus would perform miracles to help others and to reveal the glory of God.

Section 3: True God and True Man

1.Hypostatic union refers to the fact that Jesus was both God and human simultaneously. Jesus is true God AND true Man. He should not be thought of as being divided into parts. He became human so that we could share in his divinity.

2.Jesus was sent into a world that did not and would not accept him to show the great lengths he would go for us to show us he loved us. He voluntarily chose death.

Section 3: True God and True Man

3. Jesus asked his father 3 times (note the use of this highly symbolic #) to “let this cup pass from me,” but each time he added that he wanted to do God’s will.

In this prayer, he shows how the thought of his death was indeed scary for him. (Keep in mind that Jesus was human, too).

Section 3: True God and True Man

4.Jesus assumed a human nature so that we could share in his divinity. His humanity does not end with his death or His Ascension.

By choosing to become human, he always will be a part of us.

Section 4: Called to Follow1.In choosing to follow God’s call, the

disciples had to make sacrifices: they were called to leave their occupations and their homes. They were making significant and symbolic breaks with their pasts, especially a change in their beliefs and attitudes.

2.Their occupations and livelihoods show that Jesus embraced people from all walks of life. Also, remember we had discussed that sometimes those who are chosen are not who we might expect…..

Section 4: Called to Follow

3. We do use the title Apostle with Paul even though he was not one of the Twelve. We honor him with this title due to his role in spreading the Gospel in the early Church.

(He is sometimes called the Apostle to the Gentiles).

Reminders

Do not neglect your key terms and the questions regarding “The Life of Jesus” reading…..