The Life and Teachings of Jesus Christ.

SESSION I - Introduction

0.Introductory verses and comments:

Hebrews 1:1-3 “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways,  ² but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.  ³ The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven”

What would you like to know most about Jesus?

What one questions would you like answered by the gospels?

Beatitude 1 (as weekly introduction)

A.    Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in Spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven”

B.    humility in spirit, nothing of our own take our place humbly in the will of God.

C.    Within the Kingdom, certain attitudes are operative.

D.    Weekly, take one beatitude and make it part of your life.

I.       Objectives.

A.    The examine the Life and teachings of Jesus Christ in their historical context. With an emphasis on understanding and applying the message of the gospels. (Most people have an agenda when they read Jesus.

B.    To look at the gospels by harmonizing the accounts to increase understanding -In Judaism, and Jesus, to understand is to embody)

C.    To develop a sensitivity to the individual style and emphasis of each gospel writer. (note the medium of “Gospel” not necessarily chronological)

D.    Try to avoid controversy and focus on harmony and intent of authors.

E.     Then look At Jesus’ teaching as a whole, His methods, ministry, and  message,

II.    Duration:

A.    10-13 Sessions

B.    Introduction: The Life of Jesus and Teachings of Jesus two components.

1.     Wk 1: Introduction

2.     Wk 2. Birth and Early Years

3.     Wk 3. John the Baptist

4.     Wk 4 Beginning of Jesus Public Ministry

III. Brief Outline of Jesus Life.

A.    There are many ways to look @ Jesus life.

B.    An outline for this class:

1.     Birth and Early Years

2.     Beginnings of Public Ministry

3.     Galilean Ministry

4.     travels outside Galilee

5.     Perean and Judean Ministry

6.     Last week and death

7.     Resurrection.

C. Why is it  meaningful to know the context?

1.     Matthew 12:30 and Luke 11:23  ³⁰ “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.”[1]

2.     Mark 9:40 “for whoever is not against us is for us”

3.     Look at the difference in these two statements.

D. Essentially a 3 year ministry (There are other views, particularly, a 2 year view)

1.     Year 1 - Preparation

2.     Year 2 - Public Favor

3.     Year 3 - Opposition.

IV. Who is Jesus:

A.    Who do you say that I am? (one word)

B.    Will that be altered as an outcome of this course?

C.    Who do others say Jesus is and was?

1.     Early Period

2.     Enlightenment

3.     Romantic Period (ca. 1850- )

4.     Scientific Period (1860-1914)

5.     Modern Period

VII. The Gospels and their writers:

A.    What is a gospel?

1.     An new form of literature.

2.     Not a biography, or history as we would know it?

3.     A purpose…..to spread the “good news”

B.    Who are the writers, and what are their credentials:

1.     Matthew - Matthew 9:9-13 “As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. ¹⁰ While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples.  ¹¹ When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” ¹² On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  ¹³ But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

2.     Mark -

a.      Mark 12:25 “When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark

b.     Mark 13:13 “From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem”

c.      I Peter 5:13 “She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark.  ¹⁴ Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ”

d.     Acts 12:26-31 “Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.”  ³⁷ Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them,  ³⁸ but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work.  ³⁹ They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus,  ⁴⁰ but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.  ⁴¹ He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

e.      2 Timothy 4:11 “Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.”

3.     Luke (Luke-Acts 28% of New Testament)

a.      Col. 4:14 “Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings.”

b.     Note Col 4:10-12. Aristarchus, Mark and Jesus (Justus) are the only fellow “Jews”. Luke was most probably a Gentile.

4.     John - John 21:20-25 “Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”)  ²¹ When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” ²² Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.”  ²³ Because of this, the rumor spread among the brothers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?” ²⁴ This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true. ²⁵ Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.”

C.    What is the emphasis of the writers?, and Why is important that they each have differing perspectives? (Examine their opening statements, How do their opening words help explain their purpose?)

1.     Matthew 1:1 “A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham:”

2.     Mark 1:1 “The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”

3.     Luke 1:1-4 “Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us,  ² just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word.  ³ Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,  ⁴ so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught”.

4.     John 1:1-5 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  ² He was with God in the beginning. ³ Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  ⁴ In him was life, and that life was the light of men.  ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.”

D.    What “impact” do think the gospel writers wanted their books to have on their readers?

1.     What impact would they intend for you?

2.     What impact would you like to receive?

3.     Why is the assurance of accuracy by the writers important?