From Jesus to Christ

From Jesus to Christ

What do we really know about this man we call our Saviour?

1Jesus may not have been the humble carpenter we imagine him to beThere has been debate over whether or not Jesus was born of the peasant class.

We like to think of him as a working class man from humble means.

In fact, Nazareth was located near to Sepphoris, a vibrant, urban centre.

Jesus was a proven scholar when it came to reading Hebrew scripture and he likely spoke at least a few languages.

Jesus as activist?When Jesus threw the merchants and moneylenders out and turned over the stalls in the temple during the holiday season, he knew that this was going to cause trouble.

Jesus shook things up. He advised the occupied Jewish people to "Then give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's. Luke 20:25meaning pay your taxes to the Romans!

He openly consorted with radicals such as tax collectors, prostitutes and lepers.

Jesus demonstrated a new way of being People of God.

Who really crucified Christ?The crucifixion was a Roman actit was the natural consequence of sedition or rising up against the state. Jesus was a trouble maker to the Roman rulers. A rabble rouser.

The occupying Roman government of the day had a very clear way of dealing with trouble makers, especially during the holidays.

The number of Jewish people who participated in his death was probably, relatively few.

"Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me? Psalm 22

Jesus spoke these words from the cross.

Jesus often referred to the Scriptures to demonstrate how he was fulfilling Gods promises to the Jewish people.

His words and deeds connected the Old Testament with the New.

Jesus connects the old with the newDo all the Gospels tell the same story?It is interesting to note the differences between the four Gospel stories of Christianity.

From the telling of the nativity to the story of Christs death on the cross, each of the Gospel stories attributed to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, have their own telling.

Each from a different perspective each written for a varied audience all interpreting the Good News.

So, who do YOU say he is?..