Gospels Q8

Judas the Maccabee

won Jewish freedom from Greeks leading a rebellion. Died in battle.

"Teacher of Righteousness"

unnamed leader of a priestly group in the Judean desert at Qumran, annoyed with Temple leadership

Judas, Matthias, and other Jewish young men

Rallied a group to tear down a large golden eagle over the gate to the Jerusalem Temple. Ringleaders were arrested and burned alive

Judas the Galilean and Zadok the Pharisee

led rebellion/resistance to Roman registration and taxation

John the Baptist

urged devotion to God & justice to one another, through baptism. Herod Antipas feared John's popularity and executed him at Machaerus

unnamed Samaritan

allied with other Samaritans at Mt Gerizim, claiming to know where Moses' relics were buried.

Theudas

a magician/prophet, claimed he could part the Jordan River. Romans crushed that & beheaded Theudas

Egyptian impostor

claimed to be a prophet. led thousands to march from Mt of Olives towards Jerusalem, claiming to make walls fall down.

unnamed imposter

promised deliverance and freedom in the wilderness

Jesus ben Ananias

a peasant farmer, prophesied the destruction of Jerusalem.

John of Gischala, Simon ben Giora, Eleazar ben Simon

leaders of the Jewish rebellion against Rome.

Jonathan

a Jewish weaver of Cyrene, rallied people into the wilderness claiming to do signs.

Simon bar Kokhba

considered the messiah by some or "son of the star,” led the second Jewish revolt against Rome.

Aspects about these people

- None used the title "messiah" until Rabbi Aqiba proclaimed Simon bar Kokhba in early 130s CE

- Josephus uses term "messiah/Christ" only 2x

- Jewish personages rallied masses around Jewish religious claims

Insults, Riddicule, Mockery against Jesus

- He has a demon

- Son of Mary

- Carpenter

- Learned Magic

- Truly this was a Son of God

Jesus Authority in Gospels

- Announcing and inaugurating the kingdom

- Commanding mighty deeds

- Amēn is an introductory phrase in Jesus' statements

- Interpreting the law

- Forgiving sins

- Making accurate predictions

4 Messianic titles

- Christ

- Son of God

- Lord

- Son of man

“Christ”

- “Christ/Messiah = “annointed one”

- Kings, priests, and prophets were annointed

Son of God

- king ruling in Jerusalem is called Son of God

- "Heavenly beings" was called Son of God

- Israel is all called Son of God

- Believers are called Son of God

- Jesus is singled out as the unique/only son of God

Lord

- Meaning kurios in Greek

- Kurios means “sir” and “master” to a slave

- “Lord” is the Greek word for the name YHWH

Son of Man

- Hebrew for any mortal being

- Ezekiel uses it to describe a prophet

- Daniel uses it for the divinely appointed ruler of heaven

- No one calls Jesus Son of Man, except Jesus

Nazarene

unclear what "Nazarene" meant in Mark,

Maybe: "of Nazareth", "shoot/sprout/branch", "Nazarite"

Son of David

Only in Mark and Matthew

"Word"

logos...divine agent of creation

Lamb of God

Found in John

King of the Jews

all four Gospels mention this title Jesus is given on the cross. Irony is accentuated in John

Christology in Paul

Paul uses “Lord” for Jesus and “God” for YHWH/father

Christology in Mark

“low” christiology because:
- titles for Jesus are rare in Mark

- Mark highlights Jesus’ human qualities

- Jesus is never worshipped in Mark

- Jesus is never called Lord

Christology in Matthew

- Jesus is born as Son of God

- Jesus is publically announced as Son of God

- Jesus is worshipped

- Jesus is equal to father and spirit

Christology in Luke

- Jesus is born Christ, Son of God, savior, and Lord

- Jesus is called Lord, commander/master

Christology in John

“High christology” because:

- Jesus as the Word is pre-existent, creator, is/was God

- Jesus declares to be one with the father

- “I am” statements

Entry into Jerusalem

- VERY Public

- contains OT background

- Palm Sunday

- cursing a fit tree: prophetic dramatic act

Temple Protest

- Misnomer: It's never called a "cleansing" in the Gospels

- Timing: All four Gospels mention the event only once... but John mentions it early, and the Synoptics mention it late in the ministry of Jesus

- Clincher Episode in the Synoptics

- Intercalation of the Temple with the Fig Tree

Temple Protest: OT background

Jesus quotes Isaiah and Jeremiah

Temple Protest: Mark’s Critique

Violent attack in the temple, dramatic cursing of fig tree, predicted destruction of the temple

Controversy in Jerusalem

-Question about Jesus' Authority for the Temple Attack

-Parable of the Wicked Tenants

-Question about Roman Taxes

-Question about the Resurrection

-Question about the Greatest Commandment

-Question about David's Son

Olivet Discourse in Mark

- biggest and last teaching in Mark

- Farewell address in Mark

- private to only Peter, Andrew, James, and John

- two big predictions: Destruction of Jerusalem and Return of the Son of Man

Olivet Discourse in Matthew

- fifth of the five big sermons/monologues in GMatt..

- doubles the length of Mark’s sermon

- new material: emphasis on suddenness, new parables

Olivet Discourse in Luke

- one of six predictions of the destruction of Jerusalem

- not the "Olivet" Discourse... bc it's a public discourse situated in the Temple

- predicts "desolating sacrilege" to be the Roman destruction of Jerusalem

Olivet Discourse in John

Absent in John

Emphasis with Jesus’ death: Paul

Brief sporatic details

Emphasis with Jesus’ death: Mark

Earliest narrative, ugly and apocoloptic, arranged in 3 hour sections.

Emphasis with Jesus’ death Matthew

Closely follows Mark, adds examples of Jesus’ innocence, mentions Barabbas, detailed final resurrection

Emphasis with Jesus’ death Luke

Follows Mark but not as closely at Mathew, emphasizes Jesus calmly facing death

Emphasis with Jesus’ death John

Long farewell address at the last supper, Jesus is in control when arrested, tried, and crucified, Jesus dies as lamb of God/king of the Jews

Last supper in the Synoptics

- Passover Seder: Jesus reinterprets meal as Jesus’ body and blood

Last supper in John

Jesus washes disciples’ feet and long farewell address

Gethsemane in John

called “The Garden”, Jesus in control of arrest

Gethsemane in Synoptics

Called “Gethsemane”, Jesus’ prayer and arrest/Judas’ kiss is only in Synoptics

Trials of Jesus (Jewish)

- In Synoptics, trials begins with testimony of Jesus and the Temple

- High priests ask Jesus “Are you the Christ, the Son of God?”

- Jesus says “I am”

Trials of Jesus (Roman)

Synoptics: Brief trial, Jesus is silent

John: Long dialogue between Pilate, Jesus, and the Jews

Key characters

- Peter, James, John

- Judas Iscariot

- Caiaphias

- Pontious Pilate

- Barabbas

- Simon of Cyrene

- Joseph of Arimathea

- Mary Magdeline

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