Who isJesus?

A lmost all we know about Jesus of

nazareth is found in four short texts that recount his astonishing life, condemnation to death by condemnation to death by crucifixion, and incredible crucifixion, and incredible resurrection. these are the hese are the gospels. written by four ritten by four authors (matthew, atthew, mark, lluke, and John) between uke, and John) between uke, and John) between 65 and 100 65 and 100 aaD—that is, 35 to 70 years after is, 35 to 70 years after is, 35 to 70 years after is, 35 to 70 years after Jesus’ death—they are Jesus’ death—they are Jesus’ death—they are not eyewitness accounts. not eyewitness accounts. not eyewitness accounts. not eyewitness accounts. the word “gospel” means he word “gospel” means he word “gospel” means he word “gospel” means good news, and the good news, and the good news, and the gospels try especially to gospels try especially to gospels try especially to share the good news of share the good news of share the good news of share the good news of the victory of Jesus over the victory of Jesus over the victory of Jesus over the victory of Jesus over death. but Jesus is not a ut Jesus is not a ut Jesus is not a ut Jesus is not a character out of a legend. character out of a legend. character out of a legend. character out of a legend. ancient testimony, often ncient testimony, often ncient testimony, often ncient testimony, often hostile, provides us with hostile, provides us with hostile, provides us with hostile, provides us with proof that Jesus really proof that Jesus really proof that Jesus really proof that Jesus really existed, that he was existed, that he was existed, that he was condemned, and that he condemned, and that he condemned, and that he

gave rise to a particularly vigorous community of believers. such testimony largely agrees with the largely agrees with the gospels. gospels. the only thing that cannot be explained is Jesus’ resurrection. the resurrection is therefore the heart of the gospels’ message and the heart of the Christian faith. many have faced death to witness to that faith.witness to that faith.

Surprising newsLord, I have searched for you…Lord, as much as I have been able, as far as you have given

me the strength, I have searched for you and I have tried to fathom what I believe, and I have argued and struggled.

Lord, my God, my only hope, grant me this: let me not tire of searching for you, but rather put into my heart a more ardent desire to search for you.

Here I am before you in my strength and my weakness: support the one, heal the other.

I lay before you my knowledge and my ignorance; wherever you have closed me, open to him who knocks.

Let me remember you.Let me understand you.Let me love you. • st. augustine

faithmatters

faithmatters

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The Bible: A treasure trove waiting The Bible: A treasure trove waiting to be discoveredto be discovered (95bbib)

Why should I go to confession? Why should I go to confession? (95bCon)

Depression…How can I overcome it?Depression…How can I overcome it? (95 DeP)

Divorced: How do you rebuild your life? Divorced: How do you rebuild your life? (95bDiV)

The Eucharist: A great mystery!The Eucharist: A great mystery! (95beuC)

I’ve lost my faith… (95bfai)

How do you read the gospels? (95 (95bgos)

Living through the ordeal of illnessLiving through the ordeal of illness (95bill)

Face to face with suicide (95bsui)

Who is Jesus? (95bwho)

Why do evil and suffering exist? (95(95bsuf)

When we’re shaken by death (95bDeaea)

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For 2,000 years, millions of believers have been inspired by the life and message

of Jesus, which form the basis of the whole Christian faith.

But who is Jesus? An exceptional man? An envoy from God? God himself, come

to bring peace and love to mankind?support the one, heal the other.I lay before you my knowledge and my ignorance; wherever

you have closed me, open to him who knocks.Let me remember you.Let me understand you.Let me love you. ugustine

matters

“Patras cathedral - central dome,” flickr/Photos/eusebius

The Bible: A treasure trove waiting The Bible: A treasure trove waiting to be discoveredto be discovered

Why should I go to confession? (95

Depression…How can I overcome it?Depression…How can I overcome it?Divorced: How do you rebuild your life? Divorced: How do you rebuild your life?

his astonishing life, condemnation to death by crucifixion, and incredible resurrection. hese are the hese are the

written by four authors (m mark,

uke, and John) between 65 and 100 65 and 100 is, 35 to 70 years after is, 35 to 70 years after Jesus’ death—they are Jesus’ death—they are not eyewitness accounts. not eyewitness accounts. not eyewitness accounts. not eyewitness accounts. he word “gospel” means he word “gospel” means he word “gospel” means he word “gospel” means

good news, and the gospels try especially to gospels try especially to gospels try especially to share the good news of share the good news of share the good news of

gospels. gospels. tthat cannot be explained is Jesus’ resurrection. resurrection is therefore

message and the heart of the Christian faith.

any have faced death to witness to that faith.witness to that faith.

not eyewitness accounts. he word “gospel” means

good news, and the gospels try especially to share the good news of

to bring peace and love to mankind?to bring peace and love to mankind?

Who is?

Who isJesus

hotos/eusebius

)

(95bD

Jesus

The context

J esus was born arounDthe year 6 bC to a

woman named mary. he lived in troubled times: Palestine was occupied by the romans, and Jewish political and religious life was fractured into conflicting camps. the rich landowning class from which the top priests were drawn had chosen to collaborate with the roman occupation. many contested the authority of the collaborators and lived an ascetic life. a

group known as the Pharisees held that living a moral life was more important than religious ceremonies. another group—among them John the baptist—insisted on conversion. some Jews opposed rome by force of arms. Jesus was familiar with all of these movements, but he laid out a new path.

Jesus’ life and the Jesus’ the Jesus’

message

From the beginning, Jesus healeD the siCk,

the lame, the ParalyzeD. this was the concrete indication of the new life he came to bring to all humanity. he taught us to love god and our neighbors and to seek peace, justice, forgiveness, and goodness.

but Jesus also did some surprising things: he healed people on the sabbath day, a day of rest according to Jewish law. he interacted with people in all walks of life. the good news that he came to bring was for all people, and reached beyond rites, social conventions, and borders. furthermore, Jesus claimed a particular and personal connection with god, whom he called his father. finally, Jesus claimed to be able to forgive sins, something only god can do.

Condemnation and death

A ll this was too muCh.those who felt their

power threatened by Jesus looked for ways to eliminate him. bit by bit opposition grew among some Jewish religious leaders. but Jesus was popular. so a secret plot was organized. Judas, a follower of Jesus, participated in the plot. after a show trial, Jesus was condemned to death by Pontius Pilate, roman procurator of the province.

this began the passion of Jesus: he was first whipped, then mocked (a crown of thorns was placed on his head because he had proclaimed himself king), made to carry his cross to the place of execution, and finally nailed to the cross. Crucifixion was a horrible death. it was the punishment reserved for slaves and political enemies. Jesus died, abandoned by those close to him, except for his

mother, mary, along with John and a few women.

Jesus returns to lifeJesusto lifeJesus

Three Days later, early in the morning on the

day of Passover, Jesus’ tomb was found empty. he appeared to mary magdalene and then to his other disciples. the accounts of the resurrection have a great human richness. through these accounts, the evangelists pass on all their faith in Jesus, who has brought them life and to whom they feel so close. the good news spread like wildfire among Jesus’ friends. at first incredulous, these men and women would later become tireless witnesses of this victory over

death that had changed their death that had changed their lives—and can still deeply lives—and can still deeply affect ours.

And nowAnd nowAnd

Does this beautiful story belong only to

the Past? look around you: today, men and women today, men and women tstill draw on Jesus for their strength, their joy, and their model for relating to others. think of mother teresa and teresa and tso many other people who have given their time and their lives to him. they did this because they had found Jesus. and they found him by reading the gospels and taking his words seriously. it is still possible today to have a relationship with Jesus and experience his forgiveness. •

Jesus is someone you never finish discovering, loving, and rediscovering

in every person.

mo

re…

Jesus…his dates• Jesus would in fact have Jesus would in fact have been born in the year 5, 6, or been born in the year 5, 6, or 7 “before Christ.” this is due his is due to a calculation error made to a calculation error made in the fourth century. almost lmost nothing is known of Jesus’ nothing is known of Jesus’ first thirty years. first thirty years. hhis public is public life began around the year 27 or 28, and lasted at least two years. Jesus very likely died april 7, 30, when he would have been somewhat more than thirty years old.

Jesus…his landJesus…his land• Jesus lived in Jesus lived in galilee, in what is now northern what is now northern srael. it was a rich and fertile land. the galileans spoke aramaic, a language closely related to hebrew. to get to get tto galilee from the area around Jerusalem, it would around Jerusalem, it would have been necessary to pass have been necessary to pass through or around through or around samaria, whose inhabitants were whose inhabitants were considered foreigners and considered foreigners and idolaters.idolaters.

Jesus…his religionJesus…his religion• Jesus was Jewish. Judaism Jesus was Jewish. Judaism and its ritual obligations and its ritual obligations were at the heart of daily were at the heart of daily life in life in galilee. religion was part of family life, but people part of family life, but people also frequently attended their local synagogue and gathered at the gathered at the gathered at the temple in emple in temple in tJerusalem on major holidays Jerusalem on major holidays Jerusalem on major holidays Jerusalem on major holidays for ritual animal sacrifices.for ritual animal sacrifices.for ritual animal sacrifices.for ritual animal sacrifices.

Jesus…his worldJesus…his world• tthe he romans reigned over an immense empire. over an immense empire. over an immense empire. Judea and Judea and Judea and samaria were under the direct authority under the direct authority under the direct authority under the direct authority of the emperor, who was of the emperor, who was represented locally by a represented locally by a “prefect,” while “prefect,” while galilee, homeland of Jesus, was homeland of Jesus, was homeland of Jesus, was homeland of Jesus, was governed by a king who paid governed by a king who paid governed by a king who paid governed by a king who paid governed by a king who paid tribute to tribute to tribute to tribute to rrome. ome. ome. throughout hroughout the first century, animosity the first century, animosity the first century, animosity the first century, animosity the first century, animosity the first century, animosity toward toward rome continued to ome continued to ome continued to ome continued to ome continued to grow. in the year 70, the first n the year 70, the first n the year 70, the first n the year 70, the first Jewish revolt was brutally Jewish revolt was brutally Jewish revolt was brutally Jewish revolt was brutally Jewish revolt was brutally repressed by repressed by titus. itus. itus. iin the year 135, hhadrian destroyed adrian destroyed adrian destroyed Jerusalem.Jerusalem.

contextesus was born aroun

to a he

Palestine was occupied by omans, and Jewish

political and religious life was fractured into

group known as the Pharisees held that living a moral life was more important than religious ceremonies. nother group—among them John the baptist—insisted on conversion. sJews opposed force of arms. Jesus was

life began around the year 27 or 28, and lasted at least two years. Jesus very likely

pril 7, 30, when he would have been somewhat more than thirty years old.

Jesus…his land Jesus lived in alilee, in

what is now northern israel. t was a rich and fertile

he galileans spoke ramaic, a language closely

related to hebrew. to get to get t

gathered at the gathered at the Jerusalem on major holidays for ritual animal sacrifices.for ritual animal sacrifices.

• tthe rover an immense empire. Judea and under the direct authority under the direct authority under the direct authority under the direct authority

represented locally by a represented locally by a “prefect,” while “prefect,” while homeland of Jesus, was governed by a king who paid governed by a king who paid

oday, men and women still draw on Jesus for their strength, their joy, and their model for relating to others.

other eresa and so many other people who have given their time and their lives to him. hey did this because they had found

nd they found him by reading the gospels and taking his words seriously. is still possible today to have a relationship with Jesus and experience his forgiveness.

it was a rich and fertile land. aramaic, a language closely related to

tomb was found empty. e appeared to agdalene and then to

his other disciples. accounts of the resurrection have a great human richness. hrough these accounts,

the evangelists pass on all their faith in Jesus, who has brought them life and to whom they feel so close. he good news spread

like wildfire among Jesus’ friends. at first incredulous, these men and women

today, men and women still draw on Jesus for their strength, their joy, and their model for relating to others. hink of m

so many other people who have given their time and their lives to him. this because they had found Jesus.

abbath day, a day of rest h

news that he came to bring

reached beyond rites, social conventions, and borders. urthermore, Jesus claimed

ather.

a follower of Jesus, participated in the plot.

fter a show trial, Jesus was condemned to death by Pontius Pilate, roman procurator of the province.

this began the passion of Jesus: hwas first whipped, then mocked (a crown of thorns was placed on his head because he had proclaimed himself king), made to carry his cross to the place of execution,

group—among them John

ome by force of arms. Jesus was

but Jesus also did some surprising things:

e healed people on the abbath day, a day of rest

according to Jewish law. interacted with people in all walks of life. news that he came to bring was for all people, and reached beyond rites, social conventions, and borders. urthermore, Jesus claimed

a particular and personal connection with god, whom he called his father.

sabbath day, a day of rest according to Jewish law. interacted with people in all walks of life. news that he came to bring was for all people, and reached beyond rites, social

his other disciples. the accounts of the resurrection have a great human richness. hrough these accounts,