Jesus: How Did Jesus Help His Audience

Many aspects of social justice can be found in the Bible. Jesus partakes in many actions that would fall under social justice. He fed the hungry, stood up for women’s rights and welcomed the outcasts who were hated. Through history, there are very few people that stood up for equality and against oppression. One such person would be Martin Luther King, Jr. who based a lot of his work on the bible and the religious figures that are described in it.

The gospel describes Jesus as a great teacher who astounded the crowds who gathered to hear him. Though he engaged in debates with Pharisees and Sadducees, he took great interest in ordinary people. He often taught them in parables, stories that used vivid images from everyday life to illustrate spiritual truths (Invitation to World Religions, pg.416). The central theme in Jesus’ teachings was the Kingdom of God. For Jesus, the kingdom of God was not an ordinary kingdom, but that exists when human beings recognize God’s sovereignty over the world and respond in love and in

One critique to the Jesus Seminar was the motives behind their work. The media often portrayed the group to be comprised mostly of former Christians, attacking hardest on the group’s leader Robert Funk and cochair John Crossan. Critics went as far to describe their meetings as having “the air of a village atheists’ convention” (Powell, 110). Such an allegation gave rise to the popular belief that the motives of the scholars were to get revenge on institutionalized religion for not being accepting to them. I believe the media was too quick to judge the motives of the scholars by attacking their backgrounds. Just because their work was controversial doesn’t mean it was subjective with underlying personal vendettas. It seems unlikely that a group

Jesus gave others hope and made choices that not everyone would want. He gave his life on the cross for us and many disagreed. As a logical leader he put others before himself. Jesus was unlike any leader, he forgave his followers.

10. One of the ways Jesus shows compassion for those less fortunate people in the scriptures is by paying attention to the individuals that no one else would, for example, the lepers (the extremely ill people). Most of all he would dedicate his time to the down trodden and would advocate for others to follow his example as well.

Christians are called to help others, but when they give and give and do not take time to care for themselves or say no to some requests that cross their boundaries. Jesus was found retreating from crowds to spend time in prayer with God displaying the importance of soul care, Jesus ate with His disciples fueling His body, He took time to rest and sleep, and He maintained important friendships. In coming to earth Jesus showed how to maintain balance between self and personal care as well as establishing healthy boundaries so He could care for Himself and in return care for

In the Roman Empire, they believe the emperor connected their world to heaven. All blessings flow through him. Consequently, a poor person would not receive as many blessings because of their placement on the social pyramid the Christians believe not only themselves, but everyone is made in the image of God. Since God is royalty, then that makes everyone else of royal blood as well. The parable of the "Good Samaritan" continues express this idea of equality. In the parable a man is robbed and beaten. A priest and a levite notice him, but continue on the path. The samaritan, an enemy of the jews, helps the man and nurses him back to health. Jesus attempted to spread the message that in order to be a person of God a person must treat everyone the same regardless of background and beliefs. This equality gave people worth and value to

They taught others about Jesus, so that the when he returns all the people who believe in Christ will be save and go to heaven with their father, God. The bible states, “He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation” (Bible Mark 16:15 NIV). Jesus used all the knowledge to help prepare the world for the second coming. Since the disciples had the knowledge that Jesus gave them, they could use that to help out others and bring others to Christ. Knowledge is power and there is happiness in it .

What he went through benefited a lot of people. Way before the crucifixion—the supreme example of Jesus caring for others—he was known for constantly showing kindness. For example, when a lot of people had been with him for several days, Jesus cared for them. He knew they were hungry, and that if he sent them away, some of the weaker ones may faint on the way (Mark 8:1-2). This was the motive for multiplying the loaves and the fish. His healings and ministery was all inspired by understanding. When it came to dying for the sins of the world, Jesus kept right on adoring, helping, and loving. He did not suffer and die for his own sins, because he was perfect. He cared for us—those who would one day respond in faith—so much that he willingly volunteered to pay the ultimate price to rescue us from this present evil age, sin, and the wrath of God (Gal 1:4; 1 Pet 2:24; Rom 5:9). When he finally breathed his last, he died not with bitterness and resentment poisoning his heart but with love and trust (1 Pet

He would go from village to village, preaching the word of God and helping those in need of help. This helped him gain followers, especially those that were part of the lower social class. Jesus' teaching was “revolutionary.” He challenged the “established religious authorities to repent from their self-righteousness and hypocrisy and realize that the Kingdom of God is rooted in service and love.” Soon, a group of men began to follow Jesus and call him teacher. These men would become known as his disciples. Jesus taught his disciples about the “will of God” and about the “new covenant.” He also taught that “God will bring to humanity through him.” What Jesus was teaching was bothering those of high social status, so “Jesus himself would pay by being crucified unjustly on a Roman cross.” Three days later he would resurrect thus, marking the true start of

Jesus views the world as a world of people who needs saving. He sees many hypocrites and sinners in the world, and he also sees many good hearted souls. He sees God as his father, and he wants to help everyone he sees, with his merciful heart. He sees students who needs to be taught, and he sees a world that can be made better. He sees that everyone's inner light can shine, so he set forth laws in order for everyone to enter heaven. He can view a world where there is no murder, adultery, divorce, oath-breaking, and resistance to even evil people. He sees potential for everyone to love every being, from their neighbors to their enemies. Jesus views the world as a place to give from the heart and not for ego, a place to pray sincerely, fast

He stirred many hearts and as a result had many followers, which angered the Romans and they began to think of something that would get rid of Him. Soon, a faithful group of people started following Jesus around and called him teacher, which were His disciples. Jesus taught them the will of God and helped them see that humankind is bound to experience pain and suffering as a result of their sin. And that He came to relieve them of their sins by being crucified on the cross so that whoever would believe in Him will have everlasting life.

The chapter starts with a quote about Jesus by Napoleon. There was one part that I agreed with Napoleon. He mentions that he tried to search history to find if there is anyone similar to Jesus, but his search was fruitless (Yancey 47). Throughout the years since Jesus’ death and resurrection, there has been no one that comes close to being similar to Jesus because Jesus is one of a kind. He is the Son of God, after all. Yes, our world would be a much better place if there was a person similar to Jesus alive today, but that would defeat the purpose of Jesus’ second coming. Why would we want a person that is similar to Jesus when we can have Jesus himself?

Jesus as teacher tells us to be good, follow him, and live ethical lives. In this model, Jesus is saving us from our own ignorance because we do not know right from wrong. He wants us to change our uncaring behavior by him educating and inspiring each of us through his teachings and examples of love and knowledge. Jesus is the bridge between us and God that covers ignorance and apathy. By him covering that, we change and learn, we live the ethical lives he wants us to live, and we teach and share with our fellow Christians.

Jesus teaches his followers many life lessons that gives them a good life while they have faith in God. John 15:1-11 and other passages explains to people that Jesus is the people’s lord and savior of his disciples, who in following Jesus will give them the love and hope they need by God, Jesus Father.