Hymn from the Eastern Church Jesus, invincible power Jesus,
unending mercy Jesus, radiant beauty Jesus, unspeakable love Jesus,
Son of the living God Jesus, have mercy on me, a sinner Jesus, hear
me, for I was conceived in iniquity Jesus, cleanse me, for I was
born in sin Jesus, teach me, for I have been a fool Jesus,
enlighten me, for I have been in darkness Jesus, purify me, for I
am defiled Jesus, restore me, the prodigal Jesus, Son of God, have
mercy on me.
Slide 3
Gospels The Gospels unfolded as theological and historical
documents growing out of the early Christian communities. Early
Christian writers overlaid onto the historical person of Jesus
their ideas and beliefs about who Jesus, the Christ was. Each of
the Gospels gives a particular portrait of the person of
Jesus.
Slide 4
Gospel of Matthew The Gospel of Matthew is dated between 60 and
70 AD and was possibly written in Syria. It is a very Jewish Gospel
and gives us insights into the painful transition from Judaism to
being a follower of Jesus. For Matthews community there is the
challenging problem of self-identity who are we? Where do we
belong? The Gospel sets Jesus in a very Jewish context, modelled on
Moses the great leader and lawgiver of the Hebrew Bible. It is
often a Gospel of conflict as Jewish Christians discuss among
themselves what it means to follow Jesus and remain Jewish.
Catacombs Christ
Slide 5
Gospel of Mark The Gospel of Mark The Gospel of Mark was
probably written in Rome for a persecuted and suffering community.
Hence the portrait of Jesus in Mark is one of distress and
misunderstanding. The community hearing the Gospel is suffering,
misinterpreted and even being put to death because they believe in
Jesus; so, Marks Jesus suffers, is misunderstood and dies
alone.
Slide 6
Christ/Messiah Mark has an early form of Christology. He even
uses the device called the messianic secret. This suggests that the
Christ / Messiah identity of Jesus is deliberately kept hidden. The
Gospel ends abruptly with the women running away from the empty
tomb afraid (16:8). Most scholars accept this as the end of the
Gospel. Some further verses were added to the last chapter
(16:9-21). The style of these verses is so different from the rest
of the Gospel, it is suggested that they were a later
addition.
Slide 7
Gospel of Luke Many scholars suggest that a Gentile, a person
who is not Jewish, wrote the Gospel of Luke. Lukes community would
seem to be mainly Gentile. It is written in good Greek and is dated
at a similar time to the Gospel of Matthew. The Gospel is inclusive
of foreigners and women. Women are certainly more obviously
represented in this Gospel although some commentators argue that
even the author of this Gospel has diluted the inclusive qualities
of the very early group of Jesus followers to fit in with the
cultural requirements of the times. It is also the Gospel of
Jubilee. Eastern Icon: The purpose of this icon of Jesus is to
encourage us to pray not just to look. That is why Jesus is looking
straight out at us. It is as if he is calling us to respond to him,
calling us to come home to God.
Slide 8
Gods promises and gifts are revealed and available to
unexpected people in unexpected ways. Shepherds and not wise men
first receive the news of Jesus birth. The poor have the good news
given to them. There is abundance for all but perhaps especially
for those who do not generally receive it like the elderly,
shepherds, lepers, Samaritans, foreigners and women. The Acts of
the Apostles is considered to have been written by the same author
and is thus like a second volume of the Gospel.
Slide 9
Gospel of John In the Gospel of John, the image of Jesus is of
God among us, the Incarnate Word, the Light of the World, the Way
the Truth and the Life; Jesus is much more than human. Painted by
Holman Hunt in the 19th century, it is one of the most famous
images of Jesus, reproduced countless times.
Slide 10
Jesus of Nazareth Using the Christian Scriptures as their
basis, the early Church communities developed a number of titles to
describe Jesus of Nazareth; each of these described a particular
aspect of Jesus, and communicated different beliefs about him. Some
of these titles are: the Christ, Saviour, Lord, Redeemer, Son of
God, Son of Man, Lamb of God, the second Adam, the new Moses,
Emmanuel, the Word of God, and the Good Shepherd.
Slide 11
Understanding Faith. See KWL CathStudies 2.5-10 (Chapter 2
Jesus the Christ pages 36-46 2.5-2.10 The Character and mind of
Jesus, The claim of Jesus, The miracles of Jesus, The Passion of
Jesus Christ, The Resurrection of Jesus Christ, The greatest
miracle) ; (Chapter 9: The Arts and Religion pages 245-249 9.7-8
Movies about Jesus, Christ-figure movies; Chapter 11: The
Scriptures pages 285-289 11.5 The Gospels; (Chapter 12: Prayer and
Spirituality pages 324-325 12.9 Well-known prayers). Understanding
Faith Series Book 23 Understanding the Gospel Story, Part 3 How the
Gospels were written page 8 & Teachers book p29.
Slide 12
Faces of Jesus Access the site http://www.rejesus.co.uk/ and
click on Faces of Jesus to compare the many images of Jesus that
are presented. Spend time alone to experience the images. Then
journal which image(s) had the greatest impact on you and
why.http://www.rejesus.co.uk/ Which Gospel would you most expect to
reflect this image? * Ruler of Creation image -
Slide 13
Salvador Dali Consider Salvador Dalis Corpus Hypercubicus and
Christ of St John of the Cross. Experience the works and then share
responses. Make observations on: the direction in which the
crucified Jesus is looking; the condition of the body of the
crucified Jesus; the source of light; the distance of the cross
from the earth. Explore how one could argue that these each
represent a triumphant Christ, reflecting a descending Christology
(i.e.: the eternal Word of God who becomes human).
Slide 14
Salvador Dalis: Corpus Hypercubicus
Slide 15
Christ of Saint John of the Cross is a painting by Salvador Dal
made in 1951Salvador Dal
Slide 16
Suffering human Christ By contrast, consider Peter Paul Rubens
The Entombment and Guido Rochas The tortured Christ (for example).
What is the immediate impact and message of these images? Explore
how one could argue that these each represent a suffering human
Christ, reflecting an ascending Christology (i.e.: the human Jesus
who enters fully into the suffering of humanity).
Slide 17
Peter Paul Rubens: The Entombment
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YCvrO0bPCo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YCvrO0bPCo
Slide 18
Guido Rochas The tortured Christ
Slide 19
Michelangelo Caravaggios The Incredulity of Saint Thomas.
Students view Michelangelo Caravaggios The Incredulity of Saint
Thomas. Make comments on your response and interpretation of this
work, particularly in relation to: Jesus hands and the expression
on the face of Saint Thomas. Reflect on the physicality of this
image; consider how it is based on John 20.24- 29. Jesus appears to
Thomas the Twin http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?sear
ch=John+20%3A24-29&version=NIV
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?sear
ch=John+20%3A24-29&version=NIV
Slide 20
The Incredulity of Saint Thomas by Caravaggio
Slide 21
Christology from above & below Summing up, compare and
contrast the above, and any other images, in terms of the
Christology (ascending or descending) they reflect Refer to
Understanding Faith Series Book 39, Jesus the Christ, Chapter 6
Teachers Book, pp32-33, Student Book pp23-24. As a class, discuss
Activity 1 on Christology from below and Christology from
above
Slide 22
Mark 8.27-20 Read and reflect together on Mark 8.27-20. See
Scripture: Background Information. Check the following Scripture
references: John 1.1-5, 14, 16-18; Philippians 2.1-11; Matthew
13.53-58; Matthew 27. 45-50; Mark 2.15-17. Mark 3.20-21. Identify
which are ascending and descending images of Christ. Explain
reasons
Slide 23
Mark 2: 15-17 Read Mark 2.15-17 as an incident from Jesus life
which could speak powerfully to the contemporary world. Identify
the key impressions of Jesus that emerge from this passage using De
Bonos six coloured hats thinking strategy. White Hats the facts of
the incident Red Hats personal opinions and feelings Black Hats
negative judgements of Jesus actions and words Yellow Hats positive
assessment of Jesus actions and words Green Hats alternatives to
others thoughts and to give a fresh approach Blue Hats summaries,
overviews and conclusions Mark 2: 15-17 15 While Jesus was having
dinner at Levis house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating
with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him.
16 When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating
with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: Why
does he eat with tax collectors and sinners? 17 On hearing this,
Jesus said to them, It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but
the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.
Slide 24
Movies View segments of 57 minutes from a variety of films
about Jesus that cover a common theme or the same event. Discuss
the similarities and differences, e.g. Jesus of Nazareth, 1977,
Director: Franco Zeffirelli who made use of all four Gospels, but
the filmmaker favoured Luke and John Jesus of Nazareth full movie
on *Youtube www.youtube.com/watch?v=tI11wEtAUVQ Jesus (aka The
Jesus Film) 1978, Director: Peter Sykes and John Kirsh which
presents basic facts based entirely on the Gospel of Luke; Jesus
Christ Superstar the musical (1960s - 1970s hippy culture),
Superstar the musical (2000), Jesus of Montreal, Jesus (TV
mini-series) 1999, Director: Robert Young incorporates the modern
world with Jesus world. Godspell. Follow-up: As a 21 st century
film maker, and drawing on the Gospels as your source, how would
you portray Jesus as the lead character in your film? Write one
paragraph about your film to brief the casting director.
Slide 25
Extension Task Extension Activity: There are images drawn from
Scripture which may have a particular significance for the
contemporary world or for a specific context; e.g: servant leader;
teacher of truth; true light of the world; Savior and friend of the
oppressed; upholder of human dignity. Are there images of Jesus
that you are drawn to? Explain why
Slide 26
Multimedia http://www.rejesus.co.uk/ www.acbc.catholic.org.au
(see: Fr Richard Leonards film reviews) www.acbc.catholic.org.au
Jesus of Nazareth (1977) Franco Zeffirelli Jesus (The Jesus Film)
Peter Sykes and John Kirsh Jesus Christ Superstar Superstar the
Musical (2000) Jesus of Montreal Jesus (TV mini-series) (1999)
Robert Young Godspell Art works Christ of St John of the Cross
Salvador Dali Corpus Hypercubicus Salvador Dali The Last Supper
Salvador Dali
Slide 27
Bar Code Jesus by Scott Blake, from Savannah, Georgia, makes
portraits which combine art (Shroud of Turin) with technology. He
says: As a computer artist, I am in the business of selling pixels.
The bar code represents technology, efficiency and commodities. It
is the universal icon for the computer revolution.