What do all these pictures have in common?

Daily Life in the time of

Jesus

• To describe how people made a living the time of Jesus

• To recognise significant places at the time of Jesus

• To evaluate some misconceptions about Jesus and the disciples

1. Which source of evidence do you think is the most convincing? Explain what it tells you.

2. Which source of evidence do you not find very convincing, or not likely to tell you much useful information?

**How would the presence of Romans in the area have changed daily life for the Jews?

HOW DO WE KNOW WHAT LIFE WAS LIKE THEN?

1. The gospels are full of details about how life was lived at the time of Jesus, and what kind of people were living there. Eg the first disciples “left their nets and their father with the men he employed, and followed Jesus”. What does this sentence tell you?

2. Archaeologists have looked for the places mentioned in the gospels and found them eg Capernaum, Tiberias, Jerusalem, Bethlehem. They also found objects, matching them to the kind of life described in the gospels eg evidence of fishing industry in that area, weaving, types of tools being used etc. This proves the accuracy of what the gospels describe. There are also inscriptions on buildings that prove a certain Pontius Pilate was in charge of that area.

3. There are also historical documents written by non-Christians, both Jews and Romans who would have no interest in proving Christianity true. The information they give corroborate details given in the gospels eg that a man called Jesus was a “miracle worker” but was crucified, that Pontius Pilate was Roman Governor of Israel in Jesus’ time. Place names mentioned in the gospels are also mentioned in these documents, suggesting they really existed.

1. Nazareth wasa. a small quiet village in Romeb. a smelly busy village in Israelc. a town in Greece*What else did you notice about it?

2. The people who lived in Nazarethd. were Roman soldiers and administratorse. were Greeks thinkers and writersf. were Jewish farmers, shepherds and labourers

3. The Jews used their houses in Nazareth as workshops where they.. g. weaved woolh. skinned animalsi. baked breadj. translated manuscriptsk. did carpentryl. were stone masonsm. had their art studios

4. Jesus’ job is best described as (2 possible answers)a. fishermanb. carpenterc. stone-masond. shepherde. general builder

5. Jesus probably worked 3 miles away in the nearby town of Sepphoris. Here he... f. Built the temple for Jewish priests

to live ing. Built stone houses for wealthy

Romansh. Built chairs and tables for

ordinary people

Do the multiple choice quiz with your partner. There may be more than one answer!

Watch the video. Then check your multiple choice answers.

1. What new information did you learnt about Jesus / life in Israel that you didn’ know before? Write out in full 2 things – explain why they surprised you.

2. What sort of jobs would Jews NOT have wanted to do? (look at the list below to help you)

**Why would Jews not have wanted to mix with Romans and Greeks?

• Built a Greek or Roman temple• Laid mosaics for Roman houses• Swineherd (Cared for a herd of pigs)• Goatherd or Shepherd • Actor or actress in the theatres• fishermen• Taken part in athletics• Tax collector for Romans• Practiced greek and roman medicine

Tell your partner 3 things you learnt today about daily life in Jesus’ time

A typical dayChoose if you want to talk about a Jewish man or woman’s typical day.

Using that fact sheet, write a diary entry for either Mary or Jesus, living as a typical Jewish woman and man.

HW Using the fact sheet, write a diary entry of a typical day for either Mary or Jesus, as a typical Jewish woman and man.