1. The Coming of the Messiah Chapter 3

2. Jesus: Our Hope and Salvation  “I am a historian. I am not a believer. But I must confess as a historian that this penniless preacher from Nazareth is irrevocably the very center of history Jesus Christ is easily the most dominant figure in all history.” H G Wells

3. Gospel Portraits  Jesus is the fulfillment of the promises made throughout the OT to Abraham, Moses, David……  Born in Bethlehem about _______  _________was king  ______________the Roman emperor  Grew up in ____________, northern region of ____________  Father taught him trade of ______________

4.  Baptized as an adult & became preacher  Crucified under __________about ________AD  Resurrected & ascended to Heaven

5. Four Gospel Portraits of Jesus What is a portrait? What does it mean that the gospels are portraits? Gospel – means ______________ 4 written accounts: 3 are synoptic – meaning can be looked at together – Matthew, Mark, Luke Written – Mark (65), Matthew (80), Luke (85), John (90) Each has specific audience, focus, & image of Jesus

6.  Not biographies but summaries of faith  Announce the good news of Jesus  Provide an encounter with Jesus  Challenge us to believe in Jesus  Mark is shortest; John is most symbolic

7.  Each gospel begins in different way  Mark – begins with John the Baptist & his message that the _________ is coming  John – Refers back to _______________________  “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”  Word = Jesus  Matthew & Luke – begin with Jesus’ birth, called _________________________

8.  Matthew:  Includes magi  Living in_________at time of Jesus’ birth  Slaughter of ______________ by Herod  Families flight to ________  Return to Nazareth  Star of Bethlehem  Luke:  Living in Nazareth & go to __________ for __________  Born in a _____________  Shepherd come to welcome/adore Him  Returned to Nazareth

9.  Common points between Mt. & Luke  _______ foretells Jesus’ birth (though to different people)  Jesus is conceived by __________  Born to virgin Mary  Joseph was of House of________(fulfilled prophecy)  Jesus was born in _____________

10. Matthew’s Infancy Narrative  80 A.D.  Audience – _________________  Focus – Jesus is fulfillment of _______________________  Contains more references to OT scriptures than any other gospel  Image – Jesus as new Moses – giver of new law  Genealogy – links Jesus to ____________________; also women; sinners

11.  Birth of Jesus:  result of power of ______________  Joseph plays key role;  believes angel;  gives Jesus name which means ____________;  Joseph saves his family like Joseph in OT saved his family & nation  Visit of Magi  Men from _____________– represent that _________________________  Bring gifts of ________________________________  Their role foreshadows role of disciples (and us) to take gospel to all nations

12.  Flight into Egypt & Massacre of Innocents  Just as Moses gave ______, Jesus gives New Law to disciples in ___________  Moses led his people to freedom; Jesus leads all to freedom from sin and death  Return to Nazareth  Exodus - God delivered ____________ from ____________  Jesus’ family leaves Egypt to go to Nazareth  Reminds audience of________leading people from Egypt