Jesus' Ministry Flashcards

Lower Galilee

• After John the Baptist's arrest, Jesus left Perea and preached in Galilee.
• Galilee was divided into Upper and Lower Galilee.
• Lower Galilee, including Nazareth, had trade routes connecting the Sea of Galilee to the Mediterranean.
• Antipas built Tiberias and Sephoris in Lower Galilee with Roman architecture, including mosaics, frescoes, and red tiles in wealthy homes.

Capernaum

• Jesus spent time in Capernaum, a fishing village with simple homes.
• He initially taught in the Capernaum synagogue and then throughout Lower Galilee.
• Crowds gathered at Peter's house in Capernaum, where Jesus was staying.
• An event occurred where people dug through the roof to lower a paralyzed man to Jesus to heal him.
• Scribes were offended when Jesus forgave the man's sins, as they believed only God could forgive sins.
• Scribes oversaw religious life and coordinated prayer with the Temple service in Jerusalem.

The Christian Family

• Multitudes gathered to hear Jesus preach, even at the seashore.
• Critics questioned why Jesus' disciples didn't fast like John's disciples.
• Some critics accused Jesus of being out of his mind or casting out demons by Satan’s power.
• Jesus' family, including Mary, tried to restrain him amidst the chaos.
• Jesus redefined family, stating, "Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother."

Exorcism

• Jesus sailed on the Sea of Galilee, leaving the crowds.
• Other boats, some possibly unseaworthy, accompanied him.
• A storm arose, but Jesus calmed the winds.
• They landed near Gerasa, where Jesus encountered a tormented man.
• Jesus cast out a legion of demons from the man and transferred them to a herd of about 2000 swine.
• The herd rushed into the sea and drowned.
• The local population, fearful, asked Jesus to leave.

Raising the Dead

• The Gospel of Mark portrays Jesus performing wonders, including calming storms, exorcizing demons, and healing diseases.
• Jesus raised the dead.
• A synagogue leader asked Jesus to heal his dying daughter.
• The daughter died before Jesus arrived, but Jesus said she was only sleeping.
• Taking her hand, Jesus said in Aramaic, “Little girl, get up!” , and she immediately arose and walked.

In Nazareth

• Jesus, as an itinerant preacher, visited his hometown Nazareth and taught in the synagogue.
• His listeners were skeptical, questioning his wisdom and miracles, knowing his humble origins.
• They asked, "Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?”
• The author of Mark notes that Jesus was surprised by Nazareth’s lack of belief and could only heal a few sick people there.
• Luke's account differs, stating Jesus deliberately refused to use his power, angering the community, who tried to throw him off a cliff.

Historians and Miracles

• Jesus' followers saw God's presence in improbable events like the blind seeing and the lame walking.
• Historians reconstruct the probable, not the improbable, and neither confirm nor deny miracles.
• Even without miracles, Jesus remains a powerful teacher.

Apocalyptic Theology

• Jesus believed the end of time was near.
• He said some would not die until they saw the kingdom of God had come.
• The kingdom would be a real kingdom on earth, defeating Satan and evil.
• As the end approaches, there will be wars, rumors of wars, nations rising against nations, and kingdoms against kingdoms.
• The sun will darken, the moon will dim, and the stars will fall.
• The Son of Man will arrive on clouds of glory, and angels will gather the righteous.

Apocalyptic Theology (Continued)

• The unrighteous will suffer in eternal fire prepared for Satan.
• Those in power in Rome and Jerusalem had reason to fear.
• Disciples wanted to know the exact day and hour of judgment, but Jesus said only the Father knew.
• Jesus warned, "Therefore, keep awake, for you do not know when the master of the house will come.”

The Sermon on the Mount

• To prepare for the kingdom of God, Jesus told his followers to repent and live as those who will soon see God.
• He set high ethical standards in the Sermon on the Mount.
• He urged following the written law better than Jewish leaders.
• He reinterpreted the law, urging non-retaliation and generosity: “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, . . . if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile.”

Forgiveness

• Jesus offered his interpretations of the law, emphasizing forgiveness.
• He said anger is equivalent to murder: “You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder;’ and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment.”
• He said to forgive others so God can forgive you: “Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father in heaven may also forgive you. . . .”
• He told Peter to forgive not just seven times, “but . . . seventy- seven times.”

The Great Commandment and the Golden Rule

• When asked about the most important commandment, Jesus said to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.
• He added a new commandment: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
• This means treating others as you want to be treated, which is equivalent to serving God.
• He illustrated by saying “I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me. . . Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.”

The Pharisees

• Jesus’ teachings often opposed the Pharisees, who were experts in interpreting the written law.
• The law included the Ten Commandments and hundreds of other laws in the Torah.
• Some laws were ambiguous, so the Pharisees added unwritten rules.
• For example, they washed their forearms to avoid defilement before eating.
• The unwritten rules ensured the written law was followed without doubt.

Jesus’ Response to the Pharisees

• Jesus believed defilement came from within the human heart, not from external sources.
• He valued a pure heart over clean hands.
• The people of Capernaum recognized his new interpretation of the law and exclaimed about his new teaching with authority.

Is Jesus the Messiah?

• John the Baptist was imprisoned in Machaerus but could still send disciples to Jesus.
• They asked Jesus if he was the one to come or if they should wait for another.
• Jesus did not directly answer but told them to report what they had seen and heard.

Machaerus

• Machaerus is an ancient fortress in modern Jordan, overlooking the Dead Sea.
• King Herod the Great used it as a military base.
• Antipas imprisoned and later executed John the Baptist there.

Salome

• Machaerus faced east, towards Arabia.
• The stronghold included a palace where Antipas monitored the border, fearing a Nabatean strike.
• Antipas divorced a Nabatean princess to marry Herodias, who resented John’s criticism.
• Mark says Herodias wanted John killed and used her daughter Salome to get it done.
• Salome danced for Antipas, who promised her anything.
• Salome, after consulting her mother, asked for John's head on a platter.
• Antipas, bound by his word, regretfully had John beheaded.

Execution of John the Baptist

• Josephus, in a different historical account, does not mention Salome’s dance or Herodias’s bloodlust.
• Instead, Josephus says Antipas feared John’s popularity and executed him to prevent unrest.
• This aligns with Jesus’ description of Antipas as “that fox.”

Feeding the 5000

• John’s disciples retrieved and buried his body.
• Jesus sought refuge and crossed the Sea of Galilee.
• A large crowd met him near Bethsaida, where he preached until late.
• Mark mentions 5000 men, while Matthew adds women and children.
• Many were likely John’s followers which Mark compares to sheep without a shepard.
• The crowd's size worried Rome's vassal kings because Pontius Pilate, the prefect of Judea, had only around 3000 soldiers.
• Antipas remarked, probably sarcastically, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.”

Feeding the 4000

• After traveling to the Decapolis region, a crowd of 4000 people (plus women and children according to Matthew) gathered and stayed with Jesus for three days in the wilderness.
• The Romans worried about imitators of Jesus gathering large numbers of followers, possibly armed.
• The disciples tried to stop a stranger casting out demons in Jesus’ name, but Jesus allowed it.
• Jesus knew his actions were dangerous and said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.”