Chapter 5: The Mission Begins

1. Preparing the Way of the Lord CONCEPT A The Infancy Narratives Chapter 5: The Mission Begins

2. Written to: Give faith answers to the interest in Jesus’ birth and early life Only 2 Gospels Have Infancy Narratives: Matthew & Luke

3. Not Jesus’ biographies But Faith testimonies proclamations of the Good News written by people after they knew Jesus was the risen Lord. REMEMBER - Gospels

4. written by a different person at a different time to a different group of people for a different purpose. stories about the meaning, significance & impact of Jesus’ life & teaching on people & events of his time REMEMBER – Each Gospel

5. 1st written – about 70 C.E. to non-Jewish Christians stressed Jesus’ humanity & suffering Ch.1 has an introduction then it goes right into the public ministry of Jesus Mark: No Infancy Narratives

6. Is this where Jesus’ story begins – with his public ministry?? What about his birth & childhood? early Christians asked these ?? as the Gospels began to develop. Mark: No Infancy Narratives

7. Very different Jesus: the Messiah & divine Son of God Used poetic, symbolic language, stories John: No Infancy Narratives

8. the “Word of God” to become human in Jesus. Last Gospel written, about 95 C.E. – after years of reflection on Jesus & his message. John: No Infancy Narratives

9. John: No Infancy Narratives • He goes back in time farther than Jesus’ human birth in Bethlehem. • He explores the origins of Jesus in the heart of God before the beginning of time.

10. John: No Infancy Narratives • As the divine word, Jesus reveals the reality of God. • He says Jesus is the Son of God at start of the gospel. • The other gospels slowly say Jesus is God’s Son.

11. Written to: Give faith answers to the interest in Jesus’ birth and early life Only 2 Gospels Have Infancy Narratives: Matthew & Luke

12. Is this where Jesus’ story begins – with his public ministry?? What about his birth & childhood? early Christians asked these ?? as the Gospels began to develop. Mark: No Infancy Narratives

13. These are stories about the birth & early life of Jesus. There is a great deal of symbolism in stories of Jesus’ birth & early life. Very few people besides Jesus’ parents were there to witness the events. Infancy Narratives

14. Infancy Narratives • They tell as much if not more about Jesus as the Christ of Faith as they do about the historical details of his birth.

15. Written about 90 C.E. to devout Jews, Jesus fulfilled Moses’ law is the long-awaited Messiah born in Bethlehem from the line of King David whose roots go back to Abraham. Mt.’s Infancy Narratives

16. No shepherds – only magi The presence of non-Jewish magi shows that Gentiles accepted Jesus as the Messiah while many Jews did not. Mt.’s Infancy Narratives

17. Story of Mary & Joseph Description of conception & birth Description of giving name Mt.’s Infancy Narratives

18. Jesus as the new Moses – they go to Egypt as slaughter of innocents occurs. Jesus is called out of Egypt after Herod’s death - like the Exodus – & returns to Nazareth in Galilee in Palestine. Mt.’s Infancy Narratives

19. Written about 85 C.E.- about 15 years after Mk. Directed to Gentiles Jesus came for all – rich, poor, men, women, Jews, Gentiles - especially the poor & downtrodden – like the shepherds Lk.’s Infancy Narratives

20. Genealogy goes back to Adam – father of all - not just Jews. Lk.’s Infancy Narratives

21. in Lk. & not in Mt. John the Baptist Annunciation Visitation Magnificat Several scenes about John the Baptist – birth, circumcision, naming, prophetic prayer of his father Lk.’s Infancy Narratives

22. Only after all of this Lk. describes Jesus’ birth: A baby wrapped in bands of cloth No room in inn No magi, only shepherds Lk.’s Infancy Narratives

23. Circumcision, presentation of the child Jesus in the temple, prophecies of Simeon & Anna Jesus at 12 years old in the temple in Jerusalem Lk.’s Infancy Narratives