Unit 2

Jesus, A Historical Person

5 Main Parts

A. HeadingB. Birth and ChildhoodC. John the BaptistD. The Baptism of JesusE. The Temptation

Part A: Heading (Mk 1:1)

Aim: to introduce the identity of Jesus and His work.

Study points: Jesus is the Son of God. Understand the terms “Son of God” and

“Good News”

Why was the Gospel “Good News”?Because it shows how we can be

saved from our sins through Jesus Christ.

The Gospel also establishes God’s reign on earth and shows His great love for us by sending us His own Son.

His son is “the way, the truth and the life”. ( eternal life)

Purpose of Mark writing the GospelThe first verse of Mark’s Gospel is a

short, precise statement about his purpose of writing the Gospel. (read it)

He wanted to encourage the Roman Christians (Mark’s Community) to remain faithful to Jesus’ teaching in spite of persecution, as the price true followers of Jesus have to pay for loving God and acting justly.

“Son of God”

Jesus is called the ‘Son of God’ because he is truly human (by the birth of a woman) and truly divine (the power and presence of God in his conception).

Meaning of ‘Jesus’

The word “Jesus” means ‘saviour’.He is called ‘saviour’ because he

lived and died for the salvation of all who believed in Him.

Only Jesus can save mankind from the power and consequence of sin.

Meaning of ‘Christ’

‘Christ’ means the ‘anointed one’. (chosen by God)

The kings of Israel were anointed with oil to show they had been chosen by God.

Extra info on ‘Christ’1. Some Jews were waiting for a

Messiah who would deliver them from Roman rule and establish a kingdom full of power and richness (guess who they are?)

2. Others hoped for a Messiah who would deliver the Jews from physical problems such as hunger, illness and even death.

Extra info on “Christ”

3) But Jesus, while feeding the hungry and curing the sick, he has established a spiritual kingdom and freed people from their sins. His work was more far-reaching than the Jews had imagined.

B) Birth and Childhood

1. The birth of Jesus is Announced

2. Mary visits Elizabeth

3. The birth of Jesus4. The shepherds

and the angels5. Jesus is named6. Jesus is presented

in the Temple

7. Visitors from the East

8. The escape to Egypt

9. Killing of the children

10. Return from Egypt11. The boy Jesus in

the Temple12. Jesus’ boyhood in

Nazareth

Part B: The Birth of Jesus

Aims: 1. To compare Mathew’s and Luke’s

accounts on the childhood of Jesus.2. To show that the birth of Jesus is

prophesied in the Old Testament.3. To describe the childhood of Jesus.

Aim 1: To compare Mathew’s and Luke’s accounts on the childhood of Jesus.

1. The coming of the Son of God:

i. human, born of Virgin, ii. Descendant of David,

born to be king.

2. The roles of played by Mary, Joseph, the angels and the wise men.

Study points:

Aim 2: To show that the birth of Jesus is prophesied in the Old Testament.

1. Virgin birth2. To be born in

Bethlehem3. To killing of

children4. The escape to

Egypt and return to Nazareth.

Study points (you have to understand):

Aim 3: To describe the childhood of Jesus.

Study points:1. Family background2. Physical and intellectual development3. Sense of communication with God the

Father.

Background information The main

characters of the birth of Jesus:

1. Mary2. Joseph3. Elizabeth4. The wise men

Mary’s profile

Nationality: Jewish Town: Nazareth Age: 12-14 Gender: F Marital status: Single/ Engaged Religion: Judaism Education Background: Illiterate Character: Kind, generous, obedient, loyal, simple,

positive, humble, faithful, can keep secret, helpful Interest: housework, praying, helping others

Mary’s Unexpected Call

To be the mother of God Conceived by the Holy

Spirit Pregnant before

marriage

Joseph’s profile Nationality: Jewish Town: Nazareth Age: 12-14 Gender: M Marital status: single/ engaged Religion: Judaism Education Background: Primary standard (learnt

read and write in Synagogue) Character: loyal, considerate, obedient, simple,

positive, faithful Interest: Carpentry

Joseph’s unexpected Call

To be the earthly father of JesusTo marry a woman who was

pregnant.

Elizabeth’s profile

Nationality: Jewish Gender: F Age: over 60s Marital status: Married Religion: Judaism Education Background: Illiterate Character: grateful, simple, loyal, appreciative,

responsible, positive Interest: housework, praying

Elizabeth’s unexpected call

Pregnant at a very old age.

1) The Birth of Jesus is Announced (Lk 1: 26-38; Mt 1:18-25)

Mary’s reaction:1. Mary was deeply troubled/afraid/could not understand:

She did not expect to meet an angel and she did not understand the meaning of the angel’s greeting.

2. Mary was anxious/could not accept the angel’s speech/refuted the claim:

Pregnant without getting married would receive a death penalty according to the Law of Moses.

Mary has already engaged with Joseph who will cancel this engagement/divorce her when he learns about it.

3. She stopped her doubt and became submissive to God’s plan on her.

Due to great faith towards God, Mary believed in and accepted the angel’s proclamation.

What did the angel foretell about Mary’s son?

The angel foretold 6 things:1. He will be named Jesus2. He will be great3. He will be called ‘the Son of the Most

High God’4. He will be a King, in the Kingship line of

David5. He will rule over the people of Jacob

(Israel) forever6. His Kingdom will last forever.

Give a character sketch of JosephJoseph was a man of outstanding character:

1. His conduct was based on moral principles – he always did what was right (Mt 1:19)

2. He was discreet and sensitive – he decided to break the engagement quietly as he did not want to disgrace Mary publicly (Mt 1:19)

3. He was responsive to God – he did as the angel commanded and brought Mary home to be his wife (Mt 1:24)

4. He was self-disciplined – he had no sexual relationships with Mary before her son was born (Mt 1-25)

2) Mary Visits ElizabethWhy did Mary visit Elizabeth? 1. To help Elizabeth during her pregnancy2. To share their joy at the prospect of

giving birth.

Why did Elizabeth praise Mary?1. The child she will give birth to will be the

Lord.2. Mary had believed that the angel’s

message will come true.

In Luke 1:46-55, what characteristics of God did Mary mention?The God Mary praised:1. He did not care about the status quo of the

society and remembered the lowly people: God remembered her and was graceful to her.

2. He is a powerful /the Mighty God: He makes the impossible (pregnant of a virgin) become possible.

3. He is a merciful God to those who honor/fear Him.

4. He is a God of justice. He would punish/judge those who are proud: He scattered the plans of those who were proud and removes Kinds from their thrones.

5. He is a faithful God who will keep the covenant and showed mercy to the Israelites.

3) The Birth of Jesus

Why did Joseph and Mary go to Bethlehem? Census – they went there as a result of

Caesar’s call for a census of the entire Roman Empire

Taxes – they wanted to pay their taxes there, as required of all descendants of David – Bethlehem was their ancestral home – even though they did not live there

How did Luke show that Jesus’ birth was an important event in history?

1. Luke mentioned real and very important people in history like Caesar Augustus and Quirinius.

2. He gave Jesus’ birth a world setting – the Roman Empire.

3. Luke contrasted the birth of the Son of God in a manger with the Roman Emperor who liked to be considered a ‘god’.

4. By a decree of Caesar Augustus, Jesus was born in Bethlehem – the town Jewish historians had prophesied for his birth- even though his parents did not live there.

Explain how the Gospel stories about the birth of Jesus indicate that he was the Messiah promised by God?

1. Joseph, the ‘father’ of Jesus, was a descendant of King David. Therefore Jesus was a descendant of King David. The Messiah is a descendant of David. (and Mary was also a descendant of David) (Mt 1:18-25)

2. Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit to become the redeemer of god’s people as promised in the O.T. prophesy (Mt 1:18-25)

3. The wise men from the east knew Jesus was the King of the Jews . They came to worship Him (Mt 2:1-23)

Explain how the Gospel stories about the birth of Jesus indicate that he was the Messiah promised by God?4. Bethlehem, according to the scripture, was

to be the birthplace of the King (Mt 2:1-56)5. The angel told Mary that her son would be a

king of an everlasting kingdom (Lk 1:26-56)6. Elisabeth (by the Holy Spirit) recognized the

child within Mary was blessed (Lk 1:39-45)7. The angels announced to the shepherds

that Christ the Lord had been born (Lk 2:8-12)

8. The angels announced to the shepherds that Christ the Lord had been born (Lk 2:8-12)