3.4: the person of Jesus Christ
What does the term Messiah mean and what did it mean for Jews in 1st century Palestine?
Messiah =literally means ' anointed one' - however, many Jews understood it to mean a political and religious leader, sent by God to save Israel from Roman rule
evidence for Jesus as son of God: treated by others in bible
- evangelists regard Jesus as the son of God, or Jesus treats God as his father - Mark 1:11: "And a voice came from heaven: "you are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased" - Mark 9:7: "a voice came from the cloud: "this is my son, whom I love. Listen to him!" - John's Gospel filled with Father-Son relationship
Jesus as a revolutionary Jew: N.T. wright quote
"I am not saying.. that Jesus rejected his own religious culture. I am saying that *Jesus offered a fresh interpretation of the scriptural tradition* which he shared with his Jewish contemporaries. He was a *critique from within*." - NT Wright: Jesus and the victory of God
Jesus the teacher of wisdom: set text 1: Matthew 5.17-48: concerning divorce
"It was also said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.' 32 But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Jesus as a teacher of Wisdom: richard Dawkins quote
"Jesus was a great moral teacher" "of course Jesus was a theist, but that is the least interest thing abut him ... *he was a theist because, in his time, everybody was*. Atheism was not an option ... at least in the teachings that are attributed to him, he publicly advocated niceness and was one of the first to do so .. *A charismatic young preacher who Advocated generous forgieness must have seemed radical to the point of subversion*" - disciple of John the Baptist: preached the imminent arrival of the kingdom of God: earthly, political state ruled by God or his annointed (messiah) - never intended to found a church/new religion - opposed "the temple priests, the wealthy Jewish aristocracy, the Herodian elite"
Jesus as the son of God biblical references
"[the] son, who is himself God" John 1:18 "Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life" 1 John 5:20 "for God so loved the world he gave his only son so all who believed in him could have eternal life" John 3: 16 baptism of Jesus, Transfiguration: "this is my son, whom I love, with him I am well pleased" - the fact that by dying gave this belief of salvation suggests he is divine: JOhn 3:16 : "for God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believed in him should not perish, but have eternal life."
evidence for Jesus as son of God: resurrection
"and if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith" - 1 Corinthians St Paul: a chrstian faith without resurrection is impossible - no sins would be washed clean, all death would perish E.P. Sanders: "without the resurrection, Would [Jesus'] disciples have endured longer than did John the Baptist's? We can only guess, but I would guess not." N.T Wright: resurrection is reason disciples regrouped & changed their traditional worship to focus on Jesus
Dorothy elsais[not sure how to spell] 1940 quote (from Theology: the basics book)
"if christ was only man, then he is entirely irrelevant to any thought about God; if he is only god, then he is entirely irrelevant to any experience of human life."
Bishop Arius quote
'If we say that Jesus is the Son of the Father, it means that he was brought into being [begotten] at some point in time; from which it follows that there was a time when he did not exist [and is thus not equal to God]' (Socrates, 1.5)
state of Jesus: Council of Nicea/Chalcedon
*Council of Nicea* - Nicean Creed = 300 Bishops came to council and produced creed: 'Jesus is begotten, but not made': Jesus is God, Jesus is the same knowledge of God - established idea of Homooscious - Hom*oo*usious: Jesus & God = same substance (think, oo=same substance) *council of Chalcedon, 451 AD* -established idea of hypostatic union: Jesus - 100% God, 100% human - (think, hypo: 100% convinced u are ill) christ is 2 natures which come together into 1 person *"the same truly God and truly man"* "he is one and the same Christ, Son, Lord, Only-begotten, acknowledged in two nature which undergo no confusion, no change, no division, no seperation." "the property of both natures is preserved and come together into a single person and a single subsitent being." [the Chalcedon idea is not acknowledged by the Oriental Orthodox church]
evidence used for Jesus as son of God: Miracles
- walking on water Mark 6.47-52: 'he came towards them early in the morning, walking on the sea'. driving out demons (Mark 7:37), - calm the storm (Mark 6:47: 'take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid' Jesus climbed into the boat and the wind died down.') - healing the blind man from birth: (John 9:1-41: 'i came into this world so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind.' -
Jesus as God: evidence
*identity* -"the one and only Son, who is himself God" John 1:18 -"the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ" Titus 2:13 -"the righteousness of our God and saviour Jesus Christ" 2 Peter 1:1 -"the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. He is the true God and eternal life" -'Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord" Luke 2:11 *functions* saviour: - Old Testament = only 1 saviour of humanity: God: God alone who was saviour & could save: - Athanasius argued against the 'Arianism' belief which held that JC was not divine but just supereme among God's creatures: only God can save, so if Jesus was not God, he could not save - Jesus bringing salvation to humanity = must be God: 1. Jesus saves people from sins: 'she will give birth to a son [...] he will save his people form their sins' Matthew 1:21 2. 'salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved' Acts 4:12' 3. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord" Luke 2:11 worshipped: - Jewish context - only God can be worshipped - Paul warned Christians in Rome that they ought only to worship their creator - "they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of birds and animals and reptiles" Romans 1:23 - Jesus however is worshipped: "all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ - their Lord": language reflects OT formulas for worshipping/adoring God [Psalm 105: "give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name" - Athanasius argued against the 'Arianism' belief which held that JC was not divine but just superem among God's creatures: if Jesus was not God, it made people guilty of idolatry for worshipping something that was not God Jesus reveals God: "Anyone who has seen me, has seen the Father" John 14:9
state of Jesus: original arguments
*previous beliefs on his state* Arianism: Jesus as the son of God could not be God = different substances: Jesus was a human being anointed by the Holy Spirit in the same way as the prophets of the OT: but to a greater extent, 'adopted' by the Father and given mission to preach good news, same lineage as old prophets: different in degree but not in kind Docetism: completely divine, but appeared/presented himself to be human Arianism: Jesus not divine, but supreme among God's creatures (**Athanasius critical: ignores core biblical passages & functions of Jesus) = all ultimately fail: lessen extent of either divinity.humanness of Jesus - Countered by Athanasius wrote pamphlet 'the incarnation': Jesus must be hommooscious = the same substance
Jesus as son of God: significance of resurrection
*teaches us about Jesus*: - underlines Jesus' status : more than the greatest miracle - meaning and truth of Jesus' life: beginning and end of all things - reveals God in a new and finally transfigured way: fulfilment of promise Jesus made to Sanhedrin: 'And you will see the son of man sitting at the right hand of the MIghty one and coming on the clouds of heaven' (Mark 14:62) * teaches us about God the father:* - God will raise everyone from the dead - certainty in the future Kingdom of God - "it establishes and undergirds the Christian Hope ... it enables the death of Christ upon the cross to be interpreted in terms of God's victory over death .. *gives both foundation and substance to the Christain hope of eternal life"* Alister McGrath ('Christology, 1995') *teaches us about God's loving nature and salvation* - dependent on belief of resurrection (in unlimited election): "*if you declare* with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord' and believe in your heart *that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved'* Romans 10:9 - God's self-giving, divine love despite suffering on earth (Jesus' appaling death'): "while we are still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
evidence for son of God: title of "Lord" ('Kyrios')
- "Lord": first century Palestine = to designate a divine being or figure who is more than human -"Kyrios": Greek word for "Lord" : 'Kyrios' used as a translation to address this direct God from Roman on 6,156 occasions: specifically referring to the God who had revealed himself to Israel at Sinai (Jewish, and later Christian, God) and then "Kyrios" translates to "Lord" in English - Jews refused to call the Roman Emperor "Kyrios": they regarded this name as reserved for God alone - writers of the NT did not hesitate to use this sacred name for Jesus (with all its implications: used exclusively to refer to God) - The first disciples were Jews = v aware of its implications: NT writers such as Paul knew what they were referring to when labelling Jesus as "Lord" - John 20:18: "Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord!" And she told them that he had said these things to her."
Jesus' knowledge of God and his own nature
- - Jesus calls God 'Abba' [greek for father] - Jesus is worshipped (like a God) - John writes that Jesus was "the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God" problems with conciousness: was he free to chose what he did/did he have divine knowledge and knowledge of divine reality - Karl Rahner says that to have genuine human consciousness you must have an unkown future in front of you - tf Jesus couldn't have been concious of God's awareness at all times: Rahner looks at human conciousness as layers: fear/uncertainty: normal emotions & his human conciousness were on the surface but his divine self-conciousness was deep within (compares it to an onion and its layers) -Gerald O'Collins said "*he knew that he stood in a unique relatinoship* to the Father and that as Son *he had a mission* for others. did not mean observing the presence of god ... rather *a self conciousness and self-presence in which he was intuitively aware of his divine reality*." - 'interpretating Jesus'
When and where did Jesus live?
- 1st century Palestine - born in Bethlehem, spent time in and around Galilee, and died in Jerusalem.
Key reasons for arguing Jesus was truly God (as his son)
- Biblical claims. He is repeatedly called God's Son, God and Lord. · Doctrine of Salvation (soteriology.) He needed to be both God and human to be an effective saviour. · Miracles performed. Only the divine could do these. · The resurrection. This spectacular miracle acted as a way of verifying and confirming his divinity.
key disagreements for belief of Jesus as the son of God
- Debates about whether it is possible/makes sense for someone to be fully human and yet fully divine. · Jesus' divinity was a politically motivated doctrine to bring unity to the Roman Empire. · Miracles, including the resurrection are merely symbolic. These Biblical teachings are myth not history.
Jesus as a teacher of wisdom: Hick's interpretation of metaphorical understanding of incarnation
- Jesus awareness of God's will isn't unique to Jesus: foundin Moses, Jeremiah, Isaiahs, Muhamme etc. : not a unique figure in role of salvation - concludes that each person should help a person to change: transform from self-centredness to love-centredness: this transformation is real meaning of salvation and this salvation would 'liberate' the world: Jesus is a model for this: lived an expemplary life: incarnation of this - Jesus is a significant divinely-insipred moral teacher:even if his incarnation is a metaphor it still shows his awareness and uniqueness of relationship with God - what we need to look at with Jesus is his life and his teachings but this is important because of his unique awareness and relationship with God "In Jesus we see a man living in a startling degree of awareness of God and of response to God's presence"
Jesus as son of God: aware of divinity and the son of God
- Jesus directly addresses God as "father" - using Aramaic word "Abba" (e.g Mark 14:36) normally used to express a particularly close relationship - Jesus accounted to refer to God as the father: John 5:16-27: "for this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God." - John 17: "Jesus looked toward heaven and prayed: "Glorify your son, that your son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all whose you have given him. I have brought your glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began."
Why was Jesus perceived as a trouble maker by some?
- Jesus reinterpreted Jewish law in potentially radical ways. - Jesus was at odds with other Jewish groups on topics such as divorce, the status of women, and giving to the poor. - thought of as a Political threat to Roman rule
From a historical perspective, what was the reason for Jesus' execution by crucifixion?
- Jewish leaders identified Jesus as a threat to the status quo - The Romans were initially reluctant because Jesus appeared to be innocent of any obvious crime, but they relented to keep the peace -.executed on the grounds of being a political agitator.
Jesus as the liberator: was Jesus a social revolutionary?
- Robert Webb suggets at time of Jesus there was a move of 'social banditry' : free the poor peasants from their life of poverty - aimed to owersea power that held people in servitude and opression - evidence for Jesus' active engagement in challenging negative impacts of oppression: spent time with those who were oppressed & the tax collectors who maintained the system (Luke 7:34) - was confrontational with authorities: e.g disputed temple of Jerusalem by turning over money changers tables - executed alongside social bandits: roman's considered him one?
How do we know Jesus existed?
- Various Roman historians [i.e. the notable Jewish historian 'Josephus' who recorded details of Jesus' life in his book Antiquities.] · Roman historian Suetonius · Roman historian Tacitus · Writer Pliny the Younger · Jewish scholar Josephus
Jesus = religious revolutionary?
- although he was on good terms with Phrasisee's (Luke 7:36) who sought to transform Israel through a drive for religious purity, he criticised their views: - Jesus views on handwashing, tithing, sabbath (Mark 3:1-5) went against the religious purity demanded by pharisees - he critised the temple (v important to Jewish religion) and its cult: said it should be replaced by something better (Mark 14:57: "*'I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.'"*) and challenged the role of money changers at the temple -Mark 8:31: Jesus is "rejected by the elders, the chief preachers and the teachers of the law" - opposed by Sanhedrin: supreme court of justice in jerusalem
Hicks interpretation of the resurrection
- attempts to explain the two natures fail - jesus himself did not claim his divinity: it was created by the church - incarnation as a metaphor of God's drawing near to humanity : BUT this doesn't decrease the value of the incarnation - even if it is a metaphor it still displays his unique closeness with God: without it he would just be a normal teacher
Jesus as a teacher of Wisdom: a Rabbi
- described as a 'Rabbi' in bible: Mark 9:5;. John 1:39; Matthew: 26:25: Rabbi is a term of respect but used for educated teachers who interpreted the law, surrounded by followeres - could read (Mark 2:26) and taught in synagogues (Lke 4:16), spoke on moral issues and ideas: love, concern for poor, justice, peace - his moral messages has had lasting effect and presence "in discussing with other scribes, gathering disciples around him, teahcing in synagogue worship and answersing the theological enquiries of lay people, Jesus, the former disciple of the rabbi Joh, corresponded to the contemporary options of a rabbi" - Gerd Theissen and Annette Merz, the historical Jesus, 1998
Jesus as a teacher of wisdom: moral teachings
- forgiveness of sins *huge importance of the 'outsiders'* - spent time with groups of people who were rejected/outcasts e.g tax collectors and sinners : sins may be forgiven - universal healing: all of humanity - importance of love: yourself, enemies, neighbours, god - 'other-cenred' quality of Jesus' teaching about love: agape: breaks boundaries of family/social groups - heals the sick - love, forgiveness and orientation to those most in need: poor, mourners, meek, hungry, merciful - overturned social norms: e.g women: heals women through touch (Luke 13:13; Mark 8:14): inclusive attitude towards woman despite patriarchal society *moral purity : moral purpose in life* - goodness goes beyond external actions - inner intention and inner purity is important - wealth is an obstacle to closeness with God
Jesus as a teacher of Wisdom: responses to Hick's understanding of jesus
- interpretation of salvation as personal change is different from salvation from sin and death: phrases like 'eternal life' seem meaningless in Hick's interpretation ** idea of eternal life as a mental state *C.S. Lewis: Jesus' moral guidance can't be seperated from his divine nature*: "a man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic - on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg - or else he would be the dvil of Hell. Either this man was, and is, the son of God: or else a madman or something worse" *Bonhoeffer* "without the incarnation, a connection is lost with the idea of encountering God in human life: when God's son took on flesh .. [he] took on our being, our nature, ourselves .. wherever he is, he bears our flesh, he bears us .. we belong to him because we are in him. That is why the scripture calls us the body of Christ." *critical of him as a moral teacher* didn't teach moral things: 'if only the non-sinners have the right to punish, then how could an imperfect society ever determine how to prosecute offenders?' - Christopher Hitchens: 'god is not great 2011'
Jesus the liberator: political revolutionary? arguments
- may clash with belief of a loving and caring person - some of followes may have reinterpreted his whole teaching as a spiritual one after his death ---- - early church may have treid to hide Jesus' reovlutionary tendencies to evade persecution by authorities *there seem to be links between jesus and Zealots* (groups who lead open conflict against Roman occuptation) - 'I did not come to bring peace, but a sword': Matthew 10:34 - Jesus' followers had weapons - Judas was called Judas Iscariot, and Iscarii 'dagger men' was another name for Zealots ------------- - came into the city of Jerusalem in AD 30 at a time of violent revolution: on a donkey with people waving palm brances in rememberance of the maccabees who liberated Israel 2 centuries earllier: message that Messiah and King of Jews had arrived to free Israel from Bondage - - Azlan, S.G.F. Brandon: "Jesus and the Zealots"
Support of homooscious/hypostatic union: Dorothy L.Sayers (1893-1957)
- not good enough to agree that Jesus has some useful ideas unless we have good reasons for asserting that there is something distinctive about Jesus which requires us to take those ideas seriously e.g Hitler had ideas that he was inspired by Christ, but no one believed/viewed his ideas in the same authority as he was not God: needed divine authority - "it is quite useless to say that it doesn't matter particularly who or what Christ was or by what authority He did those things [...] the central dogma of the Incarnation is that by which relevance stands or falls. If Christ was only man, then He is entirely irrelevant to any thought about God; if He is only God, then He is entirely irrelevant to any experience of human life"
supportive of hypostatic union/homooscious: Calvin's idea of Christ as the 'mediator'
- original sin = humans are incapable of saving themselves - True knowledge & Salvation must TF come from outside the human situation - must be God - In order to be a mediator between God and humanity: needs to be both divine and humanity - it was impossible for us to descend to God (due to original sin), so God chose to descend to us instead - Jesus Christ had to be a human being - otherwise other human beings could not benefit form his presence or activity
Jesus as political liberator: against = Messiah
- refused to accept term 'Messiah': does not attack Rome or its administration - attack primarily on own people (e.g merchants from the temple Matthew 21:12-13), tells Peter to keep quiet about him being the Messiah: "you are the Messiah!" → 'Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him' (Mark 8:29-30) - does acknowledge title when led as a prisoner before the high priest (when violent/political action is no longer possible), says "I am" to the question, "are you the Messiah, the son of the blessed one?" (Mark 14:61-62) = arguably political connections to term messiah caused him to play down Messiah identity -after disciples acknowledges Jesus as the Messiah = explains 'the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him' (Mark 8:29-31)this contrasted to traditional view of Messiah = idea of 'a crucified Messiah' was scandalous to jews
What is meant by the 'historical Jesus'?
- the historical person and the facts that we can know about him reasonably certainly e.g. where he lived, certain sayings and actions - This can be distinguished from the Jesus of faith, which involves many other faith claims which may not be provable.
problems with Jesus being fully God and fully human
- these debates started in 4th century between Bishop Arius denied his divinity: 'Arian controveresy' -if Jesus was God, he can't of really suffered on the corss - he can't of died from crucifixition, tf resurrection isn't real ** if he was 100% human he did? - however he had to be God as only God can save the whole of humanity - Paul: humans had a sinful, corrupting nature: tf is Jesus is human - wouldn't he become corrupted? ** bishop Apollinaris: 'a human mind - that is a changeable mind... is enslaved to filthy thoughts' therefore overcame this by saying Jesus replaced the human mind and soul w a divine one *** then this isn't 100% human if he hasn't got a human mind - had to be human to die and God to give salvation and resurrect (**incarnation) - he prayed to God before his resurrection: mentioning God's Will instead of his: 'let this cup [of suffering] pass from me; nevertheless, *not as I will, but as you will*" : Matthew 26:36: "I' and "you' seperation
challenges to Jesus as a revolutionary Jew
- though the first disciples were Jewish: they formed a Jewish-Christian movement which eventually became a seperate religion - something which he did triggered a change: christianity became a new religion which split from the Jewish church
Christains conclusions on Jesus
- what was most important about him is who he was and what he did: good news message of jesus: resurrection is crucial in understanding this unique : went point rational, moral messages but encapsulated spiritual reality the fact that he appealed to the outsiders: socially radical message that confounded existing norms: inspires social reformers and advocates message not of conformity and conservation: but bible talks of him as a liberator of something beyond physical world: a liberation from sin and death connected to God in a unique way: did things traditionally reserved for Gods: forgiveness of sins, reinterpretation of religious laws Johns Gospel: more explicit: god made man and son of God
Jesus as son of God: Graham N.Stanton
-although the evangelists attach significance to the sayings of Jesus, they do not use the term 'rabbi' or 'teacher' as titles for Jesus in the same way as Son of God - main enphasis was on Jesus' divine power: shown through other titles e.g Messiah, Christ, Son of God
political situation of Palestine? effect?
-occupied by the Romans, as part of the Roman empire: administered by Rome. - although the Romans gave some political and religious autonomy to local Jewish leaders, the presence of the Romans in Israel was resented: resentment of foreign occupyingg power *effect* - nationalist feeling = resentment of foreign occupying power: increased expectation of coming of Messiah (could argue Jesus was merely a political revolutionary but the fact the expectation of a Messiah was so high influenced the fact he was labelled that) - for many, The Messiah = deliverer who expelled Romans from Israel & restored royal line of David
different explanations of the resurrection
1. *didn't happen*: they don't happen today so can't be sure they happened to Jesus - can't base on testimony of others ** Jesus isn't alive today! He was unique and divine 2 *subjective experience in minds of disciples* - only christains came to believe it 3. *event beyond enquiry*: believe it due to a decision of faith, not historical report
Jesus the teacher of wisdom: set text 1: Matthew 5.17-48: concerning anger
21 "You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, 'You shall not murder'; and 'whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.' 22 But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister,[c] you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult[d] a brother or sister,[e] you will be liable to the council; and if you say, 'You fool,' you will be liable to the hell[f] of fire. 23
Jesus the teacher of wisdom: set text 1: Matthew 5.17-48: concerning adultery
27 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.'28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29
Jesus the teacher of wisdom: set text 1: Matthew 5.17-48: concerning oaths
33 "Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, 'You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.' 34 But I say to you, *Do not swear at all, either by heaven*, for it is the throne of God, 35 *or by the earth*, for it is his footstool, *or by Jerusalem*, for it is the city of the great King. 36 And do not swear *by your head*, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 Let your word be 'Yes, Yes' or 'No, No'; anything more than this comes from the evil one.[l]
Jesus the teacher of wisdom: set text 1: Matthew 5.17-48: concerning love for enemies
43 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45
Jesus as son of God set text 2: John 9.1-41
Blind Man recieves sight: As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. [...] "Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?" 9 Some were saying, "It is he." [...] "Then how were your eyes opened?" 11 He answered, "The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, 'Go to Siloam and wash.' Then I went and washed and received my sight." 1 Pharisees investigate: Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, "He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see." Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." spiritual blindness: "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" ... 37 Jesus said to him, "You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he." [...] Jesus said, "*I came into this world* for judgment *so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind*." [..] "If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, 'We see,' your sin remains."
trying to make sense of Jesus Christ
Christology
defences on using miracles as evidence for Son of God
Edward Schilebeeckx: spiritual/meaphorical meaing: e.g jesus calming the storm = him being a source of calm in daily life - people should allow him in their lives and not live in fear of troubles that they face. N.T. Wright: cures people from all groups of society: including all people (blind/poor/deaf etc.) : inaugurating God's Kingdom on earth. Calming the storm: foretaste of his Kingdom Jesus healing a blind man from birth (John 9:1-41) : asked what sin could justify this man being blind: Jesus said 'this happened so the works of God might be displayed in him [...] I am the light of the world'.: 'for judgement I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind' action of healing is linked to a wider purpose of Jesus' mission and identity - introducing faith to many who were blind to it
humes criticism on miracles
Hume's 'essay on miracles': we have no experience of miracles in teh present day - not possible to trust the accounts - empiricism is only reliable guide to reality - we have no experience on miracles in present day tf others peoples testimonies = only way to disprove/prove miracles: tf our evidence is based on assumption - miracles generally do not have sane and educated *witnesses* - humans have a *natural interest in the unusual* - religious people exploit this despite poss knowing the recount is false - Barbarous people - 'ignorant and barbarous' nations are the people who recount them - not regular in modern times (**racist?!) - different religions all have diff stories: can't all be right: cancel each other out - doesn't believe in supernatural intervention ** laws of nature are descriptive not prescriptive: tell us what can be observed rather than its capabilities: can't go against rules of nature, just diff from events previously recorded
Islamic interpretation of Christ's resurrection
Jesus (Isa) was a messenger of God ("rasul) Jesus never suffered and died on the cross: "And they did not kill him, nor did they crucifiy him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them"
Jesus as son of God set text 1: Mark 6.47-52
Jesus Walks on water: 47 When evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. 48 When he saw that they were straining at the oars against an adverse wind, *he came towards them early in the morning, walking on the sea*. He intended to pass them by. 49 But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out; 50 for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, *"Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid."* 51 Then he got into the boat with them and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, 52 for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.
Churches reaction to liberator/moral teacher
Jesus as a social revolutionary have influenced some 20th century christian movements: - social justice movement - liberation theology movement - some do argue the early church has 'tidied' the image of Jesus, downplaying his revolutionary tendancies most Christains however reject it: purely a revolutionary figure who lived and died and failed to lead uprising against rome does not outline spiritual purpose moral teacher: church do not accept: as spiritual purpose behind Jesus' life and redemption and salvation meaning is lost
Jesus as the liberator: set text 1: Mark 5.24-34
Jesus heals the woman with hemorrhages, breaching purity laws: "If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well."29 Immediately her hemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30" [...] Who touched me?'" [...] the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, "Daughter, *your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.*"
Jesus the teacher of wisdom: set text 1: Matthew 5.17-48
Jesus sets out the law: I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter,[a] not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore, whoever breaks[b] one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus the liberator: the idea challenger of political authority: why needed?
Jewish people lived under Roman occupation: client King in the north and the Roman Procurator, Ponitus Pilate, in the south - open military rebellions: final great revolt led to 10ns of 1000's of people enslaved, >million deaths, Jerusalem temple being burned down in AD73 - Jews faced oppression: hoped God would send a military Messiah to lead a rebellion against roman rule: restorer of Israel and bringer of God's justice (exodus, Isiah 11: gave Jews a hope that God would send a deliverer: "He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; wiht the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked")
Was Jesus a revolutionary Jew?
NT scholars: E.P sanders and Geza Vermes think Jesus was more Jewish than christain tradition admits - gospel writers in stories suggest tension between Jesus and Juddaism - lived his life as a Jew with Jews - Jesus didn't reject or replace Jewish law: sometimes disagreed with its application but did not seriously break Jewish law: ['it is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the last stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law' Luke 16:17] - Jesus rejected becoming teh 'Messiah' that his disciples wanted - Jesus never described himself as the son of god the scholars believe Jesus was leading a Jewish renewal movement: rethought the Jewish religion through repentance and forgiveness - idea that the later division influenced how the gospels were later written: e.g John's gospel repeatedly uses the phrase 'The Jews' but early Jewish Christians would not have been able to make this claim because everyone was Jewish
Name different Jewish groups at the time of Jesus.
Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, zealots
evidence for Jesus as son of God = Messiah, fulfilling prophet
Prophets allude to this: book of Isiah (before Jesus): Isiah 7:14: "therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and we will call him Immanuel" (Immanuel means God with us) o Isiah 53:5: "but he was pierced for our transgressions, crushed for our inequities, the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed." - Expectation of this Messiah bearing the burden of the transgressions of God - Jesus associated with the lamb of God = his blood being spilled and ultimately defeating death through the resurrection is enough evidence for Christains = son of God - only does acknowledge title of Messiah (previously hadn't: e.g Mark 29-30) when led as a prisoner before the high priest (when violent/political action is no longer possible), says "I am" to the question, "are you the Messiah, the son of the blessed one?" (Mark 14:61-62) = arguably political connections to term messiah caused him to play down Messiah identity after disciples acknowledges Jesus as the Messiah = explains 'the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him' (Mark 8:29-31)this contrasted to traditional view of Messiah = idea of 'a crucified Messiah' was scandalous to jews
Aslan: 'Zealot: the LIfe and Times of Jesus of Nazareth' arguments
Reza Aslan: - argues Jesus was involved in more confrontational resistance that is presented in NT - when Jesus was arrested he was labelled the King of the Jews and put to death for a civic crime, not a religious one (John 19:19 - crucified alongside people who fought against state - crucifiction was reserved for crimes such as insurrection
criticisms of using evidence of miracles and resurrection for Jesus as son of God
Scientific knowledge? Is he actually omniscient? - Hume (18th Century) disagreed with miracles - Hitchens uses Hume's idea: "which is more likely, that the whole natural order is suspended, or that a Jewish minx should tell a lie?" o Someone just making up a lie? - Statements/evidence for God as son of God are unverifiable and unfalsifiable
evidence for Jesus as son of God: bible
Some argue omniscience: Jesus knows all things o e.g Gospel of John - talks to a women about her previous actions - Parables of the Kingdom : illude to the idea that there is a coming kingdom of God o Eschatological/here on this earth - e.g Gospel of Matthew, parable of Mustard Seed: Matthew 13:31-32 · Knowledge of God and also what things will be like
defences of criticisms of God as son of God based on miracles/resurrection
Swinburne: principle of credulity: much of Gospel is due to eye witnesses - we would not doubt our senses on any given occasion unless there is storng reason to disbelieve, we shouldn't immediately assume that something is false - Swinburne: principle of testimony: if someone tells you something, shouldn't assume immediately that they are lying - What they saw was down to faith = to say that they were deliberately lying may be unconvincing - Edward Shillibeeck: miracles may not have physically happened, but do express metaphorical and essential christian truths o e.g walking on water = shows Jesus was special o Contain specific spiritual truths (helping the needy) - Soren Kierkegaard: Christianity is entirely irrational in a lot of its essences, can't justify in scientific enquiry how they happened (e.g trinity, virgin birth) , and therefore Christianity is ability to seek subjective truth = put your faith in that that there is a creator of all things and you have to authentically live a life that is true to you and true to God o Maybe not important if factually true but more about your relationship with what you believe to be real - Bible is not intended as a history book! It is a book of faith = not necessarily to convert people, designed to express beliefs - Whole point of Christianity is faith: 'if you declare with your mouth that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved'
Jesus the liberator: set text 2: Luke 10:25-34
The parable of the good Samaritan: *"And who is my neighbor?"* 30 In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 *A priest* happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, *he passed by on the other side.* 32 So too, a *Levite*, when he came to the place and saw him, *passed by on the other side*. 33 But *a Samaritan*, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and *bandaged his wounds*, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him.
Jesus the teacher of wisdom: set text 1: Matthew 5.17-48: concerning retaliation
You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' 39 But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also [...] Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you."
extra reference: Alister McGraths "theology: the basics" chapter 4
bible affirm the historical facts of his life by adding a layer of theological interpretation uses the example of Ceaser crossing river to show that we need multiple maps to explore Jesus' identity i.e historical map of his death: died on cross; theological map of his death: dying for our sin looks at the 5 models: messiah, son of man son of god VS functional approaches to chistology: what did he do and therefore who must he have been? Jesus as a savior: symbol of the fish - old testament addiment that only God was able to save: therefore claim that Jesus was God early Christain approaches to Christology: 451: castle of Calcedon modern reflections: christ as the mediator
Jesus as the liberator: against claims that he was more radical
e.g claims made by Aslan in 'zealot: the life and times of jesus of Nazareth' in 2014 - have been accused of beings elective and misrepresentative of identity of Jesus: doesn't seem violent in majoity of bible: 1. stops disciples from defending him with violence (John 18:10) 2. doesn't confirm the 'king of the Jews' title that Pilate accuses him of - when he is asked he replies "you have said so" (Mark 15:2) 3. If Judas was linked to violent revolutionaries - may explain him handing over to authorities: J wasn't politically radical enough 4. doesn't seem politically radical: ""Give back to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." (Mark 12:17) 5. emphasised peace: "blessed are the peacemakers"(Matthew 5:9) 6. Jesus spoke that "my kingdom is not of this world"- less interested in political and military change in this world: John 18:36 7. Jesus was not poor: described as a 'Carpenter & rabbi other errors in Aslan's book: argues it would be "unthinkable" for a 30 year old Jewish man to be unmarried: this theory has been overturned
Jesus the teacher of wisdom: set text 2: Luke 15.11-32
the parable of the prodigal son: 25 "Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. 27 He replied, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.' 28 Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. 29 But he answered his father, 'Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and *I have never disobeyed your command*; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends.30 But when this son of yours came back, who has *devoured your property with prostitutes*, you killed the fatted calf for him!' 31 Then the father[d] said to him, *'Son, you are always with me*, and all that is mine is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because *this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.*'"
