THE H

ISTO

RY O

F JE

SUS

AND THE B

IBLE

THE HISTORY OF JESUS AND THE BIBLE

Learning Goal Success Criteria

I will understand that the Gospels offer a written account of Jesus’ life

I will understand the historical development of each of the gospels with reference to each of their specific writers.

I will understand the function of the Gospels as being central to the New Testament.

I will understand that each Gospel writer presented a different portrait of Jesus.

- Create a timeline of key events in Jesus life

- Complete chart about the Gospels and their writings

- Be able to identify each Gospel writers portrait of Jesus

IF PEOPLE WERE TO WRITE A BOOK ABOUT YOUR LIFE…

- If your friend were to write down the 5 most significant things that have happened in your life so far what would they write…

- Now Imagine your parents were to write down the 5 most significant things that happened in your life so far, what do you think they would say…

- What would you write down if you have to write down what the 5 most significant things that happened in your mom or dad’s life (pick one)…

THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE GOSPELS

The Gospels passed through three stages in their development…

1)Life Stage – what the disciples saw and heard

2)Preaching Stage – what the apostles preached (told after Jesus’ death)

3)Written Stage = what the Evangelists (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) recorded

The Synoptic Gospels

- “syn” means together and “optic “ means to see (they see together)

- Synoptic refers to the three Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, they are so similar that they can be placed side by side

FROM THE GOSPELS WE CAN SEE WHAT THE MAJOR EVENTS WERE IN JESUS’ LIFE?Picture /event activity

JESUS OF HISTORY

• Jesus was born in about 5 B.C.E in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod

• He practiced the trade of carpentry

• At about age 30, Jesus began a public career of preaching and teaching

• Jesus’ preaching and actions were of great interest among the Jewish people

• Some saw him as a great prophet others thought He was a magician

• Eventually he was brought to trial and executed by crucifixion in 30 C.E.

THE PIVOTAL EVENT

The Resurrection- The belief in the resurrection of

Jesus became the identifying mark of all those who claimed Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.

- Jesus’ rising from the dead made his whole earthly existence believable and acceptable as truth

Gospel The Way the writings of that Gospel

portray Jesus

General Information about the Gospel Writing

Picture representing this Gospel

Matthew

Mark

Luke

John

GOSPEL PORTRAITS

Teaching Saviour

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

• Not sure who the author was but it is assumed that the final author relied on the stories told by the apostle Matthew

• Written between 80 CE and 100 CE (90 CE)

• Matthew’s portrait of Jesus was influenced by the fact that he wrote mainly for the Jews

• The Jews were deeply interested in how Jesus’ teachings went hand in hand with Moses’s teachings

• Matthew stresses how Jesus brought the teaching of Moses to fulfillment

• Matthew’s portrait (description) of Jesus is that of the teaching Saviour

SUFFERING SAVIOUR

THE GOSPEL OF MARK• None of the Gospels actually identify their author directly

• Each name represents the early churches traditional opinion

• Some people believe that Gospel of Mark was actually written by John Mark

a friend of Saint Paul

• It was written between 65 and 70 C.E.

• Mark’s Gospel is dominated by stories of suffering, with many references to

trials and persecution

• They were written in Rome

• The earliest Gospel was written during a period of Christian persecution in

Rome

• Mark was to emphasize how Jesus suffered during his life as well

• They were written for the Church in Rome and the Gentiles (non-Jewish

people)

• Mark emphasizes the human suffering of Jesus – Mark emphasizes Jesus’

suffering to explain to the early church how suffering is an essential part of

life and to give them the courage to endure it as Jesus had

• Marks portrait (description) of Jesus was that of the suffering Saviour

Compassionate Saviour

THE GOSPEL OF LUKE

• The writer of the Gospel of Luke is presumed to be a well

educated gentile (a physician) who converted to Christianity

• Luke’s Gospel was written around 70 CE

• Luke’s portrait (description) of Jesus was influenced by the fact

that he wrote for Gentiles (non-Jews), especially the poor and

outcasts of society

• Luke stresses Jesus’ concern for the “second class” citizens of

society

• Through Luke’s writings he tries to support those readers who

were discouraged that Jesus’ had not yet returned as they had

expected.

• Luke’s portrait (description) is that of the compassionate Saviour.

LIFE-GIVING SAVIOUR

FROM THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

• The last of the Gospels written between 90CE and 100 CE

• Upon great reflection it was the students of the Disciple John who

decided that it was important to write down the information

• John emphasizes how Jesus is Divine, and cares for all of us

• He wrote for Christians of all backgrounds

• John stresses how Jesus came to make the lives of all people richer

and fuller

• “I have come ,” says Jesus “…that you might have life-life in all its

fullness” (John 10:10)

• “I am the Good Shepherd, I know my sheep and my sheep know

me. Just as the Father knows me and I know my Father. And I lay

down my life for my sheep.” Jn 10:14-15

• John’s portrait (description) of Jesus is that of the life-giving

Saviour

Let the children come unto me...

From the Synoptic Gospels

• Certain stories are found in Mark and Matthew and Luke’s gospels...so much so, that they were said to tell Jesus’ stories “with one eye”

• All three speak of Jesus’ inclusion of children directly in his care and concern; remarkable in a culture that took little notice of them

MISSION OF THE APOSTLES

Matthew 10:5-15

Mark 6: 6 -13

Luke 10:1-12

Read the stories

- Discuss what is similar in each story.

- Discuss what is different.

- how does each account support the writers portrait of Jesus and who their audience was

MISSION OF THE APOSTLES

Similarities

- Sent out in pairs

- Go where you are welcome, leave where you are not

- Accept the hospitality of those you meet

- Perform miracles (cure the sick, cast out demons)

- Others????

-

-

MISSION OF THE TWELVE

Differences

Mark

– Take nothing with you except a staff (no bread, no bag, no money). (Suffering)

Matthew

– The message is for the “Lost Sheep” of Israel (writing for Jewish people).

- Proclaim the Good News (Teaching)

Luke

- “Mission of the Seventy” (not 12)

- Sent the apostles to every town (no mention of only Jews or Gentiles)

- Lambs amidst wolves, always bring peace, cure the sick. (Compassion)

Others?

FEEDING THE 5000

Mark 6:30-44

Matthew 14:13-21

Luke 9 :10-17

Read the stories

- Discuss what is similar in each story.

- Discuss what is different.

- how does each account support the writers portrait of Jesus and who their audience was