Origins of Jesus
This is the reason why Mary is important to the story of Jesus.
What is the Mother of God?
She was chosen to be the Mother of God as prophesied by Isaiah. She had an immaculate conception (born from the Holy Spirit) and remained a virgin. She was born without Original Sin (disobedience and pride) which shows Jesus’ divine origins.
Mark's companion is this major disciple.
Who is Peter?
Peter is one of the 12 Disciples. He is famously known for his passion and faith in Jesus, also known as the person who received the keys to heaven and the rock of the church.
Matthew's job made him seem like a traitor to the Jews.
What is a tax collector?
He was Jewish and took funds from his people to support the Roman Empire.
Luke's job is similar to how he portrays Jesus in his Gospel.
What is a doctor/physician?
Luke was a physician interested in medicine and finding cures to diseases. This is why he was fascinated by Jesus and his ability to heal.
John was known as this for his immense faith in Jesus.
What is the Beloved Disciple?
John was known for being a part of Jesus' inner circle of the disciples with Peter and James for his strong faith.
This is the reason why Jesus, Mary and Joseph had to flee to Egypt.
King Herod was threatened by hearing a new king was born. His authority was being threatened and he had to eliminate any threats to his rule.
This is the major theme for Mark's Gospel and his portrayal of Jesus.
What is the Suffering Servant?
Jesus shows His true power from His sacrificial love to suffer and die for our sins to have eternal life.
This is the major theme for Matthew's Gospel and his portrayal of Jesus.
What is the Jewish Messiah?
Jesus is seen as the New Moses but greater who fulfills the prophecies of the Old Testament and emphasizes His Jewish heritage.
This is the major theme for Luke's Gospel and his portrayal of Jesus.
What is the Divine Physician and Compassionate Saviour of the World?
Jesus is seen as a divine healer, compassionate, merciful and the saviour of everyone.
This is the major theme for John's Gospel and his portrayal of Jesus.
What is the Word Made Flesh?
Jesus is God incarnate (Scripture brought into reality and the representation of God in the flesh). Jesus is seen as fully human (because he was born from Mary) and fully divine (as the Son of God).
This is the reason Jesus was crucified.
What is being a threat to Roman and Religious authorities as the "King of the Jews"?
Jesus threatened Roman authority as “King of the Jews” and religious authorities who were afraid of losing control and influence. His growing influence was a threat to both groups. Crucifixion was used as a public humiliation death sentence reserved for people who were not Roman.
Mark saw disciples as this in his Gospel.
Mark saw the disciples as clueless because they did not understand what Jesus was trying to accomplish as the Messiah.
The famous teaching of the Beatitudes is meant to serve this purpose.
What is living a meaningful life as a Christian?
Jesus taught the Beatitudes with the purpose of delivering a new law to instruct how Christians should love one another and live a meaningful life as a citizen of God.
These are the major prayers that Jesus taught in this Gospel.
What is the Lord's Prayer/Our Father and the Hail Mary?
Jesus is seen as a prayerful person who taught us how to pray.
Jesus declared His identity through these statements. Name some.
What are "I AM" Statements.
I AM...the Bread of Life, Living Water, Light of the World, Way, Truth and the Life, Vine, Good Shepherd, Resurrection and the Life, Gate/Door.
These are the 4 key themes of parables.
What is the description of the king, kingdom responses, relationship to neighbours and fulfillment of the kingdom?
God's nature, how we should act to enter heaven, how to treat one another, anything talking about the future kingdom of heaven.
Mark wanted the early Christians to move with a sense of urgency for this reason.
What is the Apocalypse?
Mark believed that Jesus would return very soon (The Second Coming of Christ) and urged people to convert to Christianity before the end of the world.
Jews saw the Messiah's purpose as this.
What is a political warrior that would free the Jews from Roman oppression?
Jews understood the Messiah as someone to free them from oppression similar to Moses. Jesus came to free all people from the oppression of sin.
This is how women were portrayed in Luke's gospel.
What are becoming significant roles in Jesus' ministry?
Women are seen as activists in spreading the Gospel and supporting the church. Women such as Mary, the Mother of God and Mary Magdalene are key female figures who lead the faith after Jesus' death.
This is the first major sign/miracle of this Gospel.
What is turning water into wine?
Jesus at the Wedding of Cana displayed a major sign of His divine nature by turning water into wine.
This is the meaning of the upside down Kingdom of God.
What is the king serves His people?
In a human kingdom, power is selfish. The people serve the king, those who have power and are rich thrive while others suffer. The strong are who rule and defeat their enemies in the human kingdom. In God’s Kingdom, God serves His people and those seen as the weakest are the strongest (the ones who are selfless). He is humble, selfless and power comes from sacrificial love and loving our neighbours and enemies. The human kingdom is temporary but God’s kingdom is eternal.
Jesus hiding His divine identity as the Messiah is called this.
What is the Messianic Mystery?
Jesus was a humble king that did not want His deeds to be known, until the timing was right for Him to reveal to His disciples that He is the Messiah.
This is the main reason why Jesus is seen as the New Moses but greater.
What is freeing people from the slavery of sin?
Moses led Jews out of slavery from Egypt, but Jesus freed the entire world from the slavery of sin.
The Good Samaritan parable is a key story that teaches us this.
What is loving our neighbour despite our differences?
Jesus emphasized that in order to enter the kingdom of heaven, loving one another, showing compassion and mercy just as the Samaritan did to the Jew is how we can live like true Christians.
This is how Jesus showcases the Glory of God (hint: it is His mission on earth).
What is dying and resurrecting?
Jesus shows the Glory of God by dying for our sins, conquering death and resurrecting to show death does not defeat Him and He gives us eternal life.