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| The figure of Jesus that we see in the New Testament was actually: a man marked out as a dangerous rebel by the authorities a man who drew great crowds a man who inspired others a man who took the uncompromising road to crucifixion a man of deep passion and decisive action The Gospels assure us that Jesus was interested in children and in nature, and that with the down-trodden he was very gentle. but the world that he lived in was a harsh world of hatred, intrigue, brutality and revenge. The Gospels portray a dynamic figure who waged a war against evil with the weapons of love, openness, honesty and forgiveness. His honesty was fearless. Jesus did not set out to be an 'original' teacher. As a Jew he stood in a tradition which was steeped in the Hebrew holy scriptures [known to Christians as the 'Old Testament' and to Jews as the 'Tenakh']. He drew on those scriptures and his central demands- that we should love God with all our heart and our neighbours as ourselves- links two separate Old Testament texts. This was his genius; to make new connections, to bring a new emphasis, to take old ideas and give them a new content, to reveal the deeper meaning that was always within them. Jesus spoke frequently about 'the Kingdom of God' or 'the kingdom of Heaven'. This idea is certainly found in the Jewish Scriptures, but Jesus put it at the centre of his teaching and illustrated it with a series of brilliant yet often puzzling pictures and parables. Many miracles are recorded in the Gospels, showing Jesus' power over sick- ness, sin, nature, demons and death. When his enemies accused him of heal- ing by Satan's power he replied " How can Satan drive out Satan?" The power of Jesus to heal and raise the dead, such as the daughter of Jairus, came to him from God Jesus also became famous for his parables or stories. A parable is a story which works on two levels. It is ' an earthly story with a heavenly meaning'. At one level it is an interesting story with strong human interest. But the story has a deeper meaning which Jesus' hearers were often left to work out for themselves. Jesus' stories were usually about people, such as the parable of a farmer who scattered seed; the Good Samaritan; the Prodigal Son and the man who built his house on sand. Near the end of his three years in the public eye, Jesus faced a crucial decision. Should he return home, to the safety of Galilee? Or should he go on to Jerusalem and to conflict, even death? In his Gospel Luke tells us that Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. That decision led to his death. The final week in Jesus' life is called by Christians 'Holy Week'. The week began with Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, which he timed to coincide with the Jewish festival of Passover, when the city would have been teeming with pilgrims. His reputation as a healer and holy man ensured a large crowd. He rode into the city on a humble donkey, fulfilling the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9. " See, your king comes to you.... gentle and riding a donkey...." Here was no earthly king, coming in glittering style to impress and command. Here was the Prince of Peace, riding in great humility. The crowds greeted him with shouts of 'Hosanna', which means 'Save Now'. They scattered coats and palm branches on the road before him [hence 'Palm Sunday']. As he approached Jerusalem Jesus wept over the city. To mark the annual Passover festival, Jewish people gathered in homes to eat a celebration supper-a practice which continues to this day. This 'Last Supper' was the last meal Jesus would ever eat with his disciples. As the meal ended, during which Jesus had given the disciples bread and wine, referring to them as his 'body' and 'blood', Judas Iscariot, one of the 12 disciples, left the room and betrayed Jesus to the Jewish religious authorities. He was rewarded with 30 silver coins, the average price for a slave in those days. They plotted to arrest Jesus by night, away from the crowds. Although the other disciples swore undying allegiance to Jesus, he warned them that they would all abandon him. His prophecy was fulfilled. After their meal together they sang a hymn and walked to the Garden of Gethsemane [ literally 'olive press'] on the Mount of Olives. Jesus knew what was coming. He prayed with deep emotion, asking God that he might be spared the dreadful suffering that the next few hours would bring. Shortly after this, Jesus was arrested and interrogated through the night in the hastily assembled Jewish and Roman courts. |
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| Jesus heals the paralysed man. A scene from 'The Miracle Maker' |
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