A Study Workbook for Teachers and Students Harmony of the Gospels Part 1 Copyright 2013 Mikeal R. Hughes, D. Min., Th.D., Ph.D. All Rights Reserved All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated are taken from the New King James Version Copyrighted 1982 Thomas Nelson Inc. Used by permission. A Study Workbook For Teachers And Students Harmony of the Gospels Part 1 By MIKEAL R. HUGHES Table of Context INTRODUCTION 1 LESSON 1 - JOHN THE BAPTIST & THE BIRTH OF JESUS 3 LESSON 2 - THE WISE MEN & THE EARLY LIFE OF JESUS 5 LESSON 3 - THE MINISTRY OF JOHN THE BAPTIST & TEMPTATION OF JESUS 9 LESSON 4 - THE BEGINNING OF JESUS’ MINISTRY 11 LESSON 5 - JESUS MINISTRY IN GALILEE 13 LESSON 6 - THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT (1) 15 LESSON 7 - THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT (2) 17 LESSON 8 - JESUS’ GALILEAN MINISTRY 19 LESSON 9 - THE PARABLES 21 LESSON 10 - THE GALILEAN MINISTRY 23 LESSON 11 - THE GALILEAN MINISTRY (CONT.) 25 LESSON 12 - THE GREAT CONFESSION 27 The Harmony of the Gospels Part 1 7 PREPARATION FOR CHRIST’S BIRTH In order to understand society at the time of Jesus we have to return to the Intertestamental period, what is often referred to as the 400 years of silence. These years were anytyhing but silent. When the Old Testament closes Persia is in power and Malachi is the last of the written prophets. When the New Testament opens we have Rome in control and shortly after John the Baptist comes on the scene, the one who Malachi had prophesied concerning. So how did all of this come about? During this time period we have four different groiups come into control. The Greeks from 332 - 167 BC. Persia was never able to conquer Greece, Xerxes was defeated at Salamis in 480 BC. The approximate date we find for the early events in the Book of Esther. Philip of Macedon unifies Greek city states and is succeeded by his son, Alexander. Alexander the Great comes in to world power in a very fast fashion. In 334 BC at Granicus and in 333 BC at Issus he defeated the Persians. In 332 BC he took Tyre and Gaza, then conquered Egypt. In 331 BC at Arbela he defeated the Persian army. Alexander dies in 323 BC leaving no heir. His empire is divided among his four generals. Among his generals Seleucus and Ptolemy were predominant. Palestine was controlled by two opposing powers from 323 to 168 BC. Ptolemies (Egypt) 323 - 198 BC they were favorable to the Jews. Control passed from Egypt to Syria at the Battle of Banias later called Caesarea Philippi 198 BC. Seleucids (Syria) 198- 168 BC pressured the Jews to “Hellenize” that is adopt Greek culture. Persecution of the Jews increased, coming to a climax with Antiochus IV from 175-165 BC. The next group to come into developent in the Intertestamental period were the Maccabeans. In 168 BC the temple is profaned by Antiochus (“Epiphanes”). Mattathias, a Jewish patriot, leads a revolt against the Syrians (Seleucids) in 167 BC. The temple is cleansed by the Maccabees (the Mattahias’ family) and other patriots in December 165 BC. The high priest becomes a political ruler of Palestine. Simon Maccabeus arranged a treaty of freedom from Rome in 139 BC. Simon and his family were recognized as the high priestly order, the Hasmonean dynasty. The resis- tance movements known as the Zealots continues through the revolt vs. Rome in 66-73 AD until the Bar Cochba rebellion is crushed in 135 AD. This leads to Hasmonean control (135 to 63 BC) Political power was held by the priesthood the royal line of David was ignored. Religious - Political parties emerge during this time period. Hasidim retain the Jewish religion and national liberties resisted Hellenism. They develop The Harmony of the Gospels Part 1 1 into what became known in the New Testament as the Pharisee party. A cecond party of prominence during the New Testament is the Hel- lenizers they surrender some Jewish distinctives for Greek culture they develop into what is known as the Sadducees. This period has been known as instable time. Finally Rome comes gains control. Pompey a Roman general conquers Syria and Palestine in 63 BC to protect Rome’s eastern borders vs. the Syrians, Parthians, Idumaeans (Edomites) and to counter the instability caused by the Hasmoneans jealousies and the Pharisee / Sadducee disputes. Julius Caesar defeats Pompey and comes to Palestine. Caesar rewards the Jews who supported him against Pompey and makes Antipater, the father of Herod the Great, procurator of Judea he grants religious freedom to all Jews in the empire and releases the Jews from military service. Julius Caesar is assinated in 44 BC. Cassius and Brutus are defeated by Mark Antony in 42 BC. Antony makes Herod (the Great) “King of the Jews” in 40 BC ending control by the Hasmonean dynasty, although the high priest and priesthood remain a political power. Parthians / Persians take control of Syria and Palestine. Herod flees to Petrand later to Rome. After the Partians are defeated. Herod is installed as King in Jerusalem in 37 BC. As an ally of Antony when he goes up against Octavius (Caesar Augustus), he changes sides after Antony is defeated at Actium in 31 BC and helps Octavius. As a result of this Herod is given Jericho, Gaddara, Samaria, the Gaza area, Joppa, Stato’s Tower, Caesarea, as well as Judea. Political Developments after Herod the Great The Tetrachies - rule of four: After Herod’s death there is a power struggle between his heirs. The Jews begin to pressure Rome for Autonomy through a revolt. Palestine is now administered by Herod’s sons: Arche- laus - Tetrarch of Judea, Samaria and Idumea; Herod Antipas become Tetrarch of Galilee and Perea; Herod Philip becomes Tetrarch of regions northeast of the Sea of Galilee; Archelaus a ruthless ruler hated by the Jews is deposed and exiled to Gaul, modern day France in 6 AD. in the years 60-41 AD Judea, Samaria and Idumea become an imperial Roman province. They are ruled by procurators responsible directly to Caesar. Their adminstrative headquarters are located at Caesarea. Herod’s palace in Jerusalem. Pontius Pilate, 26-36 AD, is insensitive to the Jews and is later exiled to Gaul. Herod Antipas retains control of Galilee and Perea until 39 AD. Outside of Palestine during this time Roman emperors are Augustus from 30 BC to 14 AD and Tiberius from 14 to 37 AD. The Roman Military’s control center for the Middle East is located in Syria. 2 MIKEAL R. HUGHES The Harmony of the Gospels Part 1 3 4 MIKEAL R. HUGHES The Harmony of the Gospels Part 1 5 6 MIKEAL R. HUGHES The Harmony of the Gospels Part 1 7 8 MIKEAL R. HUGHES The Harmony of the Gospels Part 1 9 10 MIKEAL R. HUGHES The Harmony of the Gospels Part 1 11 12 MIKEAL R. HUGHES THE GOSPELS - INTRODUCTION The four Gospels - Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John - tell us about the life of Jesus of Nazareth. And yet, they are not true biographies. They say little abouty Jesus’ family background and youth, and noth- ing about his physical appearance. They concentrate almost totally on the three years of Jesus’ public ministry, but even here they do not give enought information to reonstruct a complete history of those years. Rather, attention is focused on the Person of Jesus and his teachings, and all four Gospels climax with Jesus’ death and resurrection, and the events associated with them. Matthew, Mark, and Luke are called the “Synoptic Gospels.” The term “Synoptic” means they view the life of Jesus from a “common per- spective.” After introducting Jesus in different ways, depending on their purpose, they record the ministry of John the Baptist, the baptism and temptation of Jesus, his ministries in Galilee and in Judea, his final week in Jerusalem, his death and His resurrection. In the synoptic record, Jesus characteristically refers to himself as “the Son of Man,” and he proclaims the “kingdom of God.” Despite the similarities in the Synoptic accounts, these Gospels vary in what material they include and in the arrangement of specific events. Furthermore, each Gospel was written to emphasize certain aspects of Jesus’ Person and work. Matthew emphasizes that Jesus is the true Messiah and the object of Old Testament prophecy and ex- pectation. Mark’s fast-miving account was written to provoke faith in Romans. Luke’s Gospel is addressed to a cultured Gentile and stresses Jesus’ concern for all kinds of people. The Gospel of John differs from the Synpotics in a number of ways. It tells more about Jesus’ early ministry in Judea. John also records long thematic discourses by Jesus instead of the shrter sayings typical of the Synoptic accounts. In John, Jesus refers to himself as God’s Son and speaks of salvation as eternal life. More than the Synoptics, John includes theological reflection on the meaning of Jesus’ life and death. The Harmony of the Gospels Part 1 13 Of The King 26-27 OFFICIAL REJECTION 26-27 OFFICIAL 14 MIKEAL R. HUGHES The Harmony of the Gospels Part 1 15 16 MIKEAL R. HUGHES The Harmony of the Gospels Part 1 17 18 MIKEAL R. HUGHES JOHN THE BAPTIST & THE BIRTH OF JESUS LESSON 1 Prologue to the Birth of Christ (John 1:1-18) We are beginning the study of the greatest life that ever graced this earth. The only perfect and sinless life that ever lived in the world. John begins his gospel at an unique point in time.