Beginnings
Jesus' baptism was a significant moment in which God affirmed Jesus as the Son of God and that served as something of an official start to Jesus' public ministry.
Who baptized Jesus?
What answer does Jesus give when asked, "Which commandment in the law is the greatest?"?
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.
Jesus heals two demoniacs in the gentile land of the Gedarenes. Into what does Jesus send the demons?
A herd of pigs (or just "pigs" is fine too)
At Jesus' last supper with his disciples, how did they position themselves around the table?
They lounged around the table (on their left side)
Which group is more present at the death and entombment of Jesus: the men or the women?
The women!
Magi (A.K.A. wise men, astrologers, scholars...) followed a star from the East in search of a new king of Israel.
How many magi were there?
Traditionally, people refer to there being three magi since they are described as bring three gifts (gold, frankincense and myrrh)
According to Jesus, how many times are his followers to forgive someone?
Acceptable answers are:
— 77 times
— Endlessly (the idea of "77 times" is that we will lose count trying to follow it literally anyway; so we are to just keep forgiving)
**I would give partial credit for "70 times 7" (or 490). That is not from this gospel, but is close enough for my taste to get a few points :)
Jesus encounters a centurion who asks Jesus to heal his son/servant. Jesus says he will go with the centurion to do the healing. The centurion, however, recognizes Jesus' authority and encourages him to do what instead?
Simply speak it. (and Jesus does! He heals the centurion's son/servant from where he is.)
What was the charge on which the council of the Sanhedrin convicted Jesus?
Blasphemy
(I would give bonus points to a team if they can define blasphemy)
Blasphemy: falsely claiming the authority of another person (usually someone with significant authority or power)
How did the chief priests ensure Jesus was in a tomb and would stay in that tomb?
Pilate gave them command of Roman soldiers to seal the tomb and stand guard outside of it.
Within the Gospel of Matthew, what does the story of the Magi reveal or demonstrate about Jesus?
Any of the following are good answers:
— Jesus is a BIG DEAL internationally! (the significance is noticed by foreign leaders before the Judeans notice)
— Jesus is a BIG DEAL locally! (Herod is so terrified of the potential threat he sees in Jesus that he orders the deaths of all children 2 years old and younger)
— The Kingdom of God, which is ruled by Jesus, is upside-down compared to the world's kingdoms
In the sermon on the mount, Jesus says:
“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. People do not light a lamp and put it under the bushel basket; rather, they put it on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven."
What does it mean for followers of Jesus to be a lamp on a lampstand giving light to all in the house?
To be a lamp giving light to all means to serve others such that all might see the light of God.
*Other acceptable answers align with the above, but change "light" to "love/grace/hope" (i.e. ...to serve others such that all might see the grace of God.)
Match the following miracle stories to the thing they best teach/demonstrate/emphasize:
A. Feeding of the 5000
B. Calming the storm
C. The healing of the demoniacs
D. The healing of the woman with the flow of blood
1. It reminds us of the power/authority of God in Jesus
2. Your faith has made you well
3. It reminds us of God's great abundance
4. The Gentiles were not yet ready to receive the Gospel
A = 3
B = 1
C = 4
D = 2
Even though Pilate holds the power, he tries to "wash his hands" of the death of Jesus. One way he does this is by having the crowd make a choice.
What choice is the crowd asked to make at Pilate's trial of Jesus?
Whether Pilate should release Jesus or Barabbas
According to Matthew's gospel, who was the first person to see the empty tomb?
Mary The Tower (Magdalene)
How did Jesus end up in the wilderness where he was tempted?
**"He was led/driven/sent/etc. by God" is also a good answer in my opinion!
**Jesus was not driven to the wilderness by the devil/tempter. Matthew's Gospel has God doing this, which demonstrates that God is always in control of what is happening to Jesus.
According to Jesus, how are his followers to become the greatest?
Followers of Jesus become the greatest by selflessly serving others the most, and by showing the most humility.
*Give partial credit if they got part of the answer.
When Jesus heals a paralyzed man he reveals that he is able to heal people because he has God's authority and power to do so. He reveals this by saying what instead of saying, "stand up, take your bed, and go to your home."
"your sins are forgiven."
What event seemed to push Judas to the breaking point in deciding to betray Jesus to the chief priests?
Who was the first person to be visited by the risen Jesus, and sent by him with work to do?
Mary The Tower (Magdalene)
How does the Gospel of Matthew explain that Jesus was from Nazareth, but was born in Bethlehem?
This is a two part answer, I encourage you to give partial credit if you can.
1. The Gospel of Matthew only says Jesus was born in Bethlehem (doesn’t explain why), such that we can assume that is simply where his parents lived at that time.
**FYI, an answer of "they went to Bethlehem because of the census" is an incorrect answer. Luke’s Gospel offers that explanation, but not Matthew's Gospel.
In the sermon on the mount, Jesus emphasizes just how difficult it actually is to follow in God’s ways. What does Jesus tell his followers to do about that since it is so difficult?
Jesus helps his followers see that we can’t do it alone, and that we all are in need of God’s help and grace.
*This is a difficult question. Give partial points at all if you can.
Which of the following did Jesus compare to a dog in a metaphor?
A. The leader whose daughter had died
B. The hemorrhaging woman
C. The Canaanite woman whose daughter was demon-possessed
D. The leper who wanted to healing
C. The Canaanite woman whose daughter was demon-possessed
15:26 He answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”
List three examples of God showing up in powerful ways at the death of Jesus.
1. Earthquake (multiple times)
2. 3 hours of darkness
3. Temple curtain was torn into two
4. Raising of dead bodies from newly opened tombs
After the angel opened the tomb, the soldiers eventually reported to the chief priests that divine intervention opened the tomb, which was now empty. The chief priests and elders bribe the soldiers to tell a lie that disciples stole Jesus' body while the soldiers were sleeping.
What does this demonstrate was not a priority of the chief priests and elders?
Trying to figure out what God was doing or what God's will was for them.