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The Story of Jesus: from Birth to Death to Life” – Week One Overview

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The Story of Jesus: from Birth to Death to Life” – Week One Overview St. John’s Lutheran Church, Adult Education Series, Spring 2019 “The Story of Jesus: from Birth to Death to Life” – Week One Overview A. The Four Gospels – Greek, euangelion, “good news,” Old English, god-spel “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:30-31) 1. Mark a. author likely John Mark, cousin of Barnabas (Col 4:10), companion of Peter (Acts 12:12) and Paul (Acts 12:12, 15:37-38) b. written ca 50-65 AD, perhaps after death of Peter c. likely written to Gentile Christians in Rome d. focus on Jesus as the Son of God 2. Matthew a. author likely Matthew (Levi), one of the Twelve Apostles b. written ca 60-70 AD c. likely written to Jewish Christians d. focus on Jesus as the Messiah 3. Luke a. author likely Luke, physician, companion of Paul (Col 4:14), author of Acts, gives an orderly account (1:1-4) b. written ca 60-70 AD c. addressed to Theophilus (Greek, “lover of God”), Gentile Christians d. focus on Jesus as the Savior of all people 4. John a. author possibly John, one of the Twelve Apostles – identifies himself as the “beloved disciple” (John 21:20) b. written ca 80-100 AD c. addressed to Jewish and Gentile Christians d. focus on Jesus as God incarnate 1 St. John’s Lutheran Church, Adult Education Series, Spring 2019 B. An Approximate Timeline BC 6 Jesus is born in Bethlehem 5 Holy Family flees to Egypt 4 Holy Family returns to Nazareth AD 6 Jesus visits the Temple at age 12 27 Jesus begins his Public Ministry 30 Jesus’ Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension C. Map of Ministry Birth and Childhood A. The Genealogy of Jesus 1. Matt 1:1-17 – begins the Gospel, “son of David, son of Abraham,” fourteen generations, includes five women (Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, Mary) 2. Luke 3:23-38 – given after Jesus’ baptism, “son of Adam, son of God,” Jesus “about thirty years old when he began his work” B. The Birth of Jesus 1. Matt 1:18-25 – perspective of Joseph, named Jesus, Joshua, “Yahweh saves,” “fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet” 2. Luke 2:1-20 – the Christmas story, perspective of Mary, gives context 3. Luke recounts the announcement and the birth of John the Baptist (1:5-25; 57-80), the Annunciation of the birth of Jesus to Mary (1:26-38), and the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth (1:39-56) C. The Childhood of Jesus 1. Luke recounts the circumcision and naming of Jesus (2:21), the presentation of Jesus at the Temple (2:22-38), the Holy Family’s return to Nazareth (2:39-40) 2. Matt recounts the Visit of the Magi (2:1-12), the Flight to Egypt (2:13-15), the Massacre of the Innocents (2:16-18), the Holy Family’s return to Nazareth (2:19-23) 3. Luke recounts the visit of Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem at age 12 (2:41-52) Next Week John the Baptist and the Baptism of Jesus Matt 3:1-17 ~ Mark 1:1-11 ~ Luke 3:1-22 ~ John 1:1-34 2 St. John’s Lutheran Church, Adult Education Series, Spring 2019 “The Story of Jesus: from Birth to Death to Life” – Week Two John the Baptist and the Baptism of Jesus A. Ministry of John the Baptist (JB) 1. Central Figure early in all four Gospels a. introduced immediately after the Prologue in Mark (1:1-8) b. introduced immediately after the Prologue in Luke – with the announcement (1:5-25) and recounting (1:57-80) of John’s miraculous birth c. introduced after the birth narratives of Jesus in Matthew (3:1-12) d. introduced in the Prologue of John (1:1-18) 2. Prophet who prepares the way for Jesus Christ (Luke 1:76, Matt 11:9) a. Gospels quote Prophet Isaiah (40:3) (Mark 1:3, Matt 3:3, Luke 3:1-6, John 1:23) b. compared to Elijah (Luke 1:17, Matt 11:14, 17:10-12) 3. Not the Messiah a. JB himself makes this clear (Mark 1:7-8, Matt 3:11-12, Luke 3:16-17, John 1:19-27) b. correct misperception that JB was Messiah (Luke 3:15, Acts 19:1-7) 4. Baptizer a. begins his ministry in ca 29 AD (Luke 3:1-6) – Tiberius ruled from 14-37 AD b. in the wilderness, at “Bethany across the Jordan” (John 1:28), not city near Jerusalem c. baptizes with water d. preaches a “baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Mark 1:4-4-5, Matt 3:1-10, Luke 3:3-14) B. Baptism of Jesus (Mark 1:9-11, Matt 3:13-17, Luke 3:21-22, John 1:32-34) 1. Identity of Jesus a. “Son of God” – Messianic title (2 Sam 7:12-14, Ps 2:7, Isa 42:1) b. Second Person of the Trinity – Father, Son, Holy Spirit, relationship of love 2. Solidarity with Humanity – Jesus joins with is in the full of our humanity (Rom 6:1-11) 3. Move into Public Ministry – affirmed in the love of God, empowered by the Spirit, named as the Messiah 3 St. John’s Lutheran Church, Adult Education Series, Spring 2019 C. Imprisonment and Death of John the Baptist – told in flashback, in the context of the ministry of Jesus 1. imprisoned by Herod Agrippa for speaking against Herod’s marriage to Philip’s wife Herodias a. JB and Jesus had brief concurrent ministries (John 3:22-4:3) b. Jesus begins his ministry after John was arrested (Mark 1:14-15, Matt 4:12-17, Luke 3:18-20) c. John sends messengers to Jesus (Matt 11:2-15, Luke 7:18-30) 2. executed by Herod Agrippa (Mark 6:14-29, Matt 14:1-12, Luke 9:7-9) 3. continued popularity among the people a. ‘people say’ Jesus is John (Mark 8:27-29, Matt 16:13-16, Luke 9:18-20) b. people believe John is a prophet (Matt 21:23-27, Mark 11:27-33, Luke 20:1-8) Next Week The Temptation of Jesus Mark 1:12-13 ~ Matt 4:1-11 ~ Luke 4:1-13 4 St. John’s Lutheran Church, Adult Education Series, Spring 2019 “The Story of Jesus: from Birth to Death to Life” – Week Three the Temptation of Jesus (& His Early Ministry in the Gospel of John) A. The Temptation of Jesus (Mark 1:12-13, Matt 4:1-11, Luke 4:1-13) 1. Context a. immediately after baptism – Jesus’ identity as the beloved Son of God i. Second Person of the Trinity ii. Messiah – the Lord’s anointed (Ps 2:7, 89:27, 2 Sam 7:14), the “suffering servant” (Isa 42:1, 52:13, 61:1) who will bring justice, healing, and freedom b. immediately before public ministry launch – Jesus’ mission to save the world c. test of Jesus’ identity and mission i. Luke inserts genealogy (Luke 3:23-38) between baptism and temptation ii. the devil begins, ‘If you are the Son of God…’ prove it 2. “led by the Spirit” into the wilderness – pivotal role of the Holy Spirit in Gospel accounts 3. tempted by “the devil,” slanderer, accuser (Matt 4:1, Luke 4:1), “the tempter” (Matt 4:3), “Satan,” adversary (Mark 1:13) – representative of that which opposes God 4. Jesus and Moses i. leads the people from slavery to freedom ii. fasts for forty days and nights in the wilderness (Ex 34:27-32) iii. gives the commandments of God 5. Jesus and Adam & Eve a. Adam & Eve gave into temptation; they sinned (Gen 3:1-24) b. Jesus does not give into temptation; he is without sin – he fulfills the righteousness we cannot (Rom 5:1-21) 6. Three temptations – break trust with God a. (1) ‘stones to bread’ i. tempting Jesus to use his power over resources ii. Jesus rejects with a quote from Moses (Deut 8:3) – our life is dependent on God, the lesson of the manna in the wilderness b. (2, Matt; 3, Luke) ‘throw yourself down’ i. tempting Jesus to use his power over his own life – the devil quotes and misapplies Ps 92:11-12 5 St. John’s Lutheran Church, Adult Education Series, Spring 2019 ii. Jesus rejects with a quote from Moses (Deut 6:16) – our life is a gift from God, who loves and whom we are to love c. (3, Matt; 2, Luke) ‘all the kingdoms of the world’ i. tempting Jesus to use his power over others, and against God ii. Jesus rejects with a quote from Moses (Deut 6:13) – our life belongs to God, who alone is the ruler of all creation 7. Jesus Overcomes a. sends Satan away (Matt 4:10) – devil departs until “an opportune time,” exchange with Peter (Mark 8:31-33, Matt 16:21-23) b. angels attend him (Mark 1:13, Matt 4:11) c. sympathetic Savior (Heb 4:15) B. the Early Ministry of Jesus in the Gospel of John 1. Synoptics indicate Jesus begins his ministry in Galilee and eventually travels to other regions (Mark 1:14, Matt 4:12, Luke 4:14) 2. John indicates Jesus visits Jerusalem early in his ministry (2:13-4:42), and then returns to Galilee (4:43-45) a.
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