What is Christianity?
Adapted from The Great Religious Leaders series this is ‘Jesus and Christianity’ written by Alan
Brown and published by Wayland ISBN 0-7502-3702-3
Introduction
At the heart of Christianity lies the person of Jesus. Everyone who calls them self a ‘Christian’
responds in some way to the events surrounding the life of Jesus.
Beginning in Israel, rooted in Jewish thinking the rise of Christianity was affected by Jewish ideas.
Jesus himself was a Jew; he would have been familiar with Jewish styles of teaching and the content of
the Jewish scriptures.
In the years after his death, his teaching spread, meeting the ideas and beliefs of the Greeks and the
Romans. It moved out of the land of Israel into the lands conquered by the Roman Empire, into North
Africa and beyond – maybe even India. People who were not Jews (Gentiles) and knew nothing of
Jewish thinking became followers – became Christian. Jesus’ Jewish teaching met new ideas and had to
deal with new situations. The religion of Jesus’ first followers was set to change and develop.
Christianity is a religion of belief. Christians believe things about Jesus himself, not just about what he
said. They believe he was fully God and fully man – a difficult idea to express – how can anyone be
fully both? They also believe Jesus saves people from sin and death. Sin separates a person from God;
it is not just breaking rules or laws. Christians believe that because all people are sinful only God can
wipe out sin. God did that by being born as a human being, Jesus. Through Jesus’ death and rising
from the dead, Jesus took away everyone’s sin and restored the relationship between God and creation.
Jesus was not only a teacher; it is who he was that matters. He taught that God’s Kingdom had come
and all who listen to him and believe could enter. Christians believe the Word of God was born on earth.
This showed how much God loved the world.
Christians are people who believe and trust in Jesus, in what he did for them and in the message he
brought.
Some Information about Christianity
 There are two billion Christians in the world.
 Half of all Christians are Roman Catholic and half of them live in Latin America.
 There are over 22,000 different Christian sects and denominations.
 The early followers of Jesus followed ‘The Way’; the word ‘Christian’ came later.
 The word ‘Christ’ is from a Greek word ‘Christos’. It has the same meaning as a Hebrew
word ‘Messiah’ – ‘anointed’.
Birth and the Early Stories
There are two stories of Jesus’ birth, one in the Gospel of Matthew, and the other in the Gospel of Luke.
In Matthew’s Gospel, Mary learns that, although engaged to Joseph, she has become pregnant through
the Holy Spirit. Joseph did not want to disgrace Mary and wanted to separate quietly but an angel came
to him in a dream to say Mary’s child would be called Jesus; he had been conceived by the Holy Spirit
and would save people from their sins, so Joseph married Mary after all.
Jesus was born in Bethlehem when Herod the Great was King. Men, often called Magi or wise men,
came from the East to find Jesus. They went to Herod to ask for guidance for they had seen in the stars
the baby would be King of the Jews. Herod was afraid that this newborn child would take away his
power so he asked the wise men to tell him when they had found Jesus so he too may worship him. The
Magi followed a star that stopped over the place where Jesus was born. After they had offered Jesus
their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh they left but, having been warned in a dream, did not return
to Herod. Joseph had another dream warning him that Herod wanted to kill Jesus so he took his family
and fled into Egypt. Herod was furious and ordered the death of all boys under two years old in or near
Bethlehem.
After Herod’s death, Joseph received another dream telling him it was safe to return and the family went
to live in Galilee, in Nazareth.
In Luke’s Gospel, Mary is told directly that, although a virgin, she will have a son to be called Jesus
‘Saviour’. Mary accepts the news obediently and rejoices with her cousin, Elizabeth, the mother of
John the Baptist.
Joseph and the expectant Mary went to Bethlehem from Nazareth because of a census. There was no
room at an inn so the baby was born and laid in a manger. Angels appeared to shepherds telling them of
this great birth and they went to visit the newborn babe. Jesus was named and, like every Jewish boy,
was circumcised.
When Joseph and Mary took Jesus to the Temple to give thanks to God, Simeon and Anna, two old
religious people, both recognised his special nature and spoke about his future. Mary and Joseph
returned to Nazareth.
When Jesus was twelve he and his family went to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. On leaving, his
parents travelled for a day before missing him and went back to find him teaching the religious teachers
in the Temple courtyard. Everyone was amazed at his knowledge. His mother “treasured all these
things in her heart” (Luke 2:51).
Birth & Early Stories
 Only two of the four Gospels (‘Good News’) tell stories about Jesus’ birth – Matthew
and Luke.
 The word ‘Jesus’ means ‘Saviour’. In Hebrew it would be ‘Joshua’.
 Matthew and Luke’s accounts agree on only a few details – the names of Jesus and his
parents, where he was born, Bethlehem, that Jesus was born of a virgin and that the
family went to live in Nazareth.
 There is no historical evidence for Herod’s slaughter of the babies in Bethlehem but it
recalls Pharaoh killing the Israelite babies at the time of the birth of Moses.
 Herod died in 4BCE so, if Matthew is correct, Jesus was probably born between 64BCE
 Dreams are often used to pass messages from God to people in the Bible.
 ‘Now let your servant depart in peace…. I have seen your salvation which you have
prepared…a light to lighten the Gentiles’ (Luke 2:29) are Simeon’s words when he sees
Jesus in the Temple.
The Ministry Begins
When Jesus began his teaching ministry, aged possibly in his early thirties, he was baptised by his
cousin, John the Baptist. As Jesus emerged from the water, he saw the Spirit of God come down on him
like a dove and a voice from heaven said “This is my own dear Son, with whom I am well pleased”
(Matt. 3:17).
Jesus went into the desert for forty days to reflect on his mission. He was tempted three times by the
devil: to change stones to bread; to throw himself off the highest point of the Temple; and to bow down
and worship the devil in exchange for the kingdoms of the world. Jesus rejected these, put temptation
behind him and began his work.
Jesus gathered twelve followers or disciples, to join him. First Jesus called Simon (later called Peter)
and his brother Andrew, then two other fishermen, James and John: others followed soon after
Jesus travelled throughout Galilee in the north of Israel preaching and teaching. He was, of course, a
Jew so he taught in synagogues as well as in the open air.
In his teaching, Jesus drew attention to the nearness of the Kingdom of God. His parables and miracles
were ways of challenging his hearers. Jesus wanted them to stop, listen and understand. He healed
people, curing diseases and other disorders and Gospels even tell of Jesus raising people from the dead.
News of this teacher spread and people came from far and wide to hear him.
Most of all, Jesus wanted people to understand who he was. A most important moment in his ministry
was when he asked his disciples who people said he was. Simon Peter replied, “You are the Messiah,
the Son of the Living God” (Matt. 16:13-15). Jesus tells Peter that he will be the rock on which he will
build his church. This was the first time a disciple had recognised who Jesus was.
Jesus was much criticised by the Jewish religious authorities and, as his ministry continued, he
recognised that difficult times lay ahead.
The Ministry Begins
 Jesus was probably over 30 years old when his ministry began.
 Jesus’ twelve disciples may reflect the fact there were twelve tribes of Israel.
 Jesus recognised the power of other miracle workers (Matt. 12:27) .He certainly wasn’t the
only miracle worker of his time.
 Jesus performed few healings near his hometown of Nazareth because of unbelief (Matt.
13:58). He was, after all, only the local carpenter’s son
 Jesus is called ‘rabbi’ (my master). This was a greeting given to a person of authority,
usually a religious teacher.
The Last Week
Jesus’ ministry probably lasted for three years. He moved through Israel making friends and enemies.
On the Sunday before his death he entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey, symbolising his message of
peace. Crowds threw palm branches in his path and shouted “Praise God! God bless him who comes in
the name of the Lord” (Mark 11:10).
During that final week Jesus taught his disciples about the coming difficulties. As the end of the week
drew near Jesus and his disciples gathered together in a room to eat the Last Supper.
At the meal Jesus drew attention to the fact that one of the disciples would betray him to his enemies.
He also told Peter that he would deny his master three times before the cock crowed and in an act of
humility, he washed his disciples’ feet. At the meal, he broke bread and shared wine from a cup. He
told his disciples “Do this in memory of me”.
After the meal he and his disciples went to the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus prayed for the courage to
carry out his father’s will but soon Judas, the betrayer, arrived with guards who arrested Jesus and took
him away.
Jesus was taken before the religious authorities which, after examining him, sent him to Pontius Pilate,
the Roman governor. As Jesus was appearing before Pilate, Peter was challenged three times about his
friendship with Jesus. Each time he denied all knowledge of him – then the cock crowed.
Pilate examined Jesus and handed him over to be crucified. He was beaten and carried his cross to
Golgotha, the place of crucifixion. He was nailed to the cross and hung there. Darkness came over the
land for three hours. At his death he cried out “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark
15:34 – a quotation from Psalm 22:1). He was crucified with two criminals on either side with female
followers standing by watching.
After death, Joseph of Arimathea asked for the body. It was taken down with care, dressed for burial
and placed in a tomb. A large stone was rolled over the entrance to seal it.
The Last Week
 Crucifixion, at the time of Jesus, was reserved for slaves and foreigners, not for
Roman citizens.
 In Roman custom, the clothes of Jesus would be the perk of his executioners.
 Jesus’ wrists would probably have been nailed to the cross and not his hands.
 The letters on the cross INRI are the initial letters in Latin for Jesus of Nazareth,
King of the Jews.
 Usually a body was left on the cross but people could ask for the right to bury it.
 ‘Gethsemane’ means ‘winepress’-a place of pressure.
 Judas refused the 30 pieces of silver he received for betraying Jesus and hanged
himself.
The Resurrection
Jesus was crucified on a Friday and when a small group of women, including Mary, his mother, came to
the tomb on Sunday they were amazed to see the stone rolled back. Entering the tomb they were told by
an angel that Jesus had risen from the dead. The women ran away terrified and told the disciples. They
were not believed until Peter ran to the tomb and saw the linen cloth that had been wrapped around
Jesus’ body and the empty tomb.
Two of Jesus’ followers were walking along the road to Emmaus when they fell into conversation with
a stranger. They told him about the events in Jerusalem. The stranger then taught them how the
Scriptures pointed to the death and resurrection of Jesus. When they arrived at an inn they invited the
stranger to join them in a meal. As he broke the bread at the meal they recognised him as Jesus and he
disappeared. They rushed on to Jerusalem to tell the disciples.
Jesus appeared a number of times to his disciples. He appeared to Thomas, a disciple who had not been
present when Jesus first appeared to the other disciples. Jesus invited Thomas to touch the wounds on
his hands, feet and side and Thomas believed immediately. Jesus appeared to Peter and others in
Galilee while they were fishing and ate with them. Each time Jesus appeared he confirmed the
disciples’ belief that he really had risen from the dead.
His words to Thomas sum up the importance of these appearances – “Do you believe because you see
me? How happy are those who believe without seeing me” (John 20:29).
Several weeks after Jesus had appeared to his disciples he was taken up into heaven leaving his disciples
with the promise of the Holy Spirit to come. One age had finished; the last age had begun.
The Resurrection
 The Temple authorities claimed the body of Jesus had been stolen.
 The role of women as witnesses is unusual. In Jewish law, the testimony of women
was not accepted and men would have to testify what they said and saw was true.
 It is generally agreed Mark’s Gospel ended originally at Chapter 16:8. This would
mean there would be no resurrection appearances in his Gospel.
 There is no description of the Resurrection: only the empty tomb and the
appearances of Jesus to his disciples and followers.
 There is no evidence from Judaism at the time of Jesus that the Messiah expected
by the Jews would die and rise again.
Parables
A feature of Jesus’ teaching in three Gospels is his use of parables. To tell a story with one or a layer of
meanings was a common method of religious teaching in Jesus’ time. He uses images and symbols that
would be very familiar to his listeners.
What the Gospel reader is not able to know is when Jesus actually told the parable. The Gospels contain
many parables but put them into a different context from that in which Jesus spoke them. So it is not
always easy to understand their meaning.
Some familiar parables – “The Good Samaritan” (Luke 10:25-37) and “The Lost Son (Luke 15:11-37)
are stories in themselves and can appear to be about one key person in the story. But, perhaps, there are
other people or events in each story that appeal to the reader today.
The longer parables are entertaining as stories in themselves, but virtually all the parables are about
forgiveness, the coming of the Kingdom, the growth of faith and understanding and that God guides
those who understand.
The emphasis of the parable is often on those who understand its meaning. Reading a parable 2000
years on it may seem obvious what it could mean, but clearly the Gospel writers wanted their readers to
know that some would not understand Jesus’ teaching.
The parable is a ‘word picture’; it may be a very brief picture, easily stored and recalled in moments of
reflection; it will have a relationship to everyday things – finding something lost, caring for the flock,
keeping something safe, watching something grow – “The Kingdom of Heaven is like this. A woman
takes some yeast and mixes it with forty litres of flour until the whole batch of dough rises” (Matt.
13:33). Every parable is focused on an aspect of Jesus’ teaching. Most of his teaching was not original
and can be found in Jewish teaching of his time – that is what you would expect; Jesus was a Jew and
most of his listeners would be Jewish.
‘Jesus used parables to tell all these things to the crowds; he did not say a thing to them without using a
parable’ (Matthew 13:34).
Parables
 There are few parables in the Hebrew Bible (the Christian Old Testament) – see 2
Samuel 2:1-15 – but rabbis (religious teachers) used them often at the time of Jesus.
 Most parables are a challenge to the listener. They were deliberately told to make
hearers think. If the hearer believed Jesus then understanding the parable was
easier.
 Some parables – the Parable of the Pearl (Matt. 13:45) and the Parable of the Yeast
(Matt. 13:33) - are about finding the Kingdom.
 Parables are one of Jesus’ most important methods of teaching.
 Sometimes it seems as if Jesus deliberately does not want people to understand
(Mark 4.12)
Miracles
Jesus’ miracles are not meant to be a proof of who he was but a way of teaching. “If he healed some
people, why not everyone?” some have asked. “What about walking on water? Surely everyone would
believe if he could do such things?” Jesus’ temptations in the wilderness show why he rejected being a
miracle man.
Jesus’ healing miracles are meant to challenge people, just like his teaching. The deaf and blind are
healed, not just because he was sorry for them, but because they will see, hear and understand. Jesus
performs a miracle to teach the person healed and the onlookers.
If Jesus does something a normal human being could not do, i.e. walk on water or calm a storm, the
believer should not ask whether this is literally true. It could be but why is it in the Gospel? Is it
because the story points to Jesus as the Saviour? Does it challenge people to think about what he says
and who he is?
The word ‘power’ in Greek, often used with the word ‘miracle’, has moved into English and has the
same root as ‘dynamite’ – explosive power. We should not ask if miracles happened but what they
mean. A miracle is an active picture, a visual teaching aid.
The only miracle in all four Gospels is the feeding of the Five Thousand. How could five loaves and
two fishes feed so many? Maybe the story is connected to the Last Supper and the way Christians soon
after Jesus’ death remembered him in the breaking and eating of bread and drinking wine. The feeding
is not about the quantity of food but how belief in Jesus and his teaching is food enough for everyone.
Christians believe God will always provide just as he did for his people Israel in the wilderness (Exodus
16).
In his Gospel John used ‘signs’ rather than miracles. The Changing of Water into Wine at Cana of
Galilee points to Jesus being the fulfilment of Jewish teaching; the water used by Jews for ritual
cleansing has been surpassed by the life of Jesus. The wine recalls the wine of the Last Supper and is
associated with Jesus’ blood and his sacrifice on the Cross.
Miracles and signs are pointers, just like parables, to deeper understanding of Jesus and his teaching
about the Kingdom of God.
Miracles
 Most of Jesus’ miracles are healing miracles. Doctors had a poor name in Jesus’
time. Jesus is recorded as using a well known ‘rude’ saying, “Doctor, cure yourself”
(Luke 4:23).
 Healers were (and are) commonplace. Often in the Gospels they depend on a
command “Stretch out your hand” (Mark 3:15).
 Sinfulness was often seen as the reason for sickness, so to forgive the sin might save
the person. This was not original to Jesus but annoyed the religious
 In Matthew, Mark and Luke’s Gospel there are thirteen acts of healing and six of
exorcism – casting out ‘devils’.
Sermon on the Mount
In Matthew’s Gospel “Sermon on the Mount” takes up three chapters while Luke in his Gospel calls it
“Sermon on the Plain” and gives it only 29 verses. Both are probably collections of short sayings put
together into one longer speech originally intended for Jesus’ disciples and not for everyone. It was
probably preserved as it became an instructive text for the growing Christian Church and remains so for
Christians today.
As with other passages in Matthew, Mark and Luke’s Gospels, it seems as if some of the sayings in the
‘Sermons’ come from an earlier written or oral collection of sayings, e.g. “Do not judge others, so that
God will not judge you” (Matt.7: 1).
The ‘Mount’ may reflect the giving of the Ten Commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai (Exodus 20).
In Matthew and Luke the Sermons say, loud and clear, that the Kingdom of God (Heaven) has arrived.
Although there is an echo of the giving of the Ten Commandments, this is not a new law; it is the
fulfilment of the old law. The teaching tells people what their responsibilities and duties are if they
accept the gift of the Kingdom. To accept the rule of God and live under it means that each person will
have demands made on him or her. Some of the themes in the Sermon are: love for enemies, marriage,
how to pray, judging others, fasting, God and possessions, e.g. “Love your enemies, do good to those
who hate you” (Luke 6:27).
The sermon concludes with the parable of the houses built on rock and sand (Matt. 7:24-27; Luke 6:4749) teaching about the right and wrong ways of faith, how to live a life on a firm foundation.
Sermon on the Mount
 Mountains are significant in the Bible. Moses received the Torah (‘law’ or ‘instruction’)
from God on Mount Sinai.
 The Sermon is regarded as telling Jesus’ followers how to behave and what they should do.
 The Sermon begins with the Beatitudes (something to make one happy!):
“Happy are you poor;
the Kingdom of God is yours!
Happy are you who are hungry now;
you will be filled!
Happy are you who weep now;
you will laugh.”
(Luke 6:20-26; cf Matt 5:3-10)
“Ask, and you shall receive; seek, and you will find;’ knock
and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks will receive and
anyone who seeks will find….. Do for others what you want them to do for
you: this is the meaning of the Law of Moses and of the teaching of the
prophets.’’(Matt 7: 7-12)
Teaching through Attitudes
The style of Jesus’ teaching was to challenge people. This challenge was an important part of what he
said and what he did. He taught it was necessary to find the will of God and to have absolute obedience
to it. He used vivid images to help people understand – “Why worry about clothes? Look how the wild
flowers grow; they do not work or make clothes for themselves (Matt. 6:28).
At times he appears to have deliberately provoked the religious authorities by breaking their
interpretation of religious rules. In creating a conflict, he made people think about how his teaching was
set over against the teachings of some important religious groups such as the Pharisees; “The Sabbath
was made for the good of man; man was not made for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27).
In John’s Gospel in the story of the Woman taken in Adultery (John 7:53-8:11), Jesus responds to cries
that he should endorse the death penalty by stoning by saying, “Let anyone among you who is without
sin be the first to throw a stone”. His opponents melt away and he tells the woman not to sin again.
Controversy, conflict and vigorous debate were very typical among religious authorities at the time of
Jesus. Mark, Matthew and Luke in their Gospels, make no mention of the Pharisees (Jesus’ most
frequent opponents) having any involvement in Jesus’ arrest and condemnation. What bothered them
was how Jesus’ teaching could have such authority when it was so very different from their own
teaching. Although shared by some rabbis, as we know from Jewish sources of the time, the
humanitarian concerns of Jesus overrode the detailed rules that some authorities had created in order to
support the Law of Moses.
Jesus’ life was, for Christians, a challenge. It is a theme in John’s Gospel of how people are judged by
their attitude to Jesus. He does not judge them; they judge themselves in their response to him.
Teaching through Attitudes
 One of the effective teaching methods Jesus used was by asking questions: “Who
was neighbour to this man?” (Luke 10:36): “Who do you say that I am?” (Mark
9:29).
 Another was by making hard statements: “It is much harder for a rich person to
enter the Kingdom of God than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle”
(Mark 10:25).
 Even to Pilate, when near the time of death, Jesus challenges the Roman governor:
“Are you a king then?” asked Pilate. Jesus answered: “You say that I am a king. I
was born and came into the world for this one purpose, to speak about truth.
Whoever belongs to the truth listens to me”. “And what is truth?” Pilate asked.
(John 18: 37-38).
Jewish Scriptures
At the time of Jesus there was a large collection of Jewish scripture read and interpreted in the
synagogue. The first five books of the Hebrew Scriptures are often referred to as ‘the Law of Moses’ or
the Torah (meaning ‘teaching’ or ‘direction’). For Jews, the Torah was the Word of God delivered to
Moses on Mount Sinai during the time the Israelites were in the wilderness.
To the Law were added other writings, the Prophets, and a third section, the Writings. These were not
finally fixed at the time of Jesus but they were generally accepted as the Jewish written scripture.
Perhaps more important on a day-to-day basis was the ‘oral Torah’. This was the way the law and rest
of the scriptures were interpreted in the light of contemporary situations. The Pharisees believed the
‘oral torah’ to be extremely important but not all religious groups agreed with them. As Scripture could,
at times, appear to be contradictory it was necessary to decide which text took precedence. This was
certainly one of the ways in which Jesus taught; so when accused of breaking Sabbath laws (Mark 2:23-
28), he refers to a precedent in the Jewish scriptures (1Sam. 21:1-17). His phrase “But I say to you...”
was common at the time and did not imply Jesus was trying to contradict Jewish law. He was, as were
other teachers, simply giving his interpretation. Like other teachers of his time, Jesus wanted to
emphasise the inner importance of the Law and warn against too much stress on external acts and duties.
It was what was in the heart that was important.
Jewish Scriptures
 At the time of Jesus analysis of the Hebrew Bible by rabbinic schools was common.
The system of interpretation goes under the general name ‘Midrash’ (‘to
investigate’).
 The Midrash was to preserve the vitality and relevance of scripture to everyday life.
 Jesus uses familiar arguments. He uses one verse from scripture to interpret
another. He also is quoted as using events connected with his life as fulfilling
biblical prophecy (Matt 11:10; Mark 14:27).
 At the time of Jesus Aramaic had replaced Hebrew as the everyday language of the
Jews.
The Gospels
The word ‘Gospel’ means ‘good news’ and gives a clue to what the Gospels were intended to do. They
were written to bring the ‘good news’ of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection to the world. In that sense,
the four Gospels are unique because they are not a history or a memoir of Jesus’ life.
They are, however, a form of ancient biography. Although they have different emphases and present
different views of Jesus, they do follow the same basic account. What Jesus said and what he did are at
the heart of each of the Gospels. What the writer does is bring his own insight and understanding to
those events.
Gospel readers have to be aware that none of the Gospels is an historical narrative of Jesus’ teaching
life. They are collections of sayings and events woven together to create an impression, a tapestry of
who and what Jesus was. They are not factual, chronologically accurate accounts of Jesus’ life.
What gives these four Gospels authority is that they were probably written between 30-60 years after
Jesus’ death and the authors would have been able to meet and listen to Jesus’ followers.
The Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke are often called the ‘Synoptic Gospels’ because they share so
much material. Matthew and Luke seem to borrow from Mark and also from another unknown text,
called Q (‘Quelle’ the German for ‘source’). John’s Gospel contains much material that is not in the
other Gospels and takes a very different approach as to how to portray Jesus’ life. There are no
parables, the order of events is different, Jesus makes long speeches about himself and many events
appear only in this Gospel.
Mark’s Gospel conveys a sense of urgency – he uses ‘immediately’ a lot. Jesus is a powerful figure
bringing him into conflict with religious leaders.
Matthew shows Jesus to be the Teacher of Israel. This creates bitterness because Jesus is not recognised
by the Jews and the disciples are commanded to go out and teach all nations.
Luke has Jesus teaching the message of salvation for all, Jesus cares for the poor and those who suffer,
he has a special place for women and carries the burden of the world’s sin.
John’s Gospel is the Word of God come to earth as a human being. Despite the pain and suffering of
Jesus’ life he is always in control – all that he has taught has been completed.
The Gospels
 The Gospels were written between 65-95CE. Mark was probably written first,
Matthew and Luke about 80-85CE and John 90-95CE.
 The first mention of the four Gospels was by Irenaeus in c175CE.
 The books of the New Testament were not agreed until 367CE.
 The Gospels have some parallels in Jewish writings but they relate more closely to
the Greco-Roman style of popular biography.
 There are 661 verses in Mark’s Gospel, 90% of these occur in Matthew and about
50% in Luke. Only 10% of the material from Matthew, Mark and Luke appears in
John’s Gospel.
 The Gospels are often depicted by symbols. Matthew is a human face, Mark the
head of a roaring lion, Luke an ox and John an eagle. They are symbols taken from
the vision of the prophet, Ezekiel, at his call (Ezekiel 1:4-28).
St Paul on Jesus
Saint Paul, then known as Saul, had trained as a Pharisee and had persecuted the followers of Jesus.
After his conversion he took the name ‘Paul’ and became just as vigorous in his promotion of Christian
teachings.
Paul’s letters, probably written from 48-60CE are the earliest written records of the effect of Jesus’ life.
Scholars argue about how many letters in the New Testament are his but there is enough agreement to
know what he believed. He visited many places and his journeys are written up in the Acts of the
Apostles .He probably died in Rome in60-65 CE
Paul writes (1 Cor. 15:12-19) that if Jesus is not risen from the dead all Christian faith is useless. In
rising from the dead Jesus had been taken up into heaven and would come again to restore everything.
The Resurrection was proof that Jesus was Lord, the Messiah and the Son of God.
In his letters Paul compares Jesus with Adam. In the story of Adam and Eve in Genesis Chapter 3,
Adam was disobedient, breaking God’s law, and for his sin was thrown out of the Garden of Eden.
Jesus, on the other hand, obeys God completely. He therefore restores the relationship between God and
human beings.
In the story of Adam and Eve, they eat from the forbidden tree in the Garden;
in the story of Jesus, the tree is the wooden cross on which he was crucified. Paul believes the awful,
humiliating death of Jesus shows how powerfully God loves all people. On the cross, Christians believe
Jesus paid for (atoned) the sin of Adam. By wiping out Adam’s disobedience, Jesus brought victory
over death so God and human beings could be re-united again
Remember that Paul was writing before the Gospels had reached their final form. He taught that Christ
had made the Jewish Law out-dated. The new faith could be preached to non-Jews (Gentiles) because
converts would not be tied to the Jewish Law; they would not, for example, have to follow the Jewish
food laws. This meant that in a very short time the Christian Church would be made up of Gentiles. By
the time the last Gospel was written (c95 CE) most followers of Jesus would probably be Gentiles.
Paul travelled across the Mediterranean world. He visited many places and wrote letters (epistles) to
encourage the new followers of Jesus. His life probably ended in Rome.
St Paul on Jesus
 Paul taught that Jesus Christ had made the Jewish Law out of date. Christians did
not have to follow the requirements of the Law. This was an important break with
Judaism for men would not need to be circumcised.
 According to one of his epistles- ‘To the Galatians’- amongst the apostles Paul took
responsibility for converting the Gentiles.
 In the first of his letters ‘To the Corinthians’ Paul writes, “Faith, hope and love;
and the greatest of these is love. It is love then that you should strive for’ (1 Cor.
13:13-14:1);
 and “Christ is like a single body which has many parts; it is still one body even
though it is made up of different parts. In the same way, all of us, whether Jews or
Gentiles, whether slaves or free, have been baptised into the one body by the same
Spirit” (1Cor. 12:12-13).
Great Sayings/Favourite Texts
The most famous and most used Christian prayer is The Lord’s Prayer. It provides guidance for Jesus’
followers that is brief and has a coherent pattern. Sometimes called the ‘Our Father’ after the first two
words, it is learned by all Christians and said at most services: (Matthew 6:9-13-Good News Bible)
“Our Father in heaven:
May your holy name be honoured;
may your Kingdom come;
may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today the food we need.
Forgive us the wrongs we have done, as we forgive the wrongs that others have
done to us.
Do not bring us to hard testing but keep us safe from the Evil One.”
Another favourite text is John 3:16
“For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in
him may not die but have eternal life” (Good News Bible)
This verse sums up in a few words what Christians believe about God’s love for the whole world.
“Listen Israel! The Lord our God is the only Lord. Love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second most important
commandment is this: ‘Love your neighbour as you love yourself’” (Mark 12:29-31 – Good
News Bible)
Jesus sums up the whole of the Jewish Law (Torah) in a few words. This was a typical style of Jewish
teaching and similar teaching to Jesus’ can be found in the Law and Prophets as well as in the rabbis’
teaching. Hillel, a great teacher who lived just before Jesus said “What is hateful to you, do not do to
your neighbour. That is the whole Torah. The rest is commentary”.
Great Sayings
 The Lord’s Prayer contains nothing that Jews would object to; it was given to his
Jewish disciples by Jesus as a guide to help them pray.
 Jesus frequently uses ‘Father’ to address God although it is found less often in the
Hebrew Bible.
 ‘Your will be done’ teaches that those who want to belong to the Father’s family
must find and do His will. Forgiveness too, is expected from human beings if they
expect God to forgive them.
 Jesus’ teaching in the two Great commandments is based on verses from the
Hebrew Bible. His hearers would find nothing new in this and would see him as
another in the long line of teachers of scripture. The teaching is often used in
modern worship in place of the Ten Commandments found in the Book of Exodus.
 The Lord’s Prayer is occasionally called ‘Paternoster’. It is Latin for ‘Our Father’.
Festivals/Celebrations/Rite of Passage
The Easter Cycle
The cycle of events from start to finish that include Easter are the most important ones in the Christian
year.
Lent is a 40-day period of preparation for Easter. Starting on Ash Wednesday, many Christians share in
Jesus’ temptations in the wilderness by giving up something and perhaps carrying out extra Bible study.
Normally no marriages take place in church in Lent and there will be no Church flowers.
Palm Sunday recalls the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem riding on a donkey where the crowd threw palm
branches in his path. Palm leaves or palm branches are handed out to church congregations.
The week before Easter is called Holy Week and the Gospel accounts of that week are closely followed
by Christians. There are extra services in churches with the story of the last week of Jesus’ life being
read during the week. Christians want to share in the pain and suffering of Jesus. Jesus washing his
disciples’ feet is remembered on Maundy Thursday (Maundy from ‘mandatum’ meaning ‘command’).
Today many priests and ministers wash the feet of some members of their congregations.
Then comes Good Friday (‘Good’ because it was a ‘good’ act) when Christians often spend 3 hours in
prayer. When Jesus was on the Cross there was darkness for 3 hours from the 6th to the 9th hour. There
are processions in towns and cities with Christians carrying a cross, as Jesus would have done on his
way to the crucifixion. Altars in many churches are stripped bare and all Christians remember it as a
solemn, holy day. Easter Eve (Saturday) is a day of watchfulness, waiting and prayer; indeed many
Christians spend the night awake watching for dawn to come. Easter Day bursts out as soon as dawn
breaks. The Orthodox Churches bring new fire out from the altar into the congregation, candles are lit
and Christians celebrate the rising of Jesus from the dead.
The Easter Cycle
 In the western church baptism usually took place at Easter. Candidates for
baptism were taught about the Christian faith during Lent.
 Eastern Christians emphasise the resurrection of Jesus. Typical of western
Christianity is the crucifix – Jesus on the cross. The empty cross is recognised as a
symbol of resurrection-Jesus is not there.
 If Good Friday is the negative for Christians then Easter Day is the positive. For
Christians, Easter means that human beings can become divine.
 For some Christians each weekend (Friday-Sunday) is a time to re-live the death
and resurrection of Jesus.
 In the first few hundred years of the church a dispute arose about the date of
Easter. In the West the Church of Rome wanted one date and Celtic Christians
another. The date was resolved in favour of Rome at the Synod of Whitby in
667.Eversince the date of Easter has been decided by the phases of the moon
 Easter is believed to take its name from the Anglo-Saxon spring goddess ‘Eostre’.
Christmas Cycle
The start of the Christian year is the first Sunday in Advent (Coming). It is a period of preparation for
the birth of Jesus at Christmas. Like Lent, it is a solemn time when Christians remember their faults and
review their lives before the birth of their Saviour, Jesus.
No one knows when Jesus was born. The date is normally given as between 6-4BCE as Matthew’s
Gospel tells of King Herod trying to kill the infant Jesus and Herod died in 4CE. December 25th only
became accepted as the day to celebrate Jesus’ birth in the fourth century. The Emperor Constantine
decided that the mid winter festival of the Unconquered Sun, a Roman festival, should be used as the
date to celebrate Jesus’ birth. Before then Jesus’ birth was not celebrated at all.
The most potent modern symbol of Jesus’ – the Crib scene – is attributed to Francis of Assisi in the 13th
century.
Some churches have no carols before Christmas itself because that is the period of Advent. On
Christmas Day however, there are joyful services to celebrate Jesus’ birth. There are crib services and
today, Christingle services.
January 6th is the Feast of Epiphany (‘showing forth’). Jesus is shown to the world and the Magi (wise
men) come from far off Gentile lands in the East to acknowledge the Lordship of the Child, Jesus. It is
also the date when the Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist is celebrated as Jesus’ ministry starts.
The Christmas cycle ends on February 2nd with Candlemas. Jesus is brought to the Temple by Mary and
Joseph to give thanks for his birth. Jesus is declared by Simeon to be a “Light to lighten the Gentiles
and bring glory to the people of Israel” (Luke 2:32) – hence the title “Candlemas”.
Some Christians celebrate Christmas twelve days later than 25 December because of the adjustment in
the days of the calendar in the 18th century. The Orthodox churches vary but many still celebrate
Christmas on 7th January so many of their festivals, including Easter, occur later than in the western
churches.
What has become a feature of Christmas is the way in which the two Gospel narratives of Matthew and
Luke are added to and intertwined. Also although some Christians do not believe in the story as
historically, factually accurate they all believe in the powerful truth that Jesus is God’s Son born to save
human beings.
Christmas Cycle
 Christmas was a lesser Christian festival for hundreds of years even after its
establishment in the fourth century.
 Most ‘traditional’ forms of Christmas are late additions. The traditional crib scene,
the number of wise men (and their names Balthazar, Melchior and Caspar), the
birth in a stable, all make the birth more romantic but are not in the Bible.
 No reference is made to Jesus’ birth in the writings of Paul, Mark or John.
 Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, was also the birthplace of the great Jewish
leader, King David, a thousand years earlier.
 The Magi were a group of people expert in astrology and interpreting dreams.
They originated in Iran (Persia) and by the 1st century CE had spread across the
Middle East.
Pentecost
During his life Jesus had promised his disciples that the Holy Spirit would be given to them to guide and
support them. It was after Jesus’ ascension into heaven that the disciples gathered together to celebrate
Pentecost – the Jewish festival of Shavuoth.
The ‘Acts of the Apostles’ (written probably by Luke) records how, when the disciples were gathered
together, “there was a noise from the sky which sounded like a strong wind blowing, and it filled the
whole house where they were sitting. Then they saw what looked liked tongues of fire which spread out
and touched people there” (Acts of the Apostles 2:3-4). They were filled with the Holy Spirit and began
to talk in other languages.
The word for ‘spirit’ in the Hebrew Bible has a wide variety of meanings. It can mean ‘breath’ or ‘life’
and is the word used to describe what God breathed into Adam in the story of creation. The elements of
wind and fire give the disciples the power of the Spirit.
This event is often seen as the beginning of the Christian church. Jesus had gone, the disciples were left
to teach and preach and the coming of the Holy Spirit gave them the power, authority and courage to do
what was necessary. Jesus’ life, death and resurrection had taught his disciples who he was, now they
had to go out and teach that message to the world.
One of the fast growing groups in Christianity in the last century has been the Pentecostal movement.
Taking their name from the feast of Pentecost they believe in the power of the Spirit and emphasise
preaching and healing as ways of allowing the Holy Spirit to enter into each person.
Pentecost
 Along with Easter, Pentecost was the first Christian festival to be celebrated.
 It is often regarded as the birthday of the Christian church.
 The alternative name for ‘Pentecost’ in England was ‘Whitsun’ because newly
baptised Christians wore white clothes on the Sunday festival (Pentecost always
falls on a Sunday).
 Pentecost comes from a Greek word meaning ‘fiftieth day’. It is celebrated on the
seventh Sunday after Easter.
 The disciples were gathered together at the Jewish festival of Shavuoth. The
festival marks the end of the wheat harvest and was originally known as the
‘Festival of the Harvest’. It is celebrated on the fiftieth day after Passover.
Rites of Passage
Christians want to make sure that the teaching and life of Jesus find a place in the pattern of everyday
life. Many of the churches build in rites of passage to mark stages in a person’s life as they grow. It is a
way of making sure that Jesus is present throughout the believer’s life. Baptism of infants is carried out
in Roman Catholic, Anglican and Orthodox churches. It marks the entry of the new baby into the
Christian church. Godparents make promises on behalf of the infant to ensure he/she will grow up in
the Christian faith and they have to make their own confession of faith in Jesus. Many Protestant
churches, like the Baptists, baptise adults only (‘believer’s baptism’) as they think a young child cannot
make such promises.
Baptism is followed in teenage (or adult) years with confirmation. The young person confirms the
promises made by Godparents and a bishop lays hands upon the person’s head. In the Orthodox
churches confirmation happens at baptism on the 8th day of the baby’s life. In the Roman Catholic
Church ‘First Communion’ happens at 8/9 years. The young person can then join in the Mass with
confirmation taking place several years later.
Marriage takes place in church with the couple making promises to each other before God. In God’s
presence they commit themselves to each other.
Some Churches, the Roman Catholic Church is one, have opportunities for confession. A priest will
hear, in private, a person’s confession and then the person has made some form of reconciliation, offer
absolution in God’s name.
While many people may not be active Christians and attend Church most will have some form of
Christian burial. The soul of the dead person is offered up to God. Funerals are sad occasions for those
left but they are also joyous times for the dead person has ‘been called home’, ‘gone to live with God’
and friends should be grateful; Jesus came, Christians believe, to give his followers triumph over death
– death is entering into God’s presence.
Rites of Passage
 Baptism is the basic Christian rite of passage. Jesus was baptised therefore every
person who becomes a Christian is baptised.
 In Matthew’s Gospel (28:19-20) Jesus tells his disciples to go and make disciples of
all nations “baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit”.
 The traditional white christening robe of a baby symbolises the freedom of sin
brought about by baptism.
 Many Protestant churches where baptism takes place in adult life welcome a child
with a service of thanksgiving.
 In Eastern Orthodox Churches the priest crowns the bride and groom during the
marriage service. This expresses the Holy Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit).
 From earliest days death and funerals of Christian believers have been associated
with the death and resurrection of Jesus. As Jesus was raised from the dead so the
dead Christian will rise to new life with God.
 The Orthodox Churches oppose cremation; the Roman Catholic Church accepted it
in the 1960’s. The Orthodox believe it is Jesus who keeps the dead alive in the
coffin.