Why we are here
Jesus Christ has had such an impact on the
world. We know the impact and ideal of
Christ, but do we really know Jesus? Would
you like to know Jesus? Seems like a simple
enough question, but this is the question that
has shaped contemporary American
Christianity. Let's deep deeper together into
really knowing the historical Jesus: the
Preacher, the Prophet, the Politician, the
Criminal, and the Saint.
An Agenda for Methodists
• Why study Jesus historically
• How has it been done before us?
• Sources for the Historical Jesus
• Preacher, Prophet, Politician, Criminal, Saint
• The Gospel’s Strange Christology
• Christological Affirmations
• Models of Jesus/Christ
• Jesus/Christ in Wesley
Why should we subject Jesus
to historical study?
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Our need for God
Our loyalty to Scripture
The imperative for truth
Our commitment to mission
according the N. T. Wright
Seeking the Jesus in History
Phase One: Study Jesus with standards of
the Enlightenment.
Phase Two: Recognition of oral tradition as
vehicle of the Gospels; an insistence on
using form and reduction criticism.
Phase Three: Sociological and archeological
studies are used to analyze theories.
Phase Four (current literature): Emphasis on
stories rather than sayings.
What are our sources for study?
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Hebrew Bible or Old Testament
Dead Sea Scrolls
Jewish Rabbinic Writing (Talmudic study)
New Testament
The Nag Hammadi Library
Jewish History (Works of Josephus)
Classical History (Tacitus & Pliny)
Jesus the Preacher
The Message of Jesus
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The Kingdom of God is at hand!
Kingdom is not about life after death.
God’s direct rule on earth is the Kingdom.
Kingdom built on radical justice for
marginalized, oppressed, and the poor.
• Love of enemies is Kingdom work.
Jesus the Prophet
The Prophecy of Jesus
• Predictions of destruction go back to
Jesus.
• Destruction of Jerusalem predicted on
logical and natural consequences of
violent resistance to Rome.
• Jesus tells his followers to flee rather
than fight.
Jesus the Politician
The Politics of Jesus
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Jesus’ intent was to start a movement.
Open banquet table primary symbol.
Forgiveness of sinners primary action
Called for commitment to new ethos of the
Kingdom
• Triumphal entry protests oppression of
Jewish people by authorities in Jerusalem.
• Acts out prophecy of Zechariah 9:9-12
Jesus the Criminal
The Crimes of Jesus
• Jewish and Roman authorities were
threatened by a call to justice:
• Roman taxation caused foreclosures
• Temple tax was burdensome
• Officials lived luxuriously while majority
struggled
• Many felt his large crowd would lead to
violence.
Jesus the Saint
The Lasting Image of Jesus
• Discipleship means living life as Jesus did
through prayer, service and study.
• Discipleship means confronting social,
economic and political injustice.
• Discipleship means following the way of nonviolence, compassion and healing.
• Discipleship is best nurtured within a
community of fellow believers in a particular
faith tradition.
The Gospels’ Strange Christology
The Gospels vary in ways they perceive
and portray Jesus/Christ. Each Gospel
was written for a particular time, people
and place. Even Paul, in his letters,
envisions the Gospels and Jesus/Christ
differently.
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Paul
- Jewish Messiah
- Mysterion (human/divine)
- Healer
- Co-Creator God
- Author of Salvation
Christological Affirmations
Messiah
Son of God
Son of Man
Lord
God
Models of Jesus/Christ
The example of a godly life
A symbolic presence
Christ as mediator
Presence of the Spirit
Revelational presence
Substantial presence
Jesus/Christ in Wesley
Wesley’s concern for the divinity of Christ
hinged on the idea of Christ being the
gateway to God’s sole responsibility and
authorship of salvation. Christ’s atoning
work was healing the human disease of
original sin.