Jesus: His Life
By J. Prescott Johnson, Ph.D.
Northwestern University
Professor Emeritus of Philosophy
Monmouth College (IL)
Long before Jesus was born, the Hebrew prophet Micah predicted that the Messiah, Savior of the Jewish people, would be born in Bethlehem He was born in Nazareth between the years 6 and 4 of the common era. He was named Jesus, which in Hebrew means He Who Helps. His name in Greek is Jesus.
The family of Joseph and Mary lived in the small village of Nazareth, The village was located in northern Palestine, just north of the Plain of Esdraelon. The family comprised the parents and the children. One child, a son, was named Jesus (the Hellenic version of the Hebrew Joshua ). He was destined to become the unparalleled significant individual. In his life and in his teaching he would become enshrouded in the garment of the sacramental, truly the man and, further, the glory.
Jesus was the first born in the family of Joseph and Mary. He had other brothers: James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas. He had sisters, but their names have been lost. After his death one of his brothers, James, would become a leader in the Christian movement and would also suffer death,
When Jesus was twelve he accompanied his parents to Jerusalem. Returning to their home, they realized that Jesus was absent, They came back to find him. They found him in the temple, discussing with the elders in the synagogue. They remonstrated against his carelessness. His reply was “Did ye not know that I must be about my Father’s business?
Little is known about the activity of Jesus as a youth and young man. Several theories have been developed by early scholars, but the views ate unsubstantiated. He was probably an artisan in some occupation, most likely a carpenter or a worker in stone. His acquaintance with the Sea of Galilee formed significantly his activity and language. He became aware of the vibrant nature of Greece and Rome.
In the course of events, there appeared a strangely clad figure dressed in extremely rough garments. He wore clothing made from camel’s hair and leather. His name was John, destined to become known as “John the Baptist.” On this occasion he was preaching in the wilderness of Judea, calling the people to repent and announcing the incoming of the kingdom of heaven. He baptized many people who heard and believed his message.
Jesus soon appeared and asked of John to be baptized. They knew each other, in fact were cousins. John protested, saying that he was not worthy to baptize Jesus. But Jesus insisted, and John complied with the request. As Jesus rose from the water, “the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him. And lo a voice from heaven, saying, this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matt. 3:16-17).
It is here that Jesus became aware of the nature of his future ministry. But first came the time of his wandering in the wilderness, where he was tested by the powers of evil, which he overcame.
And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness. And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; . . . and the angels ministered unto him (Mark 1: 12-13).
Jesus now heard the distressing news that his cousin John had been arrested by Herod Antipas and beheaded. Jesus took this as an ominous warning as to what might befall him. He forthwith left Judea and returned to Galilee. He resumed his mission and accepted his inevitable fate.
Following this occurrence, Jesus led a few of his disciples, Peter, James, and John, to a high mountain and was transfigured before them.
And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow, as no fuller on earth can white them. And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus (Mark 9:3 & 4).
As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus said “tell no man of this vision until the Son of Man is raised from the dead” (Mark 9:9).
From this time on, Jesus would leave Galilee and carry his mission to the heart of Jerusalem, accepting his inevitable fate. He made a triumphal entry into Jerusalem, riding a donkey. People waved palm branches and cried out hosannas. The people cried out “blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord.” In coming to Jerusalem, Jesus placed himself in the greatest possible danger. He immediately attacked the religious authority of the Temple, overturning the tables of the money-changers and the places of the sacrificial animals. “Is it not written, my house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? But ye have made it a den of thieves” (Mark 11:27).
Jesus’ condemnation of the Temple itself, of the leaders in the Temple, presages the destruction of the Temple as the consequence of God’s condemnatory judgment. From this time on, the leaders of the Temple sought means by which to arrest Jesus and kill him. They decided, however, not to kill him during the Feast of the Passover.
Jesus spent his time in Jerusalem, preaching to the multitudes. At night he withdrew himself to the Mount of Olives. He spoke to his disciples of the coming destruction of the Temple After the violent apocalypse the Last Judgment would occur and the Messiah would return to usher in the heavenly kingdom of peace.
When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angles with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: and before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world (Matt .25:31-34).
While Jesus continued his ministry, he already knew that betrayal and suffering awaited him on earth. Then Judas Iscariot went to the priests and arranged to deliver Jesus to them, receiving in payment thirty pieces of silver. The group then observed the Passover’
And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom. (Matt. 26:26-29).
They sang a hymn and went to the mount of Olives. There Jesus revealed to them that one of them would betray him. They were astonished by the shocking news.
Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee (Matt:26:31-32).
The disciples protested, Peter saying that he would never betray him. But Jesus insisted that this dreadful event would indeed occur:
Peter answered and said unto him, though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night , before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice (Ibib.: 26:33-34) .
Jesus then led the disciples to the Garden of Gesthemane:
Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gesthemane, and saith unto the disciples, sit ye here while I go and pray yonder. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be very sorrowful and very heavy. And he saith unto them, my soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death, tarry ye and watch with me. And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt (Ibid. 36-39).
Jesus now realized that his sacrificial hour had arrived.
It is enough, . . . the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise up, let us go, he that betrayeth me is at hand (Mark 14:41-42).
The disciples saw Judas Iscariot approaching, leading a crowd of armed men. Judas walked up to Jesus and kissed him on the cheek. It was a signal to the men behind him. Immediately they came forward and laid hands on Jesus. He said to them: “ Are ye you come out, as against a thief, with swords to take me? I was with you daily in the temple, teaching, and ye took me not:: but the scriptures must be fulfilled.” And they all forsook him, and fled (Mark 14:49-50).
Jesus was led away to certain death. As he had earlier said, the disciples fled in terror. Jesus is removed from the Mount of Olives and is led away to Jerusalem, to the house Caiphus, the High Priest of the Temple, where his enemies are waiting for him. The Council and the Scribes sought testimony to put him to death, but they found none. Many sought false witness against him, but they found none. They brought him to the house of Caiphus, where his enemies were waiting for him. Many bore false witness against him, but their witnesses did not agree. However, Jesus evidently knew that his enemies would contrive witnesses, so as to allow them to put him to death.
Suddenly Caiphus asked Jesus: “Are you the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God?” The Gospels disagree as to what Jesus said. Mark says that Jesus responded that he was the Messiah. Mathews’ view was different: he said that Jesus responded: ”you have said so.” In Luke’s account, the answer was “If I tell you, you will not believe.”
The High Priests then tore his clothing off. They said, “Why do we need witnesses? You have heard his blasphemy . What is your judgement? He deserves death.” Then they hurled their ridicule at him.
The charge of blasphemy was ridiculous. There was no blasphemy in Jesus’ answer. There were other reasons that disturbed the Jewish leaders. They resented Jesus’ denunciation of them and his announcement that God was to judge them and their Temple. They also resented Jesus’ popularity. They realized that it would cause the people to disregard their influence among the people. They did not want to lose their grip on the people.
The Jewish people faced another problem: how to execute Jesus. Only the Roman authorities had the power to execute criminals. But the Jews knew how to get Rome’s attention and agreement to execute Jesus. They argued that Jesus had announced himself as the head of his own kingdom. This, they said, was a threat to the integrity of Rome. It should not, therefore, be permitted.
The Jewish leaders took Jesus from the house of Caiphus to the residence of Pontius Pilate, the Roman authority. Thy told him that Jesus claims to be the king of the Jews. The events take a very different turn. Pilate asks Jesus: “Are you the king of the Jews”? He answers “You have said so.” Pilate then says “I see no fault with this man. I therefore will chastise him and let him go.”
Pilate offered a choice to the residents. He sais that in honor of Passover he would offer them the option: He would either release Jesus or the criminal Barabbus. They chose the release of the criminal, thus insuring the fate of Jesus. Pilate saw no reason the execute Jesus: “I see no fault in this man. What then shall I do with Jesus? The crowd roared their answer: “Let him be crucified.”
Then they stripped Jesus of his cloths, put a scarlet robe on him, and placed a crown of thorns on his head. They then mocked him, spat on him, and led him away to be crucified.
Hail, King of the Jews! And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. And after that they led him away. And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him (Matt. 27:29-31).
One last time he was led away to Jerusalem along the street that was later called the via delarosa, the way of sorrows, to a hill just outside the city walls. The name of this hill struck fear in the hearts of all who heard it. It was Golgotha, which means place of the skull. They gave him a glass of wine, which he refused. When they crucified him they parted his clothes and cast lots for them.
Jesus died in the year 30. He was 33 years old. In earlier times he was accompanied by great crowds. But on this Passover day he was alone. His disciples were afraid of their lives and fled the scene of his death. Only one disciple, Peter, followed Jesus as he was taken away. When he was recognized as a disciple of Jesus, he vehemently denied it. The next morning Peter remembered Jesus’ prediction that he would deny Jesus and wept bitterly.
While Peter wept, Judas Iscariot returned to the Temple and returned the thirty pieces of silver, and filled with remorse he hanged himself.
Betrayed and abandoned by his followers, Jesus was nailed to a cross, the most horrible death ever devised in the ancient world. His hands were nailed to the cross by the wrist bone, not the palms of his hands, so that the nails would stay in place while on the cross. His death came by suffocation.
By condemning Jesus to this unrelenting horror, the Romans left no doubt that the young teacher was a dangerous threat to Roman peace. Over his head they put the charge against him, which read “This is Jesus the king of the Jews.” Some of those observing the scene laughed at him, saying “If you are the Son of God come down from the cross.” Deserted by the apostles, only his mother and Mary Magdalene and a few other female followers watched the crucifixion from a distance. Others laughed and mocked him.
The crucifixion began at the 3rd hour, 9 o’clock in the morning. By afternoon Jesus was nearing death. When the 6th hour had come, there was darkness all over the land. And about the ninth hour (3 p.m.) Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying “Eli, Eli, Lama azabhtani”?, that is to say, My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matt. 27:46).
As his death became immanent, he said “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit..”
Joseph of Armithaea , a good and just man, asked the Roman Pilate if he might remove Jesus’ body from the cross and give him proper burial.. Pilate granted the request, and the body was placed in Joseph’s tomb. A large stone was then placed over the entrance of the tomb.
Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Jesus had waited at the crucifixion and observed where Jesus’ body was placed. The morning after the Sabbath the women brought sweet spices to anoint the body of Jesus. Suddenly they were hurrying back to Jerusalem, filled with joy and trembling with awe, running to tell the disciples of a most marvelous occurrence, the Resurrection.
The tomb was open. When they looked into the tomb there was a young man sitting by the tomb.. He wore a white garment. Scripture records the marvelous event:
And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you” (Mark 16:6-7).
Following his Resurrection, Jesus appeared several times to his disciples. But they at first refused to believe that he had returned from death. Thomas was one who disbelieved.
And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them. Then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands, and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it in my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed (John 20:26-29).
After Jesus’ death the followers eventually emerged from hiding and had the strength and faith to continue his mission. Peter, the disciple who denied Jesus, found courage and strength to carry on his mission and work. So did Jesus’s brother James. Others joined them. Only twenty years after the crucifixion St Paul’s famous letters revealed that the movement that Jesus founded had already grown far beyond Galilee and had been winning converts wherever it spread. By the middle of the century Christianity spread across the Roman world to every major city of the empire. Christianity was now a major force that Rome had to come to terms with. It replaced the pagan cults, which did not function. It became the soul of the empire. The Emperor Constantine was converted to the faith and became a significant influence in the strength and reach of the faith.
Jesus incarnates a profound and ancient dream deeply imbedded in the human spirit for a world of radical justice, radical equality, for a world of not of domination but of empowerment, and above all, for the announcement that this is what the sacred and God demand and promise. As long as that dream is alive, Jesus is alive.