New Testament

Chapter 4Path Through Catholicism

Birth of Jesus• Mary was probably about 13 and Joseph was probably about 18 and may

have barley known each other when they became betrothed.• Jewish marriages began with a betrothal (like an engagement,) that lasted

one year and had all the legal force of a marriage.• Jesus was not born on December 25 – this date was chosen by early

Christians because it was the pagan Roman feast of the “Unconquerable Sun.”

• Only Matthew & Luke begin with birth narratives. Matthew, with his frequent references to Old Testament prophecies probably wrote to a Jewish audience. Luke’s world-history background suggests he was writing to a non-Jewish audience.

Birth Narratives: Preview of Jesus’ Ministry

Gift Symbolism:

Gold (“king” of metals) Kingship Son of DavidMyrrh (used for burial) Humanity Son of MaryFrankincense (used in worship) Divinity Son of God

Gentile/Jewish Response to Jesus’ Message:

Magi Many Gentiles will accept itHerod Many Jews will reject it

About The Four Gospels:

Mark was written first, about 70 AD in Rome to persecuted RomansSuffering Messiah, symbol a winged lion

Mathew was written second between 70 and 75 AD in Syria to converted JewsTeaching Messiah, symbol a winged man

Luke was written third between 70 and 80 AD in Greece to lower-class GreeksCompassionate Messiah, symbol a winged ox

These three are called the synoptic Gospels because of their similarities

John was written last after 90 AD in Ephesus to all ChristiansLife-Giving Messiah, symbol an eagle (which has wings!)

John’s Gospel is different; it assumes the reader has knowledge of Jesus

Look up the Last Supper in each Gospel: Mt 26: 26-30; Mk 14:22-26; Lk 22:14-20; Jn 13:1-20

Baptism of Jesus• The sky opens above Jesus: – New Era in history is beginning– Represents the Son in the Trinity

• A dovelike form descends upon Jesus: – New Creation: third act in play image of the Bible:• 1. Creation, 2. De-creation, 3. Re-creation

– Represents the Holy Spirit in the Trinity• A heavenly voice identifies Jesus: – New Adam: first born of new creation• Adam: first born of old creation

– Represents the Father in the Trinity

Contexts:

Historical: the time frame in which an event took place

Cultural: the moral, faith, social, artistic values of a people

Reminder:

We believe the Holy Spirit worked with cooperative human writers to compose the Scriptures; IN OTHER WORDS: the Holy Spirit inspired the human writers of Scripture in what they wrote.

Miracles of Jesus• Jesus’ miracles were signs that announced two

long-awaited events:– The Kingdom of God

• Manifestation of Jesus’ power over demons (evil spirits)– God's Kingdom is like a seed. It is planted and growing, but has it has

not yet borne its intended fruit.– Satan’s Kingdom is doomed. It is like a flower severed from its roots.

It still look as though it has life, but its days are numbered.

– The Messiah of God• What the prophets foretold about the Messiah, Jesus

fulfilled.• Invite faith:

– Blind: open your eyes; see what Jesus does– Deaf: open your ears; hear what Jesus says– Raising: open your hearts; begin a new life

Applying the Parable of the Sower to Everyday life:four students were discussing a guidance counselor…

The “seeds:” Mike, Jordan, Amy, Jan

The “fates:”• Seed falls on path• Seed falls on rocks• Seed falls among thorns,• Seed falls on good soil

Death of JesusFour kinds of pain Jesus suffered:

Mind HeartMental EmotionalPain of anticipation Pain of desertion by apostles

Body SoulPhysical SpiritualPain of crucifixion “Forsaken” by God

Crucifixion is a sign, invitation and revelation:“No greater love” (sign)“Love as I love” (invitation)“Love entails pain” (revelation)

Resurrection of Jesus

Resuscitation: Lazarus, Jairus’ daughterThey returned to old life

Resurrection: JesusHe leaped into a new life

His resurrection is a promise that we too shall rise to new life after death! (We know this by faith and a kind of deep-down intuition.)

Spirit of Jesus (Holy Spirit) changed everything!

Without the Spirit, God is far away.The cosmos is steeped in mystery;Jesus is only a teacher;Scripture is just a book;The Church is only a club.

In the Spirit,The cosmos is steeped in labor,Giving birth to the Kingdom.Jesus is risen,Drawing all things to himself.Scripture is God’s Word,Revealing all truth.The Church is God’s People,Alive in the Spirit.

Chapter Test:

Matching:1. C2. A3. E4. B5. I6. G7. H8. D9. J10. F

True/False1. T2. F3. T4. F5. F6. T7. T

Fill In the Blanks1. a. Gold

b. Frankincense c. Myrrh

2. a. God’s Messiahb. God’s Kingdomc. Kingshipd. Divinitye. Humanity

God the Father

Chapter 5Path Through Catholicism

Parable of GodParables are short, fictional stories Jesus used to teach people.

Parables are constructed so that the characters or images in them mirror characters in real life: parables of the Sower, the Good Shepherd, Prodigal Son, etc.

Images of God from Scripture:Old Testament:

Ps 104:5-9 (Creator)Dt 32:11 (Eagle)Ps 23:4,6 (Shepherd)

New Testament

Lk 12:30, 15:20 (Father)Jn 14:10, 15:20 (Trinity)

“One afternoon a musician…” What do we mean by the expression “give glory to God”? What are ways we give “glory” to God?

God as CreatorChicago Sun Times 12/25/68:

From the Earth to the Moon,1865, Jules Verne- Launched from Florida on Dec 1- Three men aboard- Twelve feet tall and 12,230 lbs.- Traveled about 25,000 mph on its 238,000-mile journey- Splashed down: Pacific, Dec 11

Apollo 8, 1968

- Launched from Florida on Dec 22- Three men aboard- Twelve feet tall and 12.392 lbs. (minus 36-story Saturn rocket)- Traveled 24,200 mph on its 225,000-mile journey- Splashed down: Pacific, Dec. 27

Prayer is not only talk to God, but “listening” to God, not with the ears of our body, but with the “ears of the soul.”

St. Irenaeus: God’s glory is a human being fully alive.

(From George Bernard Shaw’s play, St. Joan:)Interrogator: How do you mean, voices?Joan: I hear voices telling me what to do. They come from God.Interrogator: They come from your imagination.Joan: Of course. That is how the messages of God come to us.

St. Augustine: Our hearts were made for you, O Lord, and they will not rest until thy rest in you.

A convict: God is always with us; it’s just that we’re not always with God.

St. Augustine: If you pray and so what you can do, God will hear you and help you do what you can’t do alone.

God as FatherJesus called God the Father, “Abba”Children in Palestine today still call their Father, “Abba” (Daddy.)

Our love is finite: we loveGod’s love is infinite: God is love

Bishop Fulton Sheen summed it this way:Creation God gives lifeRedemption God’s love forgivesEucharist God’s love unitesHeaven God’s love is eternal

God's love is often mediated through people:

John Drescher, If I were Starting my Family Again:

I remember a little fellow, frightened by lightening and thunder,who called out in the dark, “Daddy, come. I’m scared.”“Son,” the father said, “God loves you, and he’ll take care of you.”“I know God loves me,” the boy replied, “but right now I want somebody who has skin on.”

When are times you have needed someone with “skin on”?How have you experienced God’s love through people?

God as TrinityJesus mentions or refers to God as Father or the Spirit over 100x’s in the Gospel of John.

Trinitarian images:The Bible: Old Testament= Father; Gospel=Son; Acts, Letters, Revelation=SpiritDenis Hayes:

Light Father (Creator)Heat Son (Redeemer)Energy Spirit (Sanctifier)

St. Ignatius: 3 notes, one soundSt. Patrick: 3 petals, one leafJohn Wesley: 3 candles, one lightH20: 3 forms, one substance (solid, gas, liquid)

Mother: 3 roles, 1 person (wife, mother, friend)

Chapter Test:

Matching:1. B2. C3. A4. G5. D6. E7. F

True/False1. T2. F3. T4. T5. F6. F7. T8. T9. F10. T11. T12. T

Fill In the Blanks1. a. Creation

b. Scripture c. Jesus

2. a. Sonb. Spiritc. Father

God the Son

Chapter 6Path Through Catholicism

Image of God the SonICHTHYS is an acronym.Iesous JesusChristos ChristTheou God’sYios SonSoter SaviorHow can we find happiness?

How can we change ourselves?How can we change the world?

Jesus is the answer to many questions… the two most important questions are:What is God like?What did God make me to be like?

Jesus

Jesus’ name is also descriptive:Son of Man – a member of mankindSon of God – the Savior of mankind

Native Americans often use descriptive names: “Sure Foot”, “Running Deer”

Think of how we do that…. Mike Jordan’s “hang-time” earned him the name “Air Jordan”…. Tim Tebow’s kneeling in brief prayer earned the action the name “Tebowing”…. William Perry’s large size and solid form earned him the name “The Refrigerator” …. Which ones can you think of….

ChristWhen David succeed Saul as king, God makes a covenant with him: “Your kingdom will last forever” 2 Samuel 7:16

The covenant begins a series of promises called “messianic prophecies.”

Jesus identifies himself as the Messiah, “the anointed one.” John 10:24

The anointed: Messiah (Hebrew)Christos (Greek)Christ (English)

Christmas is about God becoming one of us to save us and teach us what is for our good, both:

In this life andIn the life to come

HG Wells, author and historian, was commissioned to pick the “three greatest men of history.” He placed Jesus first, Buddha second and Aristotle third.

Son of God

Old Testament: used figuratively of many (like kings)New Testament: used literally of Jesus (John 10:36)

“My Son” – Baptism: voice from heaven- Mountain: voice from cloud

Mt. Tabor – moment of ecstasy, Divinity shines throughMatthew 17:2-6

Mt. Olives – moment of agony, Humanity shines throughLuke 22:39, 42

How might the story of the man saving the boy in the river serve as a parable of Jesus? (pg 82)

Savior

What did Jesus save us “from”?Spiritual slavery and death, “the Kingdom of Satan”

What did Jesus save us “for”?Bringing to completion his saving work: replacing the “Kingdom of Satan” with the “Kingdom of God”

Jesus The Son of man (human)Lord The Son of God (divine)Christ The promised Messiah

Napolean Bonaparte (on Jesus being more than a man:)I know men andI tell you that Jesus is not a man…I have inspired multitudesthat they would die for me…a word form me, then the sacred firewas kindled in their hearts. I do indeedpossess the secret of this magical powerwhich lifts souls, but I could neverimpart it to anyone (as Jesus did andcontinues to do across the ages.)

Chapter Test:

Matching:1. B2. E3. A4. D5. C

True/False1. T2. T3. F4. F5. F6. T7. T8. F9. T10. F

Fill In the Blanks1. a. baptism

b. transfiguration2. a. God

b. ourselves3. a. Jesus

b. Christc. Son of Godd. Savior

4. a. divineb. human