Person of Jesus.

AO1 (Knowledge) – 15 prompts

What does the title “Son of God” imply about Jesus’ authority and relationship with God, and how does this differ from angels in the Old Testament?
How does Matthew 11:27 show Jesus’ special knowledge and authority to reveal God?
How does the Nicene Creed clarify Jesus’ identity as eternal, uncreated, and divine?
How does Church teaching distinguish Jesus from prophets, and what does “true God from true God” mean?
How does John 9 show Jesus’ divinity through the healing of the man born blind?
How do the Pharisees react to the healing of the blind man, and what does this reveal about Jesus’ divine authority?
How does Jesus use the healing of the blind man to teach about spiritual blindness?
How do Jesus’ miracles, according to the Catechism, demonstrate his divinity and reinforce belief in him as the Son of God?
What does Jesus walking on water in Mark 6 reveal about his divinity and the disciples’ understanding of him?
How does the Church link Jesus walking on water to the creation narrative in Genesis?
How did Jesus’ crucifixion initially lead his followers to doubt him?
How did the resurrection of Jesus transform early Christian understanding and ensure Christianity’s survival?
Why do early Christians and the Church consider the resurrection the ultimate sign of Jesus’ divinity?
How does Matthew 5:17-20 show Jesus’ authority as a moral teacher and his role in fulfilling the law?
How do the Parables of the Good Samaritan, Prodigal Son, and Widow’s Coin illustrate Jesus’ moral teachings on love, mercy, and intention?

AO2 (Evaluation/Analysis) – 15 prompts

How does Raymond Brown’s interpretation of the title “Son of God” highlight Jesus’ unique relationship with God?
How did the Church develop the understanding of Jesus as God’s only Son with supreme authority?
How does the Nicene Creed formalise the Church’s understanding of Jesus’ divinity compared to earlier beliefs?
Why is Jesus’ divinity emphasised over him being merely a prophet or messenger?
How do miracles like healing the blind man and walking on water provide evidence for Jesus’ divinity?
How does Jesus’ teaching on spiritual blindness show the need for humility and faith to recognise his divine authority?
How does Jesus’ resurrection act as the ultimate proof of his divinity compared to other miracles?
How do Jesus’ moral teachings on adultery, anger, and forgiveness challenge ordinary human ethical standards?
How does Jesus’ role as a liberator in Mark 3 support the Liberation Theology interpretation of his mission?
How do Jesus’ actions toward marginalized individuals, like the woman with a haemorrhage, reflect his ethical and social priorities?
How does John Hick’s analogy of the 3 blind men support the idea of Jesus as a teacher of wisdom rather than uniquely divine?
How does religious pluralism challenge the idea of Jesus’ uniqueness while still recognising his moral authority?
How do anti-realist theologians like Don Cupitt and John Hick argue against Jesus’ divinity using rejection of the supernatural?
How does Karl Rahner reconcile the truth of Jesus’ unique Sonship with respect for other religions?
How does liberation theology reinterpret Jesus’ mission to actively confront injustice and challenge traditional Church teachings?

AO1 (Knowledge) – 15 answers

The title “Son of God” doesn’t automatically mean Jesus is divine, as even angels are called ‘sons of God’ in the Old Testament; in the Bible, especially John, it indicates Jesus has special, divinely inspired authority.
In Matthew 11:27, Jesus claims all things are entrusted to him by God and only he can reveal God to others, showing his unique knowledge, relationship with God, and authority.
The Nicene Creed presents Jesus as the unique Son of God, eternal and uncreated, sharing the same nature as God the Father; unlike angels, he is truly divine and central to creation.
The Church teaches Jesus is more than a prophet; he is God incarnate. “True God from true God” emphasises that Jesus is fully divine, not merely a representative like angels or messengers.
In John 9, Jesus heals a man born blind, demonstrating his divinity through knowledge of God and miraculous action; he is “the light of the world,” showing God’s works through him.
The Pharisees are divided after the healing, some claiming Jesus is not from God, others puzzled; the healed man testifies Jesus must be from God, showing his divine authority despite rejection.
Jesus uses the miracle to teach spiritual blindness: those who admit ignorance receive truth, while those who claim to see remain guilty, highlighting the need for humility and faith.
According to the Catechism, Jesus’ miracles are signs of divinity, show he is sent by the Father, and strengthen faith in him as the Son of God.
Jesus walking on water in Mark 6 demonstrates divine power; the disciples are terrified and confused, showing they don’t fully understand his authority.
The Church interprets Jesus walking on water as demonstrating God’s creative power, linking it to Genesis, showing his eternal divinity and participation in creation.
Jesus’ crucifixion initially led followers to doubt him because crucifixion was seen as a sign of God’s curse in first-century Judaism; they were traumatised and lost hope.
Jesus’ resurrection convinced followers God had raised him, transforming despair into faith, ensuring Christianity survived and grew as a movement.
Early Christians and the Church consider the resurrection the ultimate sign of divinity; it shows God’s approval and is treated as a profound mystery rather than a simple miracle.
In Matthew 5:17-20, Jesus teaches he fulfils the law, bringing Old Testament laws to their intended completion and deepening moral obligations beyond the scribes and Pharisees.
The Parables of the Good Samaritan, Prodigal Son, and Widow’s Coin illustrate moral love, universal compassion, limitless forgiveness, and the importance of inner intention over outward actions.

AO2 (Evaluation/Analysis) – 15 answers

Raymond Brown suggests the title “Son of God” reflects Jesus’ self-understanding and unique relationship with God, implying divinely inspired authority.
Over time, the Church developed the understanding of Jesus as God’s only Son, giving him unique and supreme authority akin to God’s own.
The Nicene Creed formalises Jesus’ divinity and authority, distinguishing him from earlier, more general understandings of ‘Son of God’.
Jesus’ divinity is emphasised over prophetic status to show he is not a representative of God but God incarnate.
Miracles like healing the blind man and walking on water provide evidence for Jesus’ divinity and reinforce belief in him as the Son of God.
Spiritual blindness teaching shows recognising Jesus’ divinity requires humility, faith, and acceptance of divine revelation.
The resurrection is the ultimate proof of divinity, more profound than other miracles, showing God’s power over life and death.
Jesus’ moral teachings on adultery, anger, and forgiveness call for radical inner purity and ethical standards beyond ordinary human behaviour.
In Mark 3, Jesus’ healing on the Sabbath shows his confrontational role against unjust religious and political authorities, supporting Liberation Theology’s view.
Healing marginalized individuals, like the woman with a haemorrhage, shows Jesus challenges social and religious norms and prioritises compassion and justice.
John Hick’s analogy of the 3 blind men supports the view of Jesus as a teacher of wisdom rather than uniquely divine, recognising multiple partial perspectives.
Religious pluralism suggests all religions provide valid insights into God, supporting the idea of Jesus as a moral teacher while maintaining respect for others.
Anti-realist theologians like Don Cupitt and John Hick reject the supernatural, treating Jesus as a man of wisdom rather than God incarnate.
Karl Rahner reconciles other religions’ value with Jesus’ unique Sonship by describing non-Christians as “anonymous Christians” while maintaining Christianity’s fullness of revelation.
Liberation theology interprets Jesus’ mission as confronting injustice and advocating social, political, and economic liberation, challenging traditional Church and salvation views.