While the radical teachings of Jesus undoubtedly gathered a following, his reputation as a miracle worker and healer was probably as great, if not greater, an attraction to his growing devotees. He healed the lepers, the blind, the lame, the paralyzed, and the sick. He brought people back from the dead. He walked on water, drove out demons, calmed storms, and fed five thousand with five loaves of bread and two fishes.
The Gospels put forth all these teachings and miracles, but they also present some contrasting images of Jesus; he violently drove merchants from the Temple (Matthew 21:12-13); he killed a fig tree that bore no fruit when he was hungry (Matthew 21:18-19); he said those who were not for him were automatically against him (Matthew 12:30); he refused to see his mother and brothers when in their concern they came to visit him (Matthew 12:46-50); he repudiated the Jewish tradition of divorce (Matthew 19:9); he challenged the ancient dietary regulations of the Jewish faith by teaching, “No one is defiled by what goes into the mouth; only by what comes out of it.” In his teachings in the Temple he not only radically changed the interpretation of the law of Moses, he attacked the Jewish leaders of the day. The following is a small fragment of his onslaught of accusations:
Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like tombs covered with whitewash; they look fine on the outside, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and corruption. So it is with you: outwardly you look like honest men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. (Matthew 23:27-28)
Jesus did not claim to be the Messiah. As reflected in the writings of the prophets, Jesus does not fit the profile of Messiah as the inheritor of the warrior king David who would once again lead the Jewish nation to be a great and powerful kingdom. Jesus did call himself the Son of Man and the Son of God. It is possible to interpret this as an indication that all the Jews are children of God as is stated many times in the scriptures. The Gospels make it clear that Jesus did see his role as that of a sacrificial offering opening to the Jews a new avenue to God and preparing for the coming of the kingdom of God. This was most graphically illustrated in the Jewish Passover meal he shared with his disciples hours before his arrest:
During supper Jesus took bread, and having said the blessing broke it and gave it to the disciples with the words: `Take this and eat; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and having offered thanks to God he gave it to them with the words: `Drink from it all of you. For this is my blood, the blood of the covenant, shed for many for the forgiveness of sins.’ (Matthew 26:26-28)
The arrest of Jesus was precipitated by his attacks on Jewish traditions and leaders and also by the tension that existed between the Romans and Jews due to recent small-scale insurrections. These circumstances left Jewish leaders worried that this radical teacher was going to stir up trouble and bring down the wrath of the Romans on them and the Temple. Jesus was accused of being a false prophet and claiming to be the Son of God and the Messiah. He refused to deny the charges and was quickly crucified (Frend 72-3). Events that had occurred in Jesus’ very short three-year ministry were to change the course of history. The Gospels tell that in three days he rose from the dead and sent a message for his remaining eleven disciples to meet him in Galilee. Judas, who had betrayed Jesus with a kiss, had committed suicide. In Galilee Jesus charged them to carry his teachings to all nations and to baptize in the name of the Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Peter, James, and John returned to Jerusalem and established the center of the church. They frequently worshiped and taught at the Temple as well. James emerged as the undisputed leader of the church and established good relations with the Jewish leaders of Jerusalem that lasted for twenty years. Christian instruction emphasized the teaching of Jesus as the risen Messiah who would return and restore Israel as predicted by the prophets. Christianity was seen as a branch of Judaism. By 40 C.E. Christianity had gained a foothold throughout Palestine with funds being raised and sent to headquarters in Jerusalem (Frend 86-97).
In 46 C.E. Paul joined the ministry. A Jew who was formerly a strict interpreter of the law and persecutor of Christians, he was also a Roman citizen through his well-to-do family. In a blinding vision Jesus came to him and he was filled with the Holy Spirit. His original attempt to join with the disciples in Jerusalem was rebuffed, but they eventually sent him on mission work. In 48 C.E. he returned with a new vision for Christianity; he demanded of James that circumcision be dropped as a requirement for joining the faith. James finally acquiesced with the stipulation that all other aspects of the law remain in effect, including dietary and sexual customs. Paul spent eight years (49-57 C.E.) in mission work to Greece and Asia Minor with remarkable results. His primary mission was to the Gentiles but he found greatest success in already established Jewish communities and among the “God-Fearers,” those who accepted the monotheism of the Jews but refused circumcision and other Jewish traditions. Paul and his disciples traveled throughout Greece and Asia Minor establishing Christian synagogues throughout the region (Frend 99-100).
Paul’s teaching centered on the personality and love of Jesus above that of the law of Moses. As his teachings evolved, more and more of the Jewish law was dismissed and replaced by the new law of Christ. Paul claimed Christ to be the new Adam, who came to reverse the original sin. Through His ultimate sacrifice of His own body and blood the original sin was annulled; all those that came to Him were saved and free of death through His love and sacrifice. Christianity became a faith of rapid salvation. Christ had performed the labor of salvation; Christians needed only to believe and follow. Paul gave structure to Christ’s magnetic invitation:
Come to me, all who are weary and whose load is heavy; I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble-hearted; and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to wear, my load is light. (Matthew 11:28-30)
Paul made his teaching concrete in his letters to the congregations of his missions. These letters make up a large portion of the New Testament. The following is an example both of the powers of his writing and the guidance he dispensed to his followers:
For just as in a single human body there are many limbs and organs, all with different functions, so we who are united with Christ, though many, form one body, and belong to one another as its limbs and organs.
Let us use the different gifts allotted to each of us by God’s grace: thegift of inspired utterance, for example, let us use in proportion to our faith; the gift of administration to administer, the gift of teaching to teach, the gift of counseling to counsel. If you give to charity, give without grudging; if you are a leader lead with enthusiasm; if you help others in distress, do it cheerfully.
Love in all sincerity, loathing evil and holding fast to good. Let love of the Christian community show itself in mutual affection. Esteem others more highly than yourself.
With unflagging zeal, aglow with the Spirit, serve the Lord. Let hope keep you joyful; in trouble stand firm; persist in prayer; contribute to the needs of God’s people, and practice hospitality. Call down the blessings on your persecutors — blessings, not curses. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in agreement with one another. Do not be proud, but be ready to mix with humble people. Do not keep thinking about how wise you are.
Never pay back evil for evil. Let your aims be such as all count honorable. If possible, so far as it lies with you, live at peace with all. (Romans 12:4-18)
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