Why did people relate to Jesus Christ’s message?

Aim: How did people relate to Christ’s message?Do now:

THE RISE OF CHRISTIANITY / CHRISTIAN BELIEFS1.Jesus Christ- believed to be the messiah, the Savior promised by GOD in the Old Testament to save his people. - Born a Jew and Roman subject in Bethlehem (present-

day Israel)- Jesus was born into a humble Jewish family. His

mother was a young peasant woman named Mary. Christians believe that his father was the Holy Spirit of God, making Jesus both fully human and fully divine.

- God sent his son Jesus in human form so that people would better understand God as a caring and loving parent.

- Jesus lived and experienced the suffering of humans. - Jesus healed the sick and told stories, or parables, and

preached sermons that taught what God wanted people to do – to love God with all their hearts and love their neighbors as themselves.

- Jesus taught by example. By being loving and forgiving himself, Jesus taught others to be loving and forgiving - especially toward those who were considered outcasts in society.

• Christians believe that the painful sacrifice of Jesus' life on the cross shows how much God loves God's people.

• Jesus paid with his life on Earth for the sins of the world. • Christians believe that in raising Jesus' from the dead, God

showed that Jesus' message of love and forgiveness was more powerful than death, and that believing in Jesus and following the example of his life and his teaching would lead to eternal life after death.

- Freed believers from sin and offered resurrection in the afterlife

Resurrection: Rise from the dead and enter Heaven- Crucified by Jews and Romans at age 33- Rose from the dead after 3 days

After his resurrection, Jesus Christ's followers spread his message throughout the world, creating the Christian Church. Today there are about two billion Christians living all over the world.

Jesus will come again at the end of time. In addition, Christians believe in the Trinity, or the three parts of God: God the Father or

Creator, God the Son (Jesus) or Redeemer, and God the Holy Spirit or Sanctifier. The Holy Spirit is God's presence in the world.

The essence of Jesus' teaching comes from his summary of the Jewish law he grew up with:Love God with all your heart, soul and mind.Love your neighbor as yourself. Christians also seek to follow the ten commandments God gave Moses to give the Israelites:Worship no other God but me.Do not make images to worship.Do not misuse the name of God.Observe the Sabbath Day (Sunday, for Christians). Keep it Holy.Honor and respect your father and mother.Do not murder.Do not commit adultery.Do not steal.Do not accuse anyone falsely. Do not tell lies about other people.Do not envy other's possessions.

What are the sacred texts of Christianity?The sacred text of Christianity is the Holy Bible. The Christian Bible has two parts: the Old Testament which is essentially the Hebrew scriptures of Jesus' time; and the New Testament which contains writings about Jesus Christ and about the early church.

What are the sacred texts of Christianity?The four gospels (a word meaning ‘good news') of the New Testament are accounts of Jesus' life and teaching, of his death and resurrection. The New Testament also contains the Acts of the Apostles, which describes the early growth of the Christian church; the letters of Paul and other important leaders in the early church; the Letter to the Hebrews; and the Book of Revelation.

New Testament

The New Testament teaches that salvation comes through believing in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and in following his teachings. It teaches that salvation is a gift God extends freely through Jesus Christ to all people.

Peter: After Christ death Peter then carried forth Christ message being one of the 12 apostles. first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot.

Prior to conversionPaul, whose Hebrew name was Saul was "of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee.”Phil. 3:5 Acts identifies Paul as from the Mediterranean city of Tarus, well-known for its intellectual environment.

Paul confesses to having “violently persecuted” the “church of God” prior to his conversion. He was well respected by everyone and advancing in stature within Judaism's Jerusalem Temple leadership before he came to the decision that Jesus, by his resurrection from the dead, was actually The Lord and The Messiah.Rom. 1:3-4

Conversion and missionPaul's conversion can be dated to 33 -36 A.D

According to the Acts of the Apostles, his conversion took place on the road to Damascus where he experienced a vision of the resurrected Christ; after which he was temporarily blinded. Acts 9:1-31 [22:1-22 [26:9-24

Why did Jesus’ followers think he was the Messiah?

• After Jesus’ death, his body was placed in a tomb. After 3 days he appeared to his followers.

• This convinced his followers that he was the Messiah.

Christianity Spreads

• All of Jesus’ followers spread his ideas.• Teachings did not contradict Jewish law; his

first followers were Jews.• A new religion is born based on the teachings

of Jesus.

A New World Religion

• The widespread appeal of Christianity:– Embraced all people– Gave hope to the powerless– Appealed to those who were against the

extravagances of Rome– Personal relationship with God– Promised eternal life after death.

• Persecution – to cause suffering based on one’s beliefs.

• Where have we seen persecutions before?

Document 1

“Our Roman gods demand sacrifices from their subjects. Without their blessings, the Roman Empire is doomed. Yet

those who follow the teachings of Christ refuse to make sacrifices to the gods, claiming that their God is the only true

god. What nonsense!!! Those silly people and their silly ideas. They should get on their knees and worship the

ground that Jupiter and Minerva have create.”

- Maximus, Roman Governor

According to document 1, why did the Roman government view Christians as a threat to the Empire?

Document 3

“How dare they refuse to honor me!?! All good Romans must burn incense before my statues and honor me as a god. Yet these Christians refuse to do so. Well, if I have to feed every last one of them to the lions, I will. If I have to sew them into the skins of wild animals and have packs of dogs rip them to shreds, I will. If I must crucify every last one of them, I will. Sooner or later, they will acknowledge me as their superior

ruler.” - Nero, Roman Emperor

According to document 3, how could Christians in the Roman Empire have avoided a painful execution?

Document 2

“The teachings of Christ tells us that ‘Thou shall not kill’ and that ‘Those who take up the sword, shall perish by the sword.’

Therefore we shall not join the Roman legions and kill strangers in a strange land. And if the Emperor decides that we must be executed for upholding our beliefs, we gladly become martyrs.”

- Paulus, Roman Christian

According to document 2, why would the Emperor execute Christians?

Aim: How did people relate to Christ’s message?Do now: