Samaritans

1
Samaritans

• Regarded with suspicion and hostility by Jews
  (see John 44-42)
• Origins Assyrian overthrow of northern kingdom
  of Israel and forcible settlement of non-Jews
  within area
• Recognized Shechem and Mount Gerizim (rather than
  Jerusalem and Mount Zion) as place of worship

2
John the Baptist

• Book of Malachi spoke of God sending a messenger
  to prepare the way for the coming of God (Malachi
  31-2) and hinted that Elijah would return before
  this event
• Johns Ministry collective repentance
• John baptizes Jesus Jesus as disciple of John?
• Questions about identity of John Mt 111-19

3
Recipients of the Ministry of Jesus

• Social and Religious Outcasts
• Physical/Spiritual Illness, Sinners, the Poor
• Healing, Messages of hope to the Poor,
  Forgiveness for Sinners Signs of Gods Present
  Activity in Establishing the Kingdom

4
Jesus the Healer

• Jesus as Holy Man
• If you believed in him, of course he was a man
  possessed by God. If you did not believe in him
  you would say he was a magician, a charlatan, a
  faker, a pretender.
• Shaye I. D. Cohen,Prof. Rel Studies, Brown U.

5
Healing, Sinners, the Poor

• Jesus and Lepers Luke 1711-17. See Leviticus
  131-8, 45-46 141-11.
• The Woman in the Crowd Mark 524-43 See
  Leviticus 1525-30.
• The Woman with the Ointment Luke 736-50 (On
  women see Luke 82-3)
• The Rich Young Man Matthew 1916-22

6
The Parables of Jesus

• Parable A short fictional narrative that
  compares something familiar to an unexpected
  spiritual value.
• Similes (comparisons using as or like) e.g. Mark
  430-32
• Brief Stories e.g. Mark 42-9 allegorical
  interpretation Mark 413-20.
• Most parables are open-endedMany possibilities
  inherent in the comparison

7
Parables

• Simple stories convey complex messages about God,
  the Kingdom of God, Salvation
• Challenge Listeners to change their behaviour
• The Parable of the Prodigal Son Luke 15 11-32