Names of Jesus
- Throughout the Old Testament and even in the Jewish religion, God is referred to as Yahweh,
whose name means "I am who I am."
- The name "Jesus" means God saves
- The name "Christ" means anointed or chosen one.
- Another of his names was "Emmanuel" which means "God is with us."
- Jesus is also called the Messiah, meaning savior.
Important Contemporaries in Jesus’ Time
Disciples - Followers of Jesus who were committed to living his teachings and often traveled
with him.
Apostles - Refers to the group of twelve closest disciples to Jesus who became leaders for early
Christians.
Pharisees - Group of Middle class Jewish people who strongly followed the Torah (part of the
Old Testament).
- Believed that being holy means following the laws very strictly
- Often disliked and judged people who didn't follow the law and separated themselves from
those people like the sinners, Samaritans and Romans.
- Were very religious and deeply believed that their way of life was in accordance to God's will.
Many of them weren't priests or Temple officials.
Sadducees - Upper class Jewish conservative priestly officials.
- Many were very wealthy and were priests or officials in the Temple.
- They have much control over the Temple worship.
- Looked down on the Pharisees and others who weren't priests and who
thought differently.
- Want to maintain status quo, generally cooperated with the Romans well to keep their wealth
and power.
- Don't really take their faith that seriously; see religion as a way of gaining power and status.
Zealots - Extremely fanatical Jews who wanted their own independent country
- Despised the Romans and believed in the use of violent tactics to overthrow them.
- Believed that the Kingdom of God meant God would help them form a new Jewish kingdom
like in the Old Testament.
Sanhedrin - The assembly of leaders of the Jewish people in Israel that also basically served as
the court. They end up deciding Jesus' fate when he gets put on trial.
Passion - Refers to the final part of Jesus' story once he enters Jerusalem, including his arrest,
trial, and death on the cross.
Paschal Mystery - Refers to the mystery of Jesus' death on the cross and Resurrection, in which
God's saving love is fully revealed to us. It's based on the question why did God choose to do
this and what does this mean for us?
Crucifixion - Jesus' death on the cross.
Resurrection - Jesus' rising from the dead. This event is celebrated on Easter, which is
considered to be the most important religious day for Catholics.
Easter - The feast and season that celebrates Jesus' Resurrection from the dead.
Incarnation - The Catholic belief that God became a human being in Jesus Christ and that Jesus
was both fully human and divine (God)
Revelation - The way that communicates knowledge of himself to us by words and actions over
time. The most complete act of revelation was God sending Jesus Christ to the world.
Evangelization - To spread the Good News of Jesus to other people
Triduum - The period of three days (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter) that celebrates
the passion and resurrection of Jesus.
Ascension - Jesus' passage from humanity into divine glory in God's heavenly domain forty days
after his Resurrection. (When Jesus returns to heaven after he resurrected)
Pentecost - The feast/season that celebrates when the Holy Spirit came to the Apostles and gave
them the power to preach God's word. This also is considered to be the birthday and beginning
of the Church.