Ch.3: The Coming of the MessiahCh.3: The Coming of the Messiah

The Gospel Portraits of Christ’s Origins

• Jesus’ birth, Life, Death, and Resurrection fulfilled the prophecies and promises of the Old Testament and achieved our salvation.

• Taken together, the four Gospels paint the most complete picture of the saving deeds of Jesus, beginning with his birth and culminating in his Passion, Death, and Resurrection.

• Both drawing upon Mark and the “Q” source, Matthew and Luke begin their Gospels with infancy narratives.

• Numerous similarities in their accounts:– use of infancy narratives to highlight Jesus’

identity

– angel foretold Jesus’ birth– Jesus conceived by the action of the Holy Spirit. Thus,

he is the Son of God.– Jesus born of the Virgin Mary, as was prophesized– his foster father, Joseph, a descendent of David,

making Jesus a true Son of David– Jesus born in Bethlehem, as prophesized in Micah 5:1

The Gospel of Matthew

• Differences in Matthew and Luke’s infancy narratives reflect their respective audiences.

• Matthew, writing for a Jewish audience, chiefly concerned to show how Jesus fulfilled God’s promises to the Jews.

• The opening genealogy of Matthew’s Gospel (Mt 1:1-17) links Jesus’ ancestry to Abraham, the Father of the Jews, and to King David.

• Matthew shows how Jesus’ birth (Mt 1:18-25) fulfills Old Testament prophecies, God’s promise to King David, and links Jesus’ foster father Joseph to the Joseph of the Old Testament.

• The visit of the Magi (Mt 2:1-12) represents the Lord’s willingness to accept Gentiles among those who worship him.

• Jesus’ flight into Egypt and the Massacre of the Infants (Mt 2:13-18) recalls Moses’ escape from Pharaoh, portraying Jesus as the new Lawgiver.

• Jesus’ return to Nazareth (Mt 2:19-23) recalls the exodus and presents Jesus as the definitive liberator of God’s people.

The Gospel of Luke

• Written for Gentile Christians

• Key themes:– Jesus’ preaching to the

lowly and outcast– Jesus’ journey toward

Jerusalem, where our salvation was to be achieved

Luke’s infancy narrative:• Announcement of John the Baptist’s Birth (Lk 1:5-25)—

John portrayed as a New Elijah, announcing the coming of the promised Messiah

• Announcement of the Birth of Jesus (Lk 1:26-38)—referred to as the Annunciation, the angel Gabriel told Mary she would conceive the Son of the Most High by the Holy Spirit, which she humbly accepted

• Mary Visits Elizabeth (Lk 1:39-56)—Elizabeth acknowledges Mary as the mother of God – Mary responds with the canticle known as the Magnificat

• Birth of John the Baptist (Lk 1:57-80)—John’s father Zechariah offers a prayer known as the “Benedictus” – praises God for remembering the promises he made to David – recognizes the prophetic role of his son

• Birth of Jesus (Lk 2:1-20)—Jesus is born in the birthplace of David yet in humble circumstance and surrounded by humble people like shepherds– conveys Luke’s theme of Jesus’ mission to the lowly and outcast

• Jesus’ Circumcision and Presentation in the Temple (Lk 2:21-38)—at this event the prophets Simeon and Anna recognized Jesus’ as the expected Messiah

• Finding of Jesus in the Temple (Lk 2:39-52)— teaching of the 12-year old astounded the teachers – prefigured when Jesus

would return to the Temple as an adult and confound the learned scribes and rabbis

The Gospel of John

• John begins his Gospel from before the creation of the world.

• The Prologue teaches that the Word of God became flesh in the person of Jesus Christ. This is what we mean by the Incarnation.

• This divinely revealed truth (dogma) reveals that Christ is both true God and true man.

Discussion: Why did God need to become human in order to save humanity?

The Purpose of the Incarnation

• The Catechism explains the purpose of the Incarnation:– To save us by reconciling us with God– So we might know God’s love– To provide a model of holiness for us– To make us “partakers of the divine nature”

Learning From the Life of Christ• Every aspect of Christ’s life is a Revelation of the

Father and therefore worthy of our study.

Revelation in the life of Christ – in his Incarnation he becomes poor and enriches

us with his poverty– in his hidden life we learn how his obedience to his

parents atones for our disobedience– in his preaching he tells us of the ways of God and

purifies our consciences– in curing the sick and driving out demons he fulfills

Isaiah’s prophecy of the Messiah– through his Cross and Resurrection he justifies us

Discussion: What aspects of Jesus’ life and teaching are especially important for you? Why?

• Every aspect of Christ’s life furthers the divine mission of restoring humanity to its original vocation—intimacy with God as his children.

Examples from the beginning of Jesus’ ministry:• The Baptism of Jesus– Jesus’ submission to baptism by John symbolizes his identifying

himself with us in our spiritual need and his acceptance of his role as Suffering Servant

– reveals the following important theological truths:• shows Jesus’ perfect submission to

the Father’s will• foreshadows Jesus’ death for the

remission of our sins• serves as a model to our own

baptism

• The Temptations of Jesus– #1: Satan tempts Jesus to turn stones into

bread• Jesus refuses to turn from God’s will and

trusts that God will provide for him– #2: to throw himself down from the Temple

• Jesus refuses to test God or doubt his love– #3: to worship Satan in exchange for all the

kingdoms of the world• Jesus refuses to worship anyone but God

– Jesus’ resistance of these temptations warn us of the temptations we will face as Christians and strengthens us to remain faithful to God’s will.

– It also reveals him as the New Adam, remaining obedient where Adam failed, and foreshadows his ultimate victory over Satan in the Paschal Mystery.

The Beginning of Jesus’ Ministry

• The mysteries of the early part of Christ’s ministry—including his baptism and temptations in the desert—help to reveal more about the mystery of our Salvation

• The central theme of Jesus’ preaching from the beginning is that the Kingdom of God is at hand.

• Jesus taught with authority unlike anyone else, even claiming to be the fulfillment of the prophecies.

• At the beginning of his ministry Jesus gathers disciples to himself, some of whom had been followers of John the Baptist.

• Jesus’ first miracle at the wedding in Cana reveals his compassion for common people, foreshadowing of three sacraments, and Jesus’ power over nature.

The Beginning of Jesus’ Ministry