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?