THE FIVE GREAT EVENTS IN THE HISTORY OF ISRAEL

 Genesis tells us the story about Abraham who left Ur in Mesopotamia, went to Haran and from
there continued the journey to Canaan.

MIGRATION TO CANAAN

Reasons:

 war between the two superpowers of that time in that region: Assyria and Babylon
 Trade
 Famine or any other calamity

 Abraham was called by Yahweh and followed the voice of Yahweh and separated from his own
people to become the father of the Israelites.

 After the Death of Abraham: Abraham had a son, ISAAC who take over the clan (the tribe of a
wondering Hebrews)
 Isaac had two sons EZAU and JACOB.
 EZAU: was entitled to receive the birthright of his father
 JACOB: became the leader of the tribe
 Jacob had 12 sons who were shepherds.
 The twelve sons were the following: Ruben, Simeon, Levi, Juda, Issachar, Zebulon, Dan, Nepthali,
Gad, Asher, Joseph and Benjamin.
 Joseph was appointed in Egypt as an assistant to the pharoah the ruler of Egypt, and was put in
charge of the agrarian sector.

THE SOJOURN IN EGYPT

 Yahweh who brought his people to Egypt, liberated them from famine and gave them
fertile land to use.
 They persecuted the Hebrews because Hebrew multiplied fast and become a real power
in Egypt.
 1200 b.c Moses entered history of israel as a guerilla firghter the oppressive Egyptians
 He went to Median where he married the daughter of Jetro, Zipporah.
 This internal struggle within Moses is beautifully told in the story of the Burning Bush.

THE ESCAPE FROM SLAVERY IN EGYPT

 Escaped in small groups and hid themselves in the mountainous region of the Sinai desert
 He brought the different tribes together in a people’s confederation near the Sinai, based
of two pillars: 1. The belief in one God; 2. The subscription to ONE RELIGION.

PEOPLE’S CONFEDERATION OR RELIGIOUS CONFEDERATION near Sinai

 The story of the ten commandments is a part of that process of confederation.

 they arrived at the boarders of Canaan, the promised land, known in their stories as the land
of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob.
 The occupation of the promised land

 Under the leadership of kings David and Solomon, Israel became one of the best
organized and wealthiest countries.
 After his death, the nation became divided: the Northern Kingdom – Israel, and the
Southern Kingdom – Judea. At that point, the glory of the once united nation vanished.
 Many Israelite leaders were happy to be rid of the cruel Greeks. They invited the Romans
to come and tried to get as many privileges as possible by collaborating with the
occupying power. The Jewish people suffered much because of the high taxes imposed
by the Romans and their corrupt leaders. It was during this time that CHRIST WAS
BORN.

ISRAELITIC CREED

 “My father was a wandering Aramean, and he went down into Egypt with a few people and
lived there and became a great nation, powerful and numerous. But the Egyptians mistreated us
and made us suffer, subjecting us to harsh labor.”

CFC, 277.

 The Old Testament presents the inspired story of God forming His own people by establishing a
special relationship with them. This covenant was a call to fuller life and salvation. First God
called Abraham out of his homeland and promised him: “I will make of you a great nation, and I
will bless you”

Non-Christian Sources
 Suetonius: The Roman author Suetonius compiled biographies of the first 12 Roman emperors,
from Julius Caesar onward.
- Luke writes in Acts 18:2 that when Paul arrived in Corinth about 50 A.D., he found there “a
Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently arrived from Italy with his wife, Priscilla. An
edict of Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome.
 Tacitus: Tacitus, a Roman historian, writes in his Annals (15. 44.) of the great fire which swept
through the city of Rome in 64 A.D.
- Since the Emperor Nero (stepson and successor to Claudius) was generally believed to have
started the fire, Nero wanted to fix the blame on someone else. He falsified a charge of fire-
raising against the Christians in Rome. Many Christians perished by being burned at the
stakes or being exposed to wild beasts.
- They got their name from Christ, who was executed by sentence of the procurator Pontius
Pilate in the reign of Tiberius.
 Pliny the Younger: Pliny the Younger is known to history as a master letter writer. In 111 A.D. he
was appointed imperial legate of the Roman province of Bithynia in northwest Asia Minor.
- who was governor of Asia Minor, wrote a letter to Emperor Trajan (c. A.D. 111). He asked for
advice in the matter of dealing with Christians who come together at fixed seasons and sing
hymns to Christ as god.

Jewish Source
  Josephus: Born around 37 A.D., he fought against the Romans in the great revolt of 66-70 A.D.
and was appointed commander of the Jewish forces in Galilee. Josephus was captured by the
Romans, but, because he predicted that he commander-in-chief of the Roman army in Palestine,
Vespasian, would one day be emperor, his life was spared to see if his prediction would come
true.

Other sources:

 LUCIANO DI SAMOSATA: (c.A.D. 120-180) Luciano was a traveling lecturer and Sophist rhetor
who wrote about Jesus Christ as a man crucified in Palestine for introducing a new cult.
 BABYLONIAN TALMUD: A baraita (outside addition) to the Babylonian Talmud spoke of a certain
Yeshu who practiced magic and led his followerd into apostacy.

Christian Sources

 Grounding: “The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah the Son of God”
- Our primary source of knowledge for Jesus and his message and mission is the form of
literature known as the Gospel. The four New Testament Gospels established the facts of the
existence of a man whom the early Christians claimed to be both the most remarkable of all
human beings and the Son of God.
- Gospels, are neither autobiography nor biography. Jesus did not write them. The Gospels’
primary purpose is not to give a detailed account of Jesus’ historical (earthly) life
 The Testimony of the Synoptic Gospels
- The Synoptic Gospels (“synoptic” came from the Greek word synoptikos, “common view”.
- The Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) basically speak of faith in Jesus Christ as the
messiah who offers salvation to all peoples. These Gospels reveal the sayings, parables,
sermons, miracles and stories about Jesus. These accounts were written approximately
between A.D.60 and 90.
- The word “gospel” (from old English “god-spel,” i.e., “good story” is a translation of the
Greek word “vangelion meaning “good news.”
- Jesus is the name which comes from Hebrew name Joshua or Yehoshua, a name which could
be translated as God saves

Formation of the Gospels

 STAGE 1: The Historical Jesus : Jesus’ Life In Palestine

- Jesus came to live among us. His whole life was a revelation of God. Through Jesus, God lived
among us and made Himself known to us. Jesus’ actions are God’s actions. Jesus’ words,
instructions and parables are God’s words to us.
- He was condemned by the religious authorities and crucified by the Romans, almost
certainly on 7 April 30.
 STAGE 2: Oral Preaching of the Early Church
- He apostles and disciples were burning with zeal to spread the good news of Jesus’ victory
over sin and death. Led by Peter, and later by Paul, there was a burst of missionary
enthusiasm which preached the message of Jesus throughout the Roman (Mediterranean)
world.
 - According to Charpentier, Etienne on How to Read the New Testament,1981-1982, pp 10-11
the resurrection of Jesus and the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost enabled the disciples to
begin to discover the mystery of Jesus.
- Three Points:

1) The disciples preached, to proclaim the Risen Jesus: first to the Jews and then to the
Gentiles. Here we have the announcement of the faith of the first Christians;
2) The disciples celebrated their Risen Lord, in the Liturgy and above all in the Eucharist. The
Eucharist determined the form of many memories of Jesus;
3) The disciples taught the newly baptized, and in order to do so recalled the actions and the
words of Jesus
 Matthew was a tax collector. When Jesus called him, Matthew get up and follow me, Matthew
followed Jesus and became a disciple.
 Mark had not been a disciple of Jesus, nor had he met Jesus in person. He was a convert to the
Christian faith
- He belonged to a Jewish family. Mk was born in Cyprus but later transferred to Jerusalem
where he was converted. Soon afterwards he joined the disciples on their mission tours, first
with St. Paul and later with St. Peter.
 Luke belonged to Greek family in Antioch. He was physician by profession and was a well &
educated man. He was converted to Christianity at the time when his hometown became the
center of missionary activity. He joined St. Paul in his missionary journeys. He stayed with Paul
when Paul was prisoner in Rome.
 John was the disciple whom Jesus loved most. He was the son of a well-to-do fisherman. Before
he became one of the twelve apostles of Jesus, he had already been a disciple of john the
Baptist.
- John’s Gospel came much later than the synoptics and was only written in the year 95
 The Testimony of the Acts of the Apostles : Paul’s 3 missionary journeys
 The Testimony of St. Paul’s Letters :
1. The Letter to the Romans: stresses the relationship between Judaism and Christianity.
2. The 1st Letter to the Corinthians: gives advice to the Corinthians on chastity and
marriage.
3. The 2nd Letter to the Corinthians: urges financial support for the suffering Jewish
Christians in Jerusalem.
4. The Letter to the Galatians: speaks of his concern about Galatian Christians backsliding
to strict Jewish laws
5. The Letter to the Ephesians: discusses the mystery of salvation and the mystery of the
Church
6. The Letter to the Philippians: warns against false teaching
7. The Letter to the Colossians: emphasizes that Christ is the main path to salvation.

Portraits of Jesus

 Mark: Jesus is the SUFFERING MESSIAH

- In the Gospel according to Mark, the evangelist wanted to make clear to the persecuted
Roman Christians that, like them, Jesus Himself also suffered. Mark meant to console the
 suffering Christians, but he was also intent on teaching what it meant to be a disciple of
Jesus, that is to follow Him unto the Cross.
 Matthew: Jesus is the MESSIAH AND KING
- The portrait of Jesus as the Messiah and King prophesied in the Old Testament is the focus of
the gospel of Matthew. Whereas Mark showed Jesus avoiding being proclaimed the Son of
God, Matthew portrayed Him being recognized and proclaimed as the Messiah by his
apostles.
 Luke: Jesus is the SAVIOR OF THE WORLD
- it shows the significant role of women in Jesus’ ministry and it gives attention to Mary, the
mother of Jesus , in the infancy narratives. Aside from this, Luke’s Gospel notes Jesus’ prayer
life and His being “filled with the spirit
 John: Jesus is the SON OF GOD and THE WORD OF GOD MADE MAN.
- John’s Gospel emphasizes the divinity of Jesus, who is described in symbolic images and
titles such as “the word of God enfleshed” and “the Light of the World”.

Important Keypoints

 The principal non-Christian sources for the proof of Jesus’ existence are:
- (Roman Writers) Suetonius, Pliny the Younger and Tacitus.
- (Jewish Writer) Josephus
 The Principal Christian sources of Jesus’ existence are:
- Four Gospels
- Acts of the Apostles
- Paul’s Letters
- Early writings of the Church
 The Synoptic Gospels are:
- (Matthew, Mark and Luke) written between 60-90 AD. They reveal the sayings, parables,
sermons, miracles and stories of Jesus.
 Mark’s Gospel characterizes Jesus as the Servant of God. Matthew’s Gospel emphasizes Jesus’
Messianism. Luke’s Gospel primarily Jesus’ Humanity.
 John’s Gospel (90-100 AD) speaks of Jesus’ Divinity and His central message of Love.
 The Acts of the Apostles speaks of early Christianity’s major leaders, Peter and Paul, and their
spreading of Jesus’ message throughout Palestine and Asia Minor (Greece and Turkey).
 The key theme of Paul’s letters are: Jesus is Lord; Jesus is Savior of Jew and Non-Jew; Jesus
fulfilled the Old Law; Jesus is the head of all followers who are Christians.

JESUS’ EARLY LIFE

o The Annunciation
o The Birth of Jesus
o The Circumcision
o The Epiphany
o The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple
o The Flight into Egypt and the Massacre of the Innocent
o The Finding of Jesus in the Temple
THE BIRTH OF JESUS

- Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary. Both Luke and Matthew narrate how Jesus was born
of the Virgin Mary through the intervention of the Holy Spirit
- Jesus was born in the time of King Herod the Great.
- Angels brought the Good News. The presence of angels signifies the sacredness of a
place or an event by indicating the presence of God’s power in a visible way.

THE FINDING OF JESUS IN THE TEMPLE

- Again the story is symbolic and reveals to us that Jesus was brought up as a practicing
Jew, and thus, when he was already of age, he accompanied Mary and Joseph to attend
Temple worship.

The Baptism of Jesus

o The heavens were opened: It symbolizes God‟s intervention in human affairs to liberate his
people through his Son-made-man, Jesus the Christ.
o The Spirit of God descending like a dove: The dove also symbolizes the Spirit‟s gentleness and
peace whose presence characterizes the divine joint mission for which God sent Jesus and the
Spirit to accomplish for the people of Israel and the whole world
o A voice from heaven proclaiming: “This is my beloved Son with Whom I am well pleased”: The
voice from heaven was God the Father‟s affirmation of Jesus as the Father‟s own beloved Son,
the Messiah who will save his people from their sins.

The Three Temptations of Jesus in relation to his identity and mission:

o To turn Stone into Bread: The first temptation of Jesus is asking us to ponder on our ultimate
priority in life, to center our life in obedience to the Word of God, to be faithful to the will of God
in every given situation, not on the momentary desires, and fleeting promises of this passing
world.
o To throw Himself from the parapet of the temple and command the angels to rescue him: But
Jesus was careful. „You shall not put the name of the Lord, your God, to the test‟ was a direct
reprimand to what Satan had in mind. Jesus disapproved conversion made because of wonders,
and spectacles. He condemned the very idea of making himself a Magical Messiah, a performer
of miracles to win people‟s allegiance.
o To prostrate Himself and worship Satan: Such temptation is to become a Political Messiah,
dominating men and women through political power, and control.

THE BEATITUDES: are sayings of Jesus, and in particular eight or nine blessings
recounted by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel of Matthew, and four in
the Sermon on the Plain in the Gospel of Luke, followed by four woes which mirror the
blessings.
o Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven
o Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land.
o Blessed are they who mourn: for they shall be comforted.
o Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill.
 o Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God.
 Parables of the Kingdom. The Kingdom of God and Christian moral life are connected with two of
Christ’s parables. In comparing the Kingdom to a treasure buried in a field and to a pearl of great
price
- The development of the kingdom, its nature, and its working;
- The members of the kingdom of heaven and their obligations;
- Christ the Head of the kingdom of God and his position among the members.
 MIRACLES : Nature And Significance of Miracle. A miracle is generally defined, according to the
etymology of the word—it comes from the Greek thaumasion and the Latin miraculum—as that
which causes wonder and astonishment, being extraordinary in itself and amazing or inexplicable by
normal standards.

CLASSIFICATIONS OF MIRACLES:

1. EXORCISM - POINTS TO THE COMING OF THE REIGN OF GOD.

2. HEALING – JESUS PERFORMED HEALING FOR SICK PEOPLE
3. NATURE (MIRACULOUS RESCUES AND GIFTS)
4. RESTORATION OF LIFE (RISING OF THE DEAD)