This was a powerpoint presentation that I used for a class on the central message of Jesus' teaching.

1. THEOLOGY: 230-01

2. * An Ethical (Functional) Eschatology
(Within the Already, Not Yet
(proleptic) formulation)
* Metanoia – “A change of mind”
conversion/repentance
* The Kingdom of God is meant to
bring human and cosmic fulfillment
and an answer to the problem of
evil.
*

3.  Love of God and love of
neighbor are central
aspects of this message
 God’s love is radical and
Indiscriminate (Love your
Enemies)
 An ethical call to share in
God’s perfection through
the pursuit of
reconciliation and
forgiveness
 The Law is not dismissed
but is interpreted to serve
this ethical criteria.

4.  Jewish Prayer life
 Scripture readings
 Prayer recitations
 Shema 2x
 Tephila 3x
 Jesus’ prayers
 Luke 11:2 – Our
Father
 Matthew 11:25 –
Hidden wisdom
 Mark 14:36 –
Gethsemane prayer
 Intimate spirituality
 Abba Father – God
is seen as a loving
parent; generous,
merciful and
forgiving
 We (disciples) are Prayer life and spirituality
invited to share in
that intimate
relationship with
God

5. Jesus Teaches
 A teacher with a
unique (prophetic)
authority.
 Jesus’ conviction and
insights are derived
from his own intimate
relationship with God
 Ethical discourses
(Beatitudes, Matthew
25) and parables

6. PARABLES
• “A metaphor or simile
drawn from nature or
common life, arresting
the hearer by its vividness
or strangeness, leaving
the mind in sufficient
doubt about its precise
application to tease it
into active thought.” –
C.H. Dodd
• Parables communicate
partial information while
provoking a dynamic
response

7. Miracles and Healing
 Miracles were an extraordinary but
not supernatural part of the 1st
century experience. Jesus was
recognized as a miracle worker and
teacher
 Jesus’ miracles were
demonstrations of God’s power
(dynamis) and active testimony of
the God’s present reign
 Healing and feeding miracles were
driven by Jesus’ compassion and
justice.
 Jesus’ Miracles were often driven by
the power of one’s faith.
 Jesus did not want the miracles to
overshadow his teaching.

8. FR. DON SENIOR, REGARDING THE MIRACLES
Jesus of Nazareth But, most of all,
was a human being Jesus was a man so
so close to his God charged with God’s
that God’s own own compassion and
creative power love that any cry of
flowed out from him pain or confusion
in healing waves. drew from him an
instant response of
healing and
restoration.

9. Community of Disciples
• Jesus gathered disciples:
• An inclusive and diverse group that
was called by Jesus
• Disciples radically broke from their
social and personal ties. And
accepted social risks
• They were privy to special
instructions
• The Twelve:
• Core group of leaders
• Symbolize a reconstituted Israel
• Change of Mission:
• Mark 7:24, Syrophoenician woman,
Gentiles enter the picture
• Mark 8:31, Jesus foresees his own
demise and alters the mission.