"Jesus of History"

The name Jesus  (Gk Iesous; herbr Yesua [ywh helps or saves.], often shortened to Yesu  was common at the turn of the era among Jews. Jesus of Nazareth  was born near the end of the reign of Herod the Great.(37-4 BC). His mother was Mary, his putative father was Joseph. no more can be stated with certitude about his origins according to the scientific limits. Since the Gospel infancy narratives( Matt 1-2) ; Luke 1-2) reflect strongly later theology. Chap 1 of each affirms that Jesus was conceived through the Holy Spirit without a human father- information not found elsewhere in the N.T. The claim of liberal scholars  that this is purely a theological creation is dubious, but for the believer surety about the virginal conception comes from church teaching rather than scientific exegesis. Chap 2 of each has Jesus born at Bethlehem, a detail again not affirmed elsewhere in the NT and one symbolically related to Jesus status as royal Davidic Messiah. Of questionable historicity are the very different genealogies in Matt 1:2-16; and Luke 3: 23-38. Yet very early NT creeds (Rom 1:3-4 and 2:Tim 2;8) proclaim Jesus to be " of seed of David". in a context of resurrection  in terms of the enthronement of the royal Son of David-by no means an obvious or necessary interpretation- may have been facilitated by the fact Jesus did come from an obscure collateral branch of the House of David. In any event, his Davidic lineage is traced through his legal father Joseph. The only NT indication about Mary (Luke 1:5, 36) points to levitical descent.
  Jesus was considered a layman during his earthly life ( true in a Christian as well as a Jewish view of him: see Heb. 8:4). This helps to account for his slighting reference to both priest and Levite in the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37), something of a anticlerical joke; More important, it helps to explain why only once in the Synoptic tradition is Jesus presented in dialogue exclusively with Sadducees ( the largely priestly party) and with hostility obvious on both sides ( Mark 12:18-27).
 Most important, it helps to explain  why the priestly and lay aristocracy in Jerusalem(i.e. the Sadducees was most prominent in bringing Jesus before Pilate. The mortal struggle between Jesus and his opponents has elements not only of Galilean versus Judean, of the poor versus the rich, of the charismatic versus the institutional, of the eschatological (end times) versus this-worldly, but also the priests versus laity.
  Jesus spent 30 years of his life in Nazareth, an obscure hill town S Galilee. We know also nothing about this period. He was by profession a "tekton" ( Mark 6:3), most likely a carpenter, though the term cover any artisan working or building with hard materials. Jesus legal father, Joseph, does not appear during his public ministry; presumably, he had died.In contrast, his Mother, Mary, is mentioned, as well as his brothers, James, Joses=Joseph), Judas=(jude). and Simon(Mark 6:3; Matt13:55. Sisters are mentioned, but unnamed.  From patristic times controversy has raged over the precise relationship of these figures [ siblings, 'children of Joseph' by a previous marriage, cousins].
  Most Gospel references indicate that the relatives did not follow him during his public ministry.( (Mark 3:21, 31-35; John 7:5;  John 7:5; though cf. John 2:12). This stands in mark contrast to their i influential position later on in the Jerusalem church. A passing reference of Paul in 1 Cor. 9:4 indicates that Jesus brothers were married. Nothing explicit is ever said in the NT about Jesus marital status. However, in the face of various references to his father,mother, brothers, and sisters, the total silence about a wife may be taken as an indication that Jesus remained unmarried.His unusual celibate status, thinks that a prophetic vocation might have been understood to include  celibacy, Vermes, in his article( Jesus the Jew 99-102) thinks that a prophetic vocation might have been understood to include celibacy, but most of his evidence comes from centuries later (Mishna and Talmud; yet see Jer. 16:1), Jeremiah's life a warning
 We know very little of Jesus formal education He did read O.T, which was his Bible, his enemies in John 7:15 wonder how Jesus can know scripture when He never formally studied-though they are probably referring to technical training in the law such as scribes would receive by studying under
 a recognized teacher. Jesus was addressed honorifically as" Rabbi," but the title is Pre- AD 70. Judaism was more loosely used then later on. (its application to J Baptist in John 3:26. Luke 4:16-21, presupposes that Jesus could read and understand Biblical Hebrew. Ordinarily  Jesus would have used Aramaic in conversation and discourses, since this was the common language of Galilean peasants. Greek would have been used by Jewish peasants in Galilee for commercial purposes, and Jesus may have known some. That he regularly used it in His teaching. All in all, there was nothing in His early life or educational background that prepared his fellow- townspeople for the startling career he was soon to undertake: hence the shock and scandal that greeted him when He returned home after a preaching tour. ( Marl 6:1-6a). He was totally ignored at home. No prophet is without honor except in his native place, among his own kindred, and in his own house.
 Sometime during ca. AD 2-29, during the reign of the emperor Tiberius (14-37, Jesus emerged from obscurity to receive baptism from John the Baptist a figure known from Josephus Ant 185.2, 116-19; History 75: 169-70) A stern ascetic with traits of the OT prophets,esp, Elijah. JB's message called Israel to repentance and to once and for all cleansing (baptism) in view of of the imminent , fiery judgment of God. In this limited sense,Jbap's message and imagery were  ' APOCALYPTIC" The very fact that Jesus submitted to John's baptism, a fact increasingly played down by the evangelists (e.g. Matt:4:14-15). indicates that Jesus basically accepted John's mission and message, that renders
 present-day attempts to eliminate or soften the element of future eschatology (end time). Some of Jesus first and closet disciples were apparently John's former disciples.



 

Statement on Marriage.

 God in his infinite wisdom, created and ordained marriage to display the mysterious union of Christ and His Church ( Ephesians 5 22-25). Recently I Received this letter from a Pastor friend of my and I felt in these times to share with all. As the creator and author of marriage, God alone has the authority to define it. This He did in the second chapter of Genesis where God, having created man and women,
  brought them together personally as husband and wife. (2:22) and a benediction was pronounced over the couple.: " Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife and they shall become one flesh." (2:24, ESV) For this reason, Christian believers now hold- that marriage - and have always held- that marriage is between one man and one women; that it is sealed by the exchange of covenant vows; and that it is intended for the whole of natural life, until death.
  We as Christian believers, regard the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the inspired word of God and infallible authority under which we live.  We regard the clarity of Scripture to be sufficient for us to interpret the Bible accurately on matters of both faith and practice, using straight forward grammatical and historical principals. For this reason, we reject all-attempts to obscure or " re-read"  Biblical passages  which clearly state the parameters of human sexuality.  Sexual relations are to be enjoyed as a gift, and exclusively between married man and his own wife alone (Ex 20:14; Hebrews 13:4). Any alternate readings of Scripture that intentionally or unintentionally obscure this foundational Biblical presupposition are to be rejected.
  Christians are called to love-not hate- our enemies and those who persecute us ( Matthew 5:44). Thus, we reject any attempt to miss-characterize our convictions on these matters as " hate speech, because to tell the truth on these matters is indeed a most loving and gracious act.
  However, Christians are called to hate transgression and iniquity, wherever it is found, including within ourselves, and so we repent of our own sin first; be it in thought word or deed. we welcome those of all races, genders, ethnicities, and sexual inclinations to repent and believe in Jesus Christ
 and to worship in our churches. We sympathize with all who struggle with temptation, and exhort them to pursue " the obedience of faith" and embrace the new life given to the redeemed by the Holy Spirit. Accordingly, we continue to reject any and every sin that degrades God's glorious creation of marriage, including:  adultery, fornication, rape, incest, homosexuality, polygamy, lust, pornography,
 coercive abstinence while in the state of marriage, and all forms of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse.
 Moreover, human beings can pass no law that redefines marriage any more than mortals can pass a law that declares the light of the sun to be dark, or to suspend the law of gravity. though various laws may be passed by the agency of human pen and ink; or judgments rendered from human courts (higher or lower); yet human beings do not have the prerogative, now or ever, to alter, change or redefine marriage as instituted by our Creator.
Finally, then, we stand firm in our convictions of these matters and refuse to take any such actions as would compel us to violate either Scripture or conscience- even if so compelled by civil law- ' for to go against conscience is neither right or safe,"   Amen.