Christianity

Since Jesus and the earliest Christians were devout Jews, Christianity shares a great deal of the worldview of Judaism. Among the many Jewish scriptures found in the Christian Bible is the Book of Genesis, which includes the sacred story of the creation of the universe and the fall of humanity. The Book of Exodus relates the sacred story of Moses and contains the Ten Commandments. The Christian Bible also includes the stories of the prophets of Israel, in whose words Christians see the life and death of Jesus foretold. These scriptures, written before the time of Jesus, are included in the Christian Old Testament.

The New Testament is that portion of the Christian Bible that was written after the time of Jesus' death. The New Testament includes the Gospels, which relate the sacred story of the life and teachings of Jesus. Historically the Church has believed these stories to be literally true. In modern times, some Christians have viewed them as being symbolic. But they are sacred to all Christians because they reveal God's plan for humanity, which includes salvation and eternal life.

The Gospels of Matthew and Luke contain infancy narratives, the stories of the birth and youth of Jesus. According to the story told in Matthew, Jesus' mother, Mary, was a virgin betrothed to a carpenter named Joseph when she discovered she was pregnant. Joseph was going to leave her quietly, but an angel came to him in a dream and told him not to be afraid because Mary's unborn child was from the Holy Spirit. The angel then told Joseph to name the child Jesus and said that the child would save the people. Joseph did what the angel told him to do.

Matthew's Gospel says that Jesus was born in Bethlehem during the reign of Herod, King of Jerusalem. A group of magi (Eastern astrologers or wise men), came to Herod's court, saying that they had seen a star in the sky that, to them, was a sign that the king of the Jews had been born. Upon hearing this, a jealous King Herod slyly told the magi to seek the child and report back. Following the star to Bethlehem, the magi stopped at the place where Jesus was staying. Seeing the child with his mother, the magi were overjoyed and worshipped him. They gave him presents of gold, incense, and myrrh. They then returned to their home without alerting Herod as to the child's location.

An angel came to Joseph in a dream again, and warned Joseph to flee Bethlehem and take the child and his mother to Egypt. Joseph again did what the angel told him. Determined to destroy the infant Jesus, Herod ordered the death of all boys under the age of two living in the vicinity of Bethlehem. Fearing for their lives, Joseph remained with his family in Egypt until Herod died.

After Herod died, an angel told Joseph in a dream to return to the land of Israel. Joseph was afraid to return to Judea, where Herod's son was the ruler, because he had received another warning in a dream. Joseph then took his family to Nazareth and settled there.

In this story, the writer of Matthew shows how the life of Jesus was foretold by quoting the Jewish prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Micah, and Hosea. The Gospel of Luke tells a similar story of Jesus' birth, but without the prophecies. Luke's Gospel fills the narrative with poetry and song.

All four Gospels tell the story of Jesus' adult life, arrest and trial, crucifixion, and resurrection. The stories of Jesus' miracles, stories (called parables), sermons, exorcisms, and the raising of the dead are interwoven with reports of his debates with prominent Jews and conversations with his disciples. At the end of three years of ministry in and around Roman Palestine, the Gospels report that Jesus was arrested in Jerusalem at the time of Passover. They relate how he was whipped, taunted, nailed to a cross, and left to die.

According to the story, Jesus died on a Friday and was quickly buried shortly before sunset, just as the Sabbath was beginning. After the Sabbath, some of his followers went to care for his body, but his tomb was empty. They began to report appearances of Jesus. His followers were convinced that Jesus was resurrected, or come back to life.

The Book of Acts reports that Jesus remained with his followers for forty days, instructing them in God's plan for them. He promised to send them the Holy Spirit, and cautioned them against calculating the time of his return, saying that no one can know the date or time. He then ascended to the sky until a cloud hid him.

The end of the story of Jesus' life in earth is not quite the end of the story. After Jesus' ascension, Christians believe, Jesus went to reign in heaven with God, whom Jesus called Father. Jesus is also still invisibly present in the world among his followers. Someday, he will return to judge both the living and the dead, and to usher in a golden age on earth.

Study Questions:
1.     In what ways do followers of Jesus connect with Jewish narratives?
2.     What does the New Testament reveal about Jesus' life?
3.     How are the gospels similar? Where do they differ?
4.     How does the Christian narrative continue, even after Jesus' death and resurrection?