LESSON 1: THE PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST, THE NAZARENE: THE WORLD JESUS LIVED
IN
Jesus in Hebrew, means "God saves."
At the annunciation, the angel Gabriel gave him the name Jesus as his proper name, which
expresses both his identity and his mission.
Christ" comes from the Greek translation of the Hebrew word Messiah, which means
"anointed".
• It became the name proper to Jesus only because he accomplished perfectly the divine
mission.
Jesus fulfilled the messianic hope of Israel in his threefold office as a King, Priest, and Prophet.
OTHER NAMES AND TITLE OF JESUS CHRIST
The Immanuel- a Hebrew title which means God-Is-With-Us, because with his Incarnation, God
made his dwelling among us.
The Redeemer- Jesus is the Redeemer because the debt due to our sins. This title, which
comes from the Latin word redemptio, meaning “ransom - price” based on the
teaching of St. Paul. (Romans 3:23-24)
The Pantocrator- A Greek title which means Almighty, because he is all powerful.
The King of the Universe - Jesus is referred to as the King of the Universe, because “all things
was created through him and for him.” (Col: 1-16)
THE WORLD JESUS LIVED IN
• The word ‘Palestine’ was derived from the people Philistines. During the Old Testament times
they settled on the coastal plain of Canaan; the region they occupied was called ‘Philistia’. (
which we now call Palestine)
The spoken language of Jesus was Aramaic
A. Jewish Provinces
1. Judea: Province where Jesus was born and died. Jerusalem (capital), Bethlehem (Jesus’
birth place)
2. Galilee: It was in this province where Jesus grew up and began his mission.
3. Perea: Perea is located on the western shore of the Jordan River and eastern slopes of
Transjordan, extending for about 15 miles beyond the Jordan. Its northern boundary was near
the Decapolis city of Pella and it stretched south to the Dead Sea. ( This was one of the
provinces of Transjordan: Perea and Decapolis)
B. Non Jewish Provinces
• 1. Samaria: It was the province between Judea and Galilee. Its inhabitants were descendants
of mixed marriages from the foreigners imported to the North. They believed in only one God,
their religion was based on the Pentateuch alone. The province’s capital was also called
Samaria.
2. Decapolis: Ten cities. Under the general administration of the Roman legate of Syria. People
came from this province to hear Jesus and Jesus performed a miracle of healing in this territory.
The demoniac who was cured on the eastern shore of Lake Genesareth
3. Phoenicia: Semitic name Canaan, part of the Roman province of Syria. Phoenicians were
famous shipbuilders and carpenters.
4. Philip’s Tetrarchy: This comprised various regions that stretched to the north of Palestine:
Gaulanities, Iturea and Trachonities.
5. Idumea: • This province, located south of Judea, was called after the Edomites, the
descendants of Esau. Herod the great belonged to a leading Idumean family
The Jews understood the world to be divided into two types of people: Jewish and Gentile
(non-Jew). The Jews worked hard to disassociate themselves from the Gentiles
ECONOMIC SETTING
The economy of first century of Israel was supported by three key segments:
AGRICULTURE of olives, figs, grains, dates and vineyards.
TRADE fostered by Israel’s key location on the Mediterranean Sea;
LARGE GOVERNMENT BUILDING PROJECTS sponsored by king Herod.
LESSON 2: JESUS, THE SON OF MARY AND JOSEPH: THE EARLY LIFE OF JESUS
JOSEPH AND MARY: THE PARENTS OF JESUS Mary, also known as the Blessed Virgin
Mary, Mary the mother of God is believed by many to be the greatest of all the Christian Saints.
The Virgin Mother “was, after her Son, exalted by divine grace above all angels and men.” Mary
is venerated with a special cult, called by St. Thomas Aquinas, hyperdulia, as the holiest of all
creatures. The main events of her life are celebrated as liturgical feasts of the universal Church.
ST. JOSEPH was by birth of the royal family of David, but was living in humble obscurity as a
carpenter when God raised him t o the highest sanctity, and fitted him to be the spouse of His
Virgin Mother, and foster-father and guardian of the Incarnate Word.
The ANNUNCIATION: Luke 1:26-38
The Annunciation to Mary inaugurates “the fullness of time,”- the time of fulfillment of God’s
promises and preparations.
Mary was invited to conceive him (the Son of God) in whom the fullness of deity” would dwell
“bodily.”
An angel was sent to bring the goodnews… “Hail Mary, full of grace the Lord is with you blessed
are you among women” that she will conceive and bear a Son.. By the power of the Holy Spirit.
Mary responded..” I am the handmaid of the Lord, be it be done to me according to your Word”
-the “fiat” or the “yes” of Mary You are to name him Jesus…SAVIOR or Jehoshua (God is
salvation or God saves)from which the name JESUS was Contracted.
Other text says “He will be called “Emmanuel” which means “God is with us.
After the Annunciation, Mary set out to visit her cousin Elizabeth who in her old age conceived a
son … who was named John (John the Baptist)
-Elizabeth exclaimed, How can this be that the Mother of my Lord should come to me. The
moment you came, the baby in my womb leaped for Joy.
Then Mary sing a song of praise “MAGNIFICAT” because of the wonders God has done in her
life.
The Incarnation
- “the Word became flesh”
-the Son of God assumes Belief in the incarnation of the Son of God is the distinctive sign of
Christian faith “Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a
thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness
of men..he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross (Phil
2:5-8)
Why did the Word became flesh? To save us by reconciling us with God. So that we might know
God’s love. To be our model of holiness. To make us partakers of the divine nature.
Lesson 3: THE MISSION OF JESUS: The Compassionate Jesus, The Healing Jesus, The
Teaching Jesus
St. John Paul the II - proposed to the Christian community five significant moments -
Luminous Mysteries
1. The Baptism in the Jordan
2. His self manifestation at the Wedding of Cana
3. His proclamation of the Kingdom of God, with His call to conversion
4. His Transfiguration
5. His Institution of the Eucharist
They are called Mysteries of Light because they shed light on who Jesus Christ is.
Jesus Mission to Proclaim the Kingdom of God Jesus began his public ministry proclaiming: The
time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand, repent and believe in the Gospel. (Mk. 1:15
The Compassionate Jesus
•Jesus proclaimed the Kingdom of God with a heart full of compassion, especially for the poor,
sinners, and outcasts.
The Healing Jesus
• Jesus’ healing miracles revealed His divine power and the arrival of the Kingdom of God.
The Teaching Jesus
•Jesus taught through parables, sermons, and actions, revealing the truths of the Kingdom of
God.
Apostle - comes from the Greek word apostolos which means “to be
sent.” Jesus chose 12 Apostles to accompany Him on His mission. They were to share the
ministry of Jesus and preach the Good News of the risen Lord
Peter, Andrew, James the Greater, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew,Thomas, James
the Less, Jude, Simon the Zealot, Judas Iscariot, Matthias.
LESSON 4: THE STORY - TELLER: THE PARABLES AND OTHER STORIES OF JESUS
THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND ITS PROCLAMATION
The Kingdom of God is God’s reign initiated through Christ, calling everyone to a life of:
1. faith
2. repentance
3. service
Matthew 13: 1-13 – The Parable of the Sower
Matthew 35:1-13 – The Parable of the Ten Virgins
Lesson 5: Paschal Mystery
God’s Secret Plan of Salvation
PASSOVER
• MOSES: sent by God to free the people
• from slavery in Egypt
• Angel of death (physical death)
• Blood of Lamb on doorpost
• Cross boundary of Red Sea
• entry into the Promised Land
SALVATION
• JESUS: sent by God to free the people
• from the slavery of sin
• spiritual death (condemnation)
• Lamb of God (shed blood on the cross)
• cross boundary of death
• entry into new promised land (Heaven)
Paschal Mystery is God's plan of salvation which was ultimately fulfilled through four events in
Christ's life. Those four events are His Passion (his suffering and crucifixion), death,
Resurrection, and Ascensio.
*Every liturgy is a celebration of the Paschal Mystery.
• Every liturgy is a celebration of God’s plan of Salvation.
• Through WORD and EUCHARIST we remember what God has done, and we look forward to
what he will do for his people.
For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him
might not perish but have eternal life(John 3:16)
The Gospels portray Jesus as coming into conflict with the religious powers for the
following reasons:
1. He associated with outcasts and sinners (such as tax collectors and prostitutes) and
therefore, by insinuation, was a sinner himself.
"Jesus' understanding of his mission brought him into closer and closer contact with the poor,
the powerless, the most despised, the sinners, whom he saw as needing his help and the mercy
and forgiveness of God.
Characteristics of Christ’s Suffering and Death
1. redemptive- to give his life for ransom of the many
2. He save us from Sin- Christ’ coming then is “to expiate the sins of the people” Hebrew 2:17
3. He comes for Us- Quoting Isaiah:
Profound Effects of Christ’s Death
What makes Christ’s saving love unique?
1. Universal -Jesus died “not for our sins alone but for the whole world” (1 Jn. 2:2)
2. Eschatological -Jesus died that those who follow him will receive “eternal life in the age to
come” (Mk. 10:30)3.
3. Empowering “The Father sent His Son as savior of the world. When anyone acknowledges
that Jesus is the Son of God, God remains in Him and he in God.. The way we know that we
remain in Him and He in us that he has given us of his Holy Spirit” (1Jn 4:14)
