JHCF Ch. 7

Jesus as Teacher

·  Teacher, Master, Rabbi: titles used almost interchangeably in various translations of the Gospels.

·  Jesus’ style of teaching made him different from other rabbis.

  1. Taught on his own authority.
  2. Called disciples to a lifelong relationship and gave them a share in his mission
  3. Called God Abba

What exactly did he teach?

·  Gospels are not exact recordings of Jesus’ words; they are the early faith community’s reflections on and expressions of Jesus’ life and message

·  Two words that were probably original with Jesus:

  1. Abba--only Jesus addressed God this way
  2. Amen--only Jesus used this at the beginning of a saying--to give weight to his teachings

·  Again, the words convey meaning; written under the guidance of the Holy Spirit

Jesus’ method of speaking was typical of Jews of his day--poetic.

·  Used symbols, figures of speech, exaggeration.

·  Like other Jews of his time, he filled his presentations with imagery from the Hebrew Bible, and supported his statements with words from the Scriptures.

Jesus’ sayings and stories fall into four categories:

·  Pronouncement Stories: stories worked as setup for the big idea--the point. Pronouncements themselves are from Jesus; stories might have been adapted by Evangelists for different audiences.

  1. corn on the Sabbath
  2. greatest commandment

·  Short Sayings: also known as proverbs, these are short but highly thought-provoking statements. Most famous is Beatitudes

  1. Matt.--Sermon on the Mount
  2. Lk.--Sermon on the Plain

Same three lessons from each

  1. Kingdom is in the future--not of this world but in it now
  2. Kingdom is in our midst
  3. To see the Kingdom we must live a life of love and service

·  Instructions for Disciples

  1. Lord’s prayer in Matt. and Lk.: may be a summary of Jesus’ entire Gospel message; may also be the early church’s attempt to summarize Jesus’ major teachings
  2. Sayings on demands of discipleship in Matt. 10

·  Parables:

  1. from a Greek word meaning comparison. Two things compared to make a point.
  2. based on situations from everyday life
  3. generally have a surprise ending (lost sheep, prodigal son)

Themes of the Parables

·  Description of King: Gods nature, qualities, dealings with people

·  Kingdom Responses: what is required to enter the Kingdom

·  Relations with Neighbors: how we should treat one another

·  Fulfillment of Kingdom: the coming of the Kingdom and its fullness

Same parables can be used to teach different lessons in different Gospels

·  Jesus may have used the same story more than once to illustrate different points.

·  The sayings and interpretations that conclude the parables often reflect the early faith community’s answers to Jesus’ questions

John’s Gospel: very different from synoptics--poetic and highly symbolic

·  Long discourses--extended presentations by Jesus

  1. bread of life (ch. 6)
  2. last supper (chs. 14-17)

·  allegories--prolonged metaphors in which everything symbolizes something else

·  “I Am” sayings--allude to the meaning of YHWH; show a direct relationship between Jesus and God

  1. bread of life
  2. light of the world
  3. gate
  4. good shepherd
  5. resurrection and life
  6. way, truth, and life
  7. true vine