1. Portraits of Jesus Portraits of Jesus
A Lent Course at Aldridge Parish Church
6 Wednesday evenings 7.45pm – 9.30pm
Portraits of Jesus
Handouts from earlier sessions are available this evening after the session
14th Feb Jesus - the Trailblazer (Letter to Hebrews)
21st Feb Jesus - the History Maker (Luke and Acts)
28th Feb Jesus - the Hidden King (Mark’s Gospel)
7th Mar Jesus - the new Moses (Matthew’s Gospel)
14thMar Jesus - the Lord who Reigns Now (Paul’s letters)
21st Mar Jesus - the Meaning of Life (John’s Gospel) 1

2. Creating a Portrait A Portrait is ‘the Remembrance of a Friend’
Portraits attend to the inner life, character and importance of the subject and the artist builds that into how the ‘appearance’ is re-presented.
The artist ‘plays’ with the tension between the visual (literal) and the ‘significant’ - which is less tangible, harder to express and usually more important. 2

3. A Portrait of Jesus 3

4. The Tools of the Literary Portrait Painter
The shape of the Text – ‘editor at work’
The Interactions between different characters
The selection of language – ‘playing with words’
The adoption of a ‘Point of View’ in the text
The invitation to the Reader to be a detective
The Scriptural ‘Trinity’ – Text, Readers, Holy Spirit 4

5. Jesus - the New Moses Portraits of Jesus
A Lent Course at Aldridge Parish Church
6 Wednesday evenings 7.45pm – 9.30pm
Jesus - the New Moses
a portrait of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew

6. Public Ministry of Jesus Public Ministry of Jesus
1. The Shape of the Gospel of Matthew
The birth of Jesus
Public Ministry of Jesus
Jesus and Disciples,
Teaching in Jerusalem
Trials, Cross Resurrection
1.1 – 2.23
3.1 – 16.12
16.13 –20.34
21.1 – 26.46
26.47 – 28.20
Jesus’ Appearances
The Shape of the Gospel of Mark
The birth of Jesus
Public Ministry of Jesus
Jesus and Disciples,
Teaching in Jerusalem
Trials, Cross Resurrection
1.1 – 8.26
8.27 – 10.52
11.1 – 14.42
14.43 – 16.8 6

7. Public Ministry of Jesus
1. The Shape of the Gospel of Matthew
The birth of Jesus
Public Ministry of Jesus
Jesus and Disciples,
Teaching in Jerusalem
Trials, Cross Resurrection
1.1 – 2.23
3.1 – 16.12
16.13 –20.34
21.1 – 26.46
26.47 – 28.20
The Arrangements inside the Gospel Shape
Mt 5.1 – 7.28 Sermon on the Mount
Mt 10.1 – 42 Instructions for the mission of the 12 Disciples
Mt 13.1 – 42 Collection of Parables
Mt 18.1 – 42 Life in the Kingdom of Heaven
Mt – Teaching in the Temple 7

8. Pilate, the governor asks ‘Are you the King of the Jews’?
2. Interaction between different characters
How is Jesus described – and by whom?
The interaction between characters in the narrative is one key way of conveying information about each other to the reader.
Example
The High Priest said to him... Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son God? Jesus said ‘You have said so’
Mt 26.63
Pilate, the governor asks ‘Are you the King of the Jews’?
Jesus said ‘You have said so’ Mt 27.11 8

9. To get the most from their contribution, attend to
2. Interaction between different characters
How is Jesus described – and by whom?
The interaction between characters in the narrative is one key way of conveying information about each other.
To get the most from their contribution, attend to
(i) What is the statement made?
(ii) Who is making the statement?
(iii) What is their background?
(iv) How likely are they to be reliable guides? 9

10. 2. Interaction between different characters
Mt 1.1 Messiah, the Son of David, son of Abraham Editor of the Gospel
Mt Jesus, Saviour; Immanuel (God with us) Angel
Mt 2.2 One born King of the Jews Magi
Mt 3.16 Anointed with Spirit (Messiah) Editor of Gospel
Mt 3.17 My Son Voice from heaven (also Transfiguration 17.5)
Mt 4.3 Son of God The Tempter (also demons 8.31)
Mt 8.2 Lord, Man with Leprosy
Mt 8.19 Teacher Teacher of the Law
Mt 9.27 Son of David Blind Men
Mt Messiah, Son of the Living God Peter
Mt The Prophet from Nazareth Crowds at entry to Jerusalem
Mt The Son of Man Jesus
Mt Messiah, the Son of God High Priest’s question
Mt King of the Jews Pilate’s question 10

11. 2. Interaction between different characters
Mt 1.1 Messiah, the Son of David, son of Abraham Editor of the Gospel
Mt Jesus, Saviour; Immanuel (God with us) Angel
Mt 2.2 One born King of the Jews Magi
Mt 3.16 Anointed with Spirit (Messiah) Editor of Gospel
Mt 3.17 My Son Voice from heaven (also Transfiguration 17.5)
Mt 4.3 Son of God The Tempter (also demons 8.31)
Mt 8.2 Lord, Man with Leprosy
Mt 8.19 Teacher Teacher of the Law
Mt 9.27 Son of David Blind Men
Mt Messiah, Son of the Living God Peter
Mt The Prophet from Nazareth Crowds at entry to Jerusalem
Mt The Son of Man Jesus
Mt Messiah, the Son of God High Priest’s question; Jesus’ answer
Mt King of the Jews Pilate’s question; Jesus’ answer 11

12. 2. How is Jesus described – and by whom?
Matthew’s Gospel portrays Jesus as
Messiah (Davidic King; popularly King of the Jews)
Son of God (not often, highest reliability – Voice from Heaven and the demons (unclean spirits)
All four New Testament Gospels present this picture of Jesus
What else does the Gospel of Matthew contribute? 12

13. 2. How is Jesus described – and by whom?
Matthew’s Gospel portrays Jesus as
Messiah (Davidic King; popularly King of the Jews)
Son of God (not often, highest reliability – Voice from Heaven and the demons (unclean spirits)
All four New Testament Gospels present this picture of Jesus
What else does the Gospel of Matthew contribute?
‘Jesus as the New Moses’
and how does Matthew convey that to the reader? 13

14. 3. Matthew’s Extra Contribution Jesus – the New Moses
Moses in the Jewish Traditions
Moses came to save
- almost killed as a baby,
(a) Led the People out in the Exodus
(the definition of OT Salvation)
Key Insight – God’s chosen Saviour
The One who gave the Words of Life
(b) On Mt Sinai to receive Commandments
(c) Tradition linked Moses and Pentateuch
(these 5 Books gave all needed for Life) 14

15. 3. Matthew’s Extra Contribution Jesus – the New Moses
Moses in the Jewish Traditions
Moses came to save
- almost killed as a baby,
(a) Led the People out in the Exodus
(the definition of OT Salvation)
Key Insight – God’s chosen Saviour
The One who gave the Words of Life
(b) On Mt Sinai to receive Commandments
(c) Tradition linked Moses and Pentateuch
(these 5 Books gave all needed for Life)
Key Insight – Grace is heart of the matter
Ex 12 – Exodus; Ex 20 – The Commandments 15

16. 3. Matthew’s Extra Contribution Jesus – the New Moses
Moses in the Jewish Traditions
Moses came to save
- almost killed as a baby,
(a) Led the People out in the Exodus
(the definition of OT Salvation)
Key Insight – God’s chosen Saviour
The One who gave the Words of Life
(b) On Mt Sinai to receive Commandments
(c) Tradition linked Moses and Pentateuch
(these 5 Books gave all needed for Life)
Key Insight – Grace is heart of the matter
Ex 12 – Exodus; Ex 20 – The Commandments
Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew
Jesus came to save
- almost killed as a baby,
(a) Opened the way to God – died/rose to life (the heart of NT Salvation)
Key Insight – God’s chosen Saviour
The One who gave the Words of Life
(b) On Mt gave Sermon on the Mount
(c) Portrays Jesus and 5 blocks of teaching (this teaching gives all needed for Life) 16

17. Matthew’s Extra Contribution Jesus – the New Moses
Moses in the Jewish Traditions
Moses came to save
(a) Almost killed as a baby,
(b) Led the People out in the Exodus
(the definition of OT Salvation)
Key Insight – God’s chosen Saviour
The One who gave the Words of Life
(a) On Mt Sinai to receive Commandments
(b) Tradition linked Moses and Pentateuch
(these 5 Books gave all needed for Life)
Key Insight – Grace is heart of the matter
Ex 12 – Exodus; Ex 20 – The Commandments
Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew
Jesus came to save
- almost killed as a baby,
(a) Opened the way to God – died/rose to life (the heart of NT Salvation)
Key Insight – God’s chosen Saviour
The One who gave the Words of Life
(b) On Mt gave Sermon on the Mount
(c) Portrays Jesus and 5 blocks of teaching (this teaching gives all needed for Life)
Key Insight – Grace is for All
Genesis ; Matthew 17

18. Matthew’s Extra Contribution Jesus – the New Moses
What does the parallel between Moses and Jesus contribute to the Portrait of Jesus?
1. Grace filled life ‘with God’ – let us celebrate. The commandments are to help us maintain the relationship which God has already freely initiated.
2. The Commission to Abraham ‘…. And all peoples on earth will be blessed through you’ (Gen 12.3) is taken up by the new Israel, the church of Jesus Christ 18

19. Portraits of Jesus A Lent Course at Aldridge Parish Church
6 Wednesday evenings 7.45pm – 9.30pm
14th Feb Jesus - the Trailblazer (Letter to Hebrews)
21st Feb Jesus - the History Maker (Luke and Acts)
28th Feb Jesus - the Hidden King (Mark’s Gospel)
7th Mar Jesus - the new Moses (Matthew’s Gospel)
14thMar Jesus - the Lord who Reigns Now (Paul’s letters)
21st Mar Jesus - the Meaning of Life (John’s Gospel) 1