GOD’S JOURNEY

WITH PEOPLE
THROUGH
JESUS

CFE 101
GOD’S JOURNEY WITH HIS PEOPLE
henrigee
GETTING TO KNOW
JESUS
 In ancient Israel, most people had only one
name, what we think of as a "first name" (or
"given name"), but not also a "last name"
(or "family name" or "surname"). Thus, the
well-known man born about 2000 years ago
was simply named "Jesus" (note: "Christ" is
not his last name!). Actually, his name in
Hebrew was probably Yeshua (equivalent to
"Joshua"), which in the NT is translated by
the Greek Ιησους (or Iesous), from which we
get Latin Iesus and English "Jesus."
Moreover, just as most biblical names have
specific meanings, so "Joshua/Jesus" simply
means "God saves" (cf. Matt 1:21).
CHRISTOLOGICAL
TITLES OF JESUS
Some people think IHS means "In His
Service," or that it comes from the Latin
Iesus Hominum Salvator ("Jesus the Savior
of Humankind") or In hoc signo ("By this
sign you shall conquer"; spoken to Emperor
Constantine before the Battle at the Milvian
Bridge, 312 AD). Yet it originally comes
from the first three letters in the Greek
spelling of Jesus' name (Iota-Eta-Sigma).
Thus, IHS (sometimes combined with a
cross or other symbols) functions as a
"monogram" (a symbolic abbreviation) for
the name of Jesus.

Son of Man
More literally "son of the human" in
Aramaic & Greek; originally
emphasizing someone's humanity,
this title was later also used for a
powerful heavenly figure.
Son of David
Originally referred literally to
descendants of David, the most
famous king of ancient Israel, but as
a title it later has several meanings.
Son of Mary / Son of Joseph
Most people in the ancient world did not have "last
names," but were identified by their geographical
origin ("Jesus of Nazareth"; "the Galilean"), or their
occupation ("the carpenter"), or their fathers ("the
son of Joseph"; "the carpenter's son"). Women were
usually identified through the closest male relative
(daughter of..., wife of..., mother of...)
Messiah / Christ
These two titles are equivalent, both
meaning "anointed one," from the
Hebrew verb MASHAH ("to anoint,
smear with oil, pour oil over
someone") and the Greek verb CHRIO
Lord / LORD (Heb: Adonai, Gk.,
Kyrios
Originally it was a title of respect
used for people superior to yourself,
so it simply meant "Sir" or "Master,"
Holy One
Originally a common circumlocution
for God (a phrase used to avoid
speaking God's name),
Son of God / God's Son
This title originally did not imply full divinity,
but simply a person's special relationship
with God. As Christian theology developed,
however, it took on more exclusively divine
connotations
 King of the Jews / King of Israel Suffering Servant
Obviously a title connoting the political and military The combination "suffering servant" is not
leadership of the Jewish people. really a biblical title, but a scholarly short-
hand for the servant of God who suffers
Prophet
much
A "prophet" is not primarily someone who "predicts" Emmanuel / Immanuel
the future, but rather is a chosen messenger or A Hebrew name occurring in the NT only in
spokesperson for God, whose role is to speak God's Matt 1:23 where it is correctly translated as
words and perform miraculous and/or symbolic meaning "God is with us." This OT prophetic
actions in order to convey God's messages to the text connects God's saving presence among his
people. people with the birth of a child
Rabbi / Rabbouni / Teacher
Hebrew and Aramaic words meaning "my master" in Logos / Word
general, or "my teacher" in particular. They were not Used as a Christological
used as titles in OT times, but were common titles of title only in John 1:1-18,
respect by the time of Jesus, especially but not only but very common in
for teachers. later Christianity. The
Savior
Greek word LOGOS can
A title originally used for God or any human being
refer not only to a
who would "save" people from present or future
single "word," but also
dangers. In Greco-Roman politics, this title was also
to a "phrase," a
often applied to the emperor as a "benefactor,"
"sentence," a "speech,"
providing material benefits.
or even the power of
"reason" or the "mind."
 Lamb of God / Passover Lamb
In 1 Cor 5:7, Paul calls Jesus "our Passover" (Gk.
Alpha & Omega; First &
pascha) which is rendered "Paschal Lamb" in some
Last; Beginning & End
English translations. The expression "Lamb of God"
The first and last letters of
(amnos tou theou) is used only in John 1:29, 36, as
the Greek alphabet. Both
John the Baptist points to Jesus (cf. Acts 8:32; 1 Pet
God and Jesus are called
1:19).
Shepherd of Israel / Good Shepherd "the Alpha and the Omega,"
Jesus himself uses shepherd imagery in with the same meaning as
some of his parables (Matt 18:12-14; "the first and the last"
25:31-46). In John’s Gospel, Jesus calls and/or "the beginning and
himself the "Good Shepherd" (John 10:11- the end" (Rev 1:8, 17; 2:8;
16). 21:6; 22:13).

Great High Priest

In the Letter to the Hebrews calls
Jesus a "great high priest" (4:14)

Advocate / Paraclete
This title normally refers to the Holy Spirit in the Gospel of John
(14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7), but the first Johannine Epistle says, "we
have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous"
(1John 2:1). In Greek, a "para-clete" is someone "called to your
side" to assist you in some way; thus some translations also say
"comforter" or "consoler."
  • Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of
Peace (Isa 9:6)
 • The bridegroom (Mark 2:19-20; Matt 9:15; Luke 5:34-35; John
Other Titles and 3:29)
Metaphorical  • The Son of Abraham (Matt 1:1)
Descriptions in the  • The prince/ruler and shepherd of Israel (Matt 2:6; cf. Micah 5:2;
Bible 2 Sam 5:2)
 • The horn of salvation (Luke 1:69) & dayspring/dawn from on
high (Luke 1:78)
• • The
The resurrection
judge and and
of the living the life
the (John
dead 11:25)
(Acts 10:42)

 • • The
The way, and
spiritual the(1truth,
rock and the life (John 14:6)
Cor 10:4)
• • The
The author (Eph
beloved of life (Acts 3:15)
1:6)
 • The cornerstone (Eph 2:20)
 • The head of the church (Eph 5:23; also 1:22; 4:15)
 • The image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation (Col
1:15)
 • The one mediator between God and humankind (1 Tim 2:5)
 • The blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of
lords (1 Tim 6:15; cf. Rev 19:16)
 • The righteous judge (2 Tim 4:8)
 • The pioneer and perfecter of our faith (Heb 12:2)
 • The shepherd and guardian/bishop of your souls (1 Peter 2:25;)
 • The Amen, the faithful and true witness, the origin of God's
creation (Rev 3:14;
 Animal Images
Early Christians used various other images for
Jesus such as a Phoenix (rising from the ashes
to new life), or a Pelican (sacrificing its life for
its young), but the best-known image is
obviously the FISH. The most common Greek
word for "fish" is ΙΧΘΥΣ ("Ichthus"), which the
early Christians connected with the first letters
of the words in the Greek phrase Ιησους
Χριστος Θεου Υιος Σωτηρ (Iesous CHristos
THeou hUios Soter = "Jesus Christ, God's Son,
Savior").
Go therefore and CONTINUE
JOURNEYING WITH GOD!
 CHRISTOLOGIES IN
THE FOUR GOSPELS

• What is the evangelists’

main message about Jesus?
• How does the Evangelists
portray Jesus?
 CHRISTOLOGY IN MARK'S GOSPEL
• “What is this? A new teaching--with authority! He
commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey
him.” (1:27)
• “Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is
blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” (2:7)
• “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
(2:12)
• “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea
obey him?” (4:41b)
• “Where did this man get all this? What is this
wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of
power are being done by his hands! /
Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of
• The Identity of Jesus: From James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his
the very first verse of this sisters here with us?” (6:2-3)
Gospel, the Evangelist knows • “Who do people say that I am?” (8:27); “But who do
and proclaims who Jesus is: you say that I am?” (8:29)
the Christ, the Son of God • “By what authority are you doing these things? Who
(1:1). gave you this authority to do them?” (11:28)
MARK’S CHRISTOLOGY EXPRESSED IN TITLES ATTRIBUTED TO JESUS
 Christ (the “Anointed One”)
o 1:1 – Mark: “The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”
 Son of God and related terms (caution: do not assume this means "fully divine" yet):
o 3:11 – Evangelist's summary: Whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and
shouted, “You are the Son of God!”
o 15:39 – At the Crucifixion: Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he
breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was God's Son!”

 Son of Man ("son of the human being") - used only by Jesus, as quoted directly or indirectly by the
Evangelist):
o 2:27-28 – Then he said to them [Pharisees], "The sabbath was made for humankind, and not
humankind for the sabbath; so the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.”
 Teacher (the most common title other characters in Mark's Gospel use to address Jesus):
o 4:38 – But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him,
“Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”
 Rabbi & Rabbouni (another common title of respect, lit. meaning "my great one"):
o 10:51 – Then Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him,
“My teacher (rabbouni), let me see again.”
 Prophet (lit. a "spokesperson" for God)
Jesus himself never directly claims to be a prophet, but once implies that he is (6:4); various other people think he is a
prophet
CHRISTOLOGY EXPRESSED IN ACTIONS THAT JESUS PERFORMS
 Jesus Preaches the “ Reign of God ” ( basileia tou theou )
• 1 : 14 - 15 – Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the
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 Jesus argues with the religious authorities, besting any human
"ggggggggg"
• 11: 27- 33 – Again they came to Jerusalem. As he was walking in the
temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to him / and
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tell you by what authority I do these things.” / [Jesus asks them about
gggg ggg ggggggg] / So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And Jesus said
to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these
 Jesus displays human emotions
• Mark portrays Jesus as completely human, with a full range of emotions and reactions; but
these comments in Mark about Jesus’ emotional states are often omitted in the parallel
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• 6:34 & 7:29 - compassion
• 8: 12 - sighing deeply
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 Jesus foretells & accepts his upcoming suffering
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• gg:gg-gg – While they were eating, he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it,
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gggg, ggg ggg gg gggg ggggg gggg gg. / gg gggg gg gggg, “ This is my blood of the covenant, which is