New Testament - Three of Jesus Parables - Essay Example

Order 161008 Brenda Lachman Topic: Who is Jesus? Words: 1839 Discuss: a) Gospel b) Synoptic Gospel c) The Synoptic problem The word Gospel comes from early Latin and it means the Good Tale, the Good News. In late Latin that definition broaden to: Evangelium; the message concerning Christ.1 The first four books in the New Testament are the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, yet the patterns of agreement and differences between the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke have led to be called the Synoptic Gospels, because the three are presenting the same common view. Yet Matthew was the only direct disciple of Jesus. Mark was a disciple of Simon Peter and Luke a disciple of Paul of Tarsus, hence the Synoptic Problem. Some scholars favor Matthew as the source and Mark and Luke’s Gospel derived from Matthew’s and a hypothetical source which they call Q. Document. There is no proof of this, only the historical testimony of who was with Jesus and who wasn’t. 2. What makes a parable more than a story? Name from the New Testament three of Jesus Parables (Gospel, chapter, verses) A parable is a hidden meaning within the story and illustrates a moral attitude or a religious principle. Jesus spoke many parables so that “Though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they many not understand. (Luke 8:10) “Many are called, but few are chosen.” (Matt22:14) The Wise and Foolish Builders, Matthew 7: 24-27 The Parable of the Sower, Luke 8”5-15 The Parable of the Net, Matthew 13:47-52 3. What is “Faith” to you? Give a New Testament example of someone showing “Faith” in Jesus (Cite book, chapter and verse) Faith to me is Believing. Not hoping, believing. The Faith of the Centurion, Matthew 7:5-13 / Luke 7:2-10. A centurion was not the every-day follower of Jesus, quite the contrary, yet he believed that Jesus would heal his servant even from the distance, the humbleness of his approach by saying his house was unworthy of receiving Jesus, to which Jesus (Mt.8:10) said; “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.” 4. What needs to be said about the new understanding of family that Jesus introduced? Jesus told the crowd “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother” (Mt. 12: 49-50) It is self explanatory, Everyone who does the will of my Father is my family, He does not say, anyone who believes in my Father, but rather does the will of my father. 5. Show from the New Testament (book, chapter and verses) how Jesus fostered his own spiritual life. Jesus started His ministry by asking John to baptize him, (Mat.3:13-17) but John tried to deter him, Jesus insisted on the grounds of fulfilling righteousness. Once baptized, Jesus went up out of the water and in that moment heaven was opened and the Spirit of God descended upon Him. He then went to the desert for forty days and forty nights to fast and meditate. It was at the end of that fasting that de evil one came to tempt Him. Yet, although hungry in the flesh he was filled with the spirit of God and did not succumb. (Mat.4:2-11) Jesus’ strength and spiritual nurturing came from doing the will of God, from deep within. Foremost, He believed in his Father, he lived the scripture. In John.15:2-17 Jesus explains how remaining in God, by fulfillment of the law, giving to the needy, prayer and fasting is what leads the way. This is how He fostered his own spiritual life. 6. If you were a Pharisee in those days, what would you have been like? Eclectic is the first word that comes to mind, hypocrite, radical, double faced, proud, with a tremendous ego and I would d to be called Rabi (Mar. 23:7) Very afraid of the son of the carpenter who dared to bend the “law at His will” 7. How different in Jesus’ day were the notions of “sin” and “the poor” from how most people understand these notions today? The Greatest Commandment, was to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” and the Second: “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mt. 22:37- 40) In those days the followers of Jesus took sin seriously. For example, stoning an adulterous woman to death was the law of the time. Some countries in Middle East still abide to this practice. In the Western World, an unfaithful woman is seen as a liberated woman. “Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom which is promised to those who love Him” (Jas 2:5). The notion of rich and poor were spiritual among the followers of Jesus. To be poor nowadays is not having money, assets or an expensive membership. People then were afraid of the wrath of God and Jesus taught that the wages of sin was death. Today’s people don’t even think about what God will think of their sins. 9. What did Jesus mean by “The Kingdom Reign, Rule, Kingship of God and what does this basic teaching of Jesus have to say to; a)money, b)prestige, c) solidarity and d) power. The word Kingdom appears one hundred and three times in the New Testament, from the Gospels of Matthew, Mark ,Luke, and John, to the books of Acts, Romans, 1 Corinthians Galatians, and Colossians. Aside from the mentions of kingdom of earth, most of the times it refers to the kingdom of Heaven, and kingdom of God; The Messiah was thought in those days to come and be the King of the Jews in a meaning of Power and riches, and revolution, therefore it was hard for the people to understand that the real riches, prestige and power came from loving God and obeying the scriptures not to start a revolution. “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matt.3:2) “For the kingdom of God is not food and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom 14:17) Money and prestige for Jesus were worthless and he taught that, over and over, but many did not understand. He taught that “no one can serve two masters, meaning you could not serve God and money, either you followed God’s will or you loved money and worship the riches. (Matt. 6:19- 24) A man came to Jesus and asked “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life” Jesus told him to obey the commandments: “Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.” The man replied that he had done all that yet still he lacked, to what Jesus answered him; “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and five to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me” (Matt.19:16-22) Jesus often compared the Kingdom of Heaven to a fine pearl (Matt.13:44-46) A net to let down and catch all kinds of fish, (Matt. 13:47-51) Riches were not to be found in tangible treasures but the richness of the spirit through the word of God. The basic teaching of Jesus was that solidarity had to be towards God, God’s scripture, and to seek perfection and holiness rather than solidarism towards earthly possessions, to leave our father and mother and go after His word. “Power belongs to God” (Ps.62:11) Jesus taught that faith should not be in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. (1Cor 2:5) That the real power came not only from knowing the scriptures but living them “by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and the left (2Cor.6-7) 10. Thomas Rausch, S.J. in his “Who is Jesus” presents five basic principles that he maintains need to be applied for a truly critical Christology today? The five basic principles that need to be applied to a truly critical Christology today is the approach to the study of Jesus ministry through getting to learn and know the Historical Jesus, the Jewish background, the Movement of Jesus, His Preaching and Ministry and finally His Death and Resurrection. Aside from the Bible, he historical Jesus can be found in many religions, Hinduism talks about Jesus presence on earth, even the Koran acknowledges Jesus presence. For many undecided about Jesus’ ministry reading about Him through an historical viewpoint rather than one of faith is a key element. Rausch believed that the knowledge of History in the times of Jesus would bring an understanding of the political situation of the time, the Jewish laws and viewpoints. The fact that the Jewish people foremost believed that the Messiah would come to start a War, which he did indeed, but a war within the spirit. Hence understanding the Jewish background is important as Rausch outlines in understanding the Movement of Jesus. Jesus preached about the Jewish law, but not the way the Jews practiced it, but a deeper understanding. For example the observance of the Sabbath, while the Pharisees applied the law literally, Jesus expanded the meaning of it. “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” asked the Pharisees in the synagogue when Jesus cured a man with a shriveled hand, he answered them: “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and life it out? (Matt. 12:9-14) The Pharisees thought this was outrage full rather than making the will of God. Food was another issue, Jews were not to eat pork, because it was considered a dirty animal. It was a sin to do so, yet Jesus explained that what you put into your mouth does not make you a sinner, rather what comes out of your mouth. His movement was about opening the eyes to the real Laws of God. His death was to many denseness; How could the son of God died?, worse, How could He know beforehand? The death of Jesus is a perfect example on how we don’t see the full picture but God always knows better. Jesus not once opened his mouth to defend himself from the accusations and the physical punishment he went through before he finally died. Even in His last moments He prayed to God for forgiveness towards those who had judged Him and crucify Him. He walked the talk every step of the way. His resurrection was the event that made the undecided and followers to begin understanding what Jesus and His ministry was all about. It is through knowing all the historic facts involved, all the surrounding beliefs and background of the time, that you get to fully grab and understand Jesus’ movement and most of all the message of obedience and love He brought. Rausch’s basic principles are indeed the outline for an organized and fair understanding of Jesus. References: The Holy Bible, New International Version Michigan, Zondervan Publishing House,1984. www.webster.com www.theologicalsearch.com-thomas-rausch Read More