Jesus and the People of His Jesus and the People of His TimeTime

Entering into the Mystery of Christ

Rubbing elbows with the Rubbing elbows with the Big-JBig-J

Jesus encountered various people; he did not limit himself to a certain group of people only

All levels of society: rich & poor, powerful & weak, pious & sinful

By studying Jesus’ encounter with these people we can understand better his unique challenge to each of them and to each of us!

Big-J criticizes Big-J criticizes PhariseesPharisees’ ’ teachings teachings ((Mt. 23:27)

“separate ones” Different from all who cared less about the

law The holy ones of Israel Few of them are really good

The Pharisees were an influential lay movement

Strict observance of God’s law Big J rebuked: letters of the law vs.

spirit of the law

Big-J criticizes Big-J criticizes PhariseesPharisees’ teachings ’ teachings ((Mt. 23:27)

Big-J corrects the Big-J corrects the SadduceesSadducees about about Resurrection Resurrection ((Mk 12:25-27)

“chief priests, elders and scribes” or “leaders of the people”

Rejected the teaching on Resurrection & angels (Lk. 20:27-44) Accepted only the 5 orig. books of OT

Big J asserts: He is the authoritative teacher of the Scripture. Why? Because he is the fulfillment of Scripture

Big-J corrects the Big-J corrects the SaduduceesSaduducees about about Resurrection Resurrection ((Mt. 23:27)

Big-J eats with Big-J eats with Tax Tax CollectorsCollectors

“publicans” Abused their power by bribing people

and imposing extremely high tax rates to enrich themselves

“public sinners” Matthew, the apostle was a tax

collector Zacchaeus, chief tax collector

Big-J eats with Big-J eats with Tax Tax CollectorsCollectors

Big-J chooses a Big-J chooses a ZealotZealot for a for a discipledisciple

Fanatical zeal for the Torah and God’s direct sovereignty and kingship Thought that the Messiah would be a

Davidic type of military leader Planned an armed overthrow of the

Romans Simon the apostle was a Zealot

Big-J Big-J chooses a chooses a ZealotZealot for a disciplefor a disciple

Big-J shows compassion for Big-J shows compassion for the the SamaritansSamaritans

Half Jews Intermarried with Pagans

Samaritans and Jews are very hostile to one another

Jesus always associated himself with the outcasts (the “little ones” or the “lost sheep”) of the society

Big-J shows compassion Big-J shows compassion for the for the SamaritansSamaritans

The The Big-JBig-J & a People & a People Longing for a Longing for a MessiahMessiah

Every Jew longed for a Messiah Someone who would end their suffering &

oppression Someone like Moses, a new high priest, a

military leader to overthrow Romans, a Davidic King to restore the Kingdom to its former glory

No one even imagined that the Messiah would be the Divine Son of God Himself!

Jews did not recognize their own Messiah; the Savior of the World for all time

The DebateThe Debate

Is Jesus the Messiah? Why Can’t the Jews believe?