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Jesus-Introduction Flipbook PDF
Jesus-Introduction
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The marvelous treasures of the Catholic Faith—the Eucharist, Mary, the saints, and the Creed— are all centered on a single figure: Jesus Christ. Jesus is more than a historical or theological figure. He is our Savior, our Redeemer, our Lord, and our God. While many of us know a lot about him already, how well can we say that we really know him?
Jesus: The Way, the Truth, and the Life is a new and fresh look at Jesus—who he is, what he is really like, what he taught, and what he did for our salvation. This encounter with Christ will inspire and empower you to center your entire life around him as you come to know and love him in an ever-deeper and more intimate way. This study is written and presented by Marcellino D’Ambrosio, Jeff Cavins, and Edward Sri and filmed on location in the Holy Land. In Jesus: The Way, the Truth, and the Life, you will discover:
What’s next after Jesus: The Way, the Truth, and the Life? Ascension offers several paths for continuing your faith journey:
Explore all the options at ascensionpress.com
Visit ascensionpress.com to
• Find an Ascension study in your area • Learn how to start a study • Browse inspiring videos, podcasts, and articles from Edward Sri, Jeff Cavins, Fr. Mike Schmitz, and other great Catholic evangelists
Workbook ISBN 978-1-950784-17-2
ascensionpress.com
9
781950 784172 010.QUA.0120
t h e WAY, t h e T RU T H, a n d t h e L IFE
The Jesus Workbook contains the Jesus Timeline Chart, session overviews, reading assignments, talk notes, home study questions, and responses.
JESUS
• Who Jesus is and how he answers the longings of the human heart • The vibrant—and clashing—cultures of the Holy Land in Jesus’ time • Jesus’ profound relationship with Mary and Joseph • How radical his revelation of God’s mercy was—and is even now • What Jesus’ life and saving mission mean for us today • How to cultivate an intimate and life-changing relationship with Christ • The essentials of Christology—what we believe about Christ—explained in a simple way
MARCELLINO D’AMBROSIO, JEFF CAVINS, and EDWARD SRI
THE DEFINITIVE STUDY OF JESUS CHRIST
the WAY, the TRUTH , and the LIFE MARCELLINO D’AMBROSIO, JEFF CAVINS, and EDWARD SRI
JESUS the WAY, the TRUTH , and the LIFE
M A R C E L L I N O D ’A M B R O S I O, JEFF CAVINS, AND EDWARD SRI
West Chester, Pennsylvania
Copyright © 2020 Ascension Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved. With the exception of short excerpts used in articles and critical reviews, no part of this work may be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in any form whatsoever, printed or electronic, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Excerpts from the English translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church for use in the United States of America. Copyright © 1994, 1997 United States Catholic Conference, Inc.–Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Unless otherwise noted, Scripture passages are from the Revised Standard Version Bible, Second Catholic Edition. Copyright © 2006 Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture passages marked “NAB” are from the New American Bible. Copyright © 1970, 1986, 1991, 2010, Confraternity of Christian Doctrine. All rights reserved. Ascension PO Box 1990 West Chester, PA 19380 1-800-376-0520 ascensionpress.com Cover art: You Are Not Alone, used with permission by artist Cristian Costras (Saint-Étienne, France) Cover design: Rosemary Strohm Printed in the United States of America ISBN 978-1-950784-17-2
CONTENTS About Jesus: The Way, the Truth, and the Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v QUESTIONS AND TALK NOTES Introduction – Refocusing on Jesus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Session One – Jesus and History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Session Two – In the Beginning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Session Three – The Desert Way . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Session Four – Discipleship: The Way of the Kingdom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 Session Five – The Truth About God . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Session Six – The True Israel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55 Session Seven – The Truth About Jesus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 Session Eight – The Road to Glory, the Path of Suffering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Session Nine – New Passover, New Exodus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 Session Ten – Resurrection and Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95 Appendix Distances Between Gospel Locations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104 The Miracles of Jesus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 The Parables of Jesus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107 Titles of Jesus in the New Testament . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109 Teaching of the Ecumenical Councils on Jesus Christ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 Jesus: The Center of the Rosary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113 Solemnities and Feasts of the Lord . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
RESPONSES TO THE STUDY QUESTIONS Session One Responses – Jesus and History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115 Session Two Responses – In the Beginning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119 Session Three Responses – The Desert Way . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 Session Four Responses – Discipleship: The Way of the Kingdom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127 Session Five Responses – The Truth About God . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131 Session Six Responses – The True Israel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135 Session Seven Responses – The Truth About Jesus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139 Session Eight Responses – The Road to Glory, the Path of Suffering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143 Session Nine Responses – New Passover, New Exodus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147 Session Ten Responses – Resurrection and Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151 Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
You Are Not Alone by Cristian Costras
A B O U T J E S U S : T H E WAY, T H E T R U T H , A N D T H E L I F E As Christians, as Catholics, we all know that Jesus is at the very heart of our Faith. Indeed, many of us know a great deal about Jesus, but do we really “know” Jesus himself? If we wish to have an intimate, life-changing relationship with Jesus, then we need to be reintroduced to him in a fresh and compelling way, in a way that helps us actually come face to face with the Incarnate Son of God. Jesus: The Way, the Truth, and the Life will help you to know who Jesus is, what he is really like, what he did for our salvation, and what this means for us. It will help you know the difference Jesus makes for our lives.
Materials Materials for Jesus: The Way, the Truth, and the Life include: Workbook: Contains session summaries, home reading assignments, engaging study questions, responses to the questions, and talk notes for the video presentations. (You will need one workbook for every participant, study leader, and small-group facilitator.) Book: Read as part of the home reading assignments for each session. Provides in-depth material on the life and person of Jesus Christ, as well as the history, culture, and biblical background of his time. (You will need one book for every participant, study leader, and smallgroup facilitator.)
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Video Presentations (ten 30-minute sessions): Filmed on location in the Holy Land and presented by Dr. Marcellino D’Ambrosio, Jeff Cavins, and Dr. Edward Sri, these ten video presentations provide comprehensive teaching and commentary on the life and person of Jesus Christ. (You will need one DVD set.) In addition, every participant, leader, and small-group facilitator should have a Catholic Bible. For this study, we recommend The Great Adventure Catholic Bible, an RSV-2CE Bible that incorporates the same colorcoded Bible Timeline Learning System that is used in The Great Adventure Catholic Bible Study Program.
How the Study Works This study includes four essential steps, which are designed to fit together and build upon each other. Following these steps in order will help you get the most out of each session.
1 2 3 4
Home Preparation
Small-Group Discussion
Video Presentation
Review of Responses
Step One: Home Preparation NOTE: There is no home preparation for Session One. Each session begins with personal study. This involves reading selections from Scripture and from the book Jesus: The Way, the Truth, and the Life and answering a series of questions from this workbook that will help you understand and think more deeply about what you have read. We recommend that you allow at least 90 minutes to complete the reading and answer the questions for each session. We also suggest that you do the home preparation in several sittings during the week. This will help you create a habit of daily Bible reading and prayerful meditation.
Step Two: Small-Group Discussion The small-group discussion is one of the most rewarding components of a Bible study. During this discussion, members of your group will have an opportunity to share their insights into the readings and questions. The goal of the small-group discussion is to help participants obtain a richer understanding of the material and apply it to their lives. Trained facilitators guide the discussion and keep it on track. To learn how to facilitate a small-group discussion, visit ascensionpress.com. Be sure to follow the “Ten Commandments of Small-Group Discussion” on page x.
Step Three: Video Presentation Dr. Marcellino D’Ambrosio, Jeff Cavins, and Dr. Edward Sri wrap up each session with a video presentation, filmed in the Holy Land, that helps you gain a deeper understanding of Jesus and our Catholic Faith, with a special emphasis on ways to apply what you have learned to your life. The talk
About JESUS: The Way, the Truth, and the Life | vii
notes in this workbook provide a detailed outline of the video presentation and will be helpful for review and discussion.
Step Four: Review of Responses The final step—reviewing the responses at the back of this workbook—is done at home before you begin the next session. These responses will help you read the Scripture passages for the next session in the proper context. For the most effective study experience, complete these steps in the following order: (1) Read and answer the questions, (2) discuss them in your small group, (3) view the video presentation, and (4) review the responses. During the discussion, your small-group facilitator may incorporate points found in the responses, but the richness that comes from individual insights can be lost when participants view the responses prior to the discussion.
For more information about how to plan and promote a Bible study and how to facilitate a small-group discussion, visit ascensionpress.com or call 1-800-376-0520.
Session Outline and Reading Guide Each session in this workbook has the following sections: Session Questions (used during Step One: Home Preparation and Step Two: Small-Group Discussion) • Establish the Context • Read the Story • Take a Deeper Look • Application
Session Talk Notes (used during Step Three: Video Presentation) Session Responses (used during Step Four: Review of Responses) The chart on the following page offers an overview of the home preparation readings assigned in each session of the study. The main readings are provided in Section B: Read the Story and should be read before you answer the session questions. Additional readings from the Bible and the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) are provided in Section C: Take a Deeper Look and should be read as you answer the study questions for each session.
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SESSION
MAIN READINGS
CHAPTERS FROM JESUS: The Way, the Truth, and the Life (book)
1. Jesus and History
Luke 1:1-4; John 20:30-31; Philippians 3:7-16
Preface, Introduction, Chapter 1
2. In the Beginning
Matthew 1–2; Luke 2; John 1:1-14; Philippians 2:1-11
Chapters 2–3
3. The Desert Way
Matthew 3:1-17, 4:1-11, 11:7-19; Mark 1:1-15; John 1:19-36, 3:23-36
Chapters 4–5
4. Discipleship: The Way of the Kingdom
Isaiah 61:1-2, 61:5-6; Mark 1:14-45, 6:1-6; Luke 4:16-30
Chapters 6–7
5. The Truth About God
Mark 10:17-25; Luke 7:36–8:3, 11:1-4, 15:1-32
Chapters 8–9
6. The True Israel
Matthew 5–6; Luke 10:25-37, 19:1-10
Chapters 10–11
7. The Truth About Jesus
Mark 2:18-22, 4:35-41, 6:32-44, 8:27-30; Luke 9:28-36; John 5:1-18
Chapters 12–13
8. The Road to Glory, the Path of Suffering
Matthew 21:1-17, 22:1-14, 23:37-39, 26:1-5; Luke 9:23-27, 14:25-33, 19:28-47, 21:5-24; John 11–12
Chapters 14–15
9. New Passover, New Exodus
Psalm 22; Isaiah 53; Mark 14:53–15:41; Luke 22:7–23:56; John 13:1–15:17
Chapters 16–17
10. Resurrection and Life
Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20–21; Acts 1:1-14; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8
Chapters 18–19
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What to Do During Each Small-Group Meeting 1. Welcome and Introduction (10 minutes) 2. Small-Group Discussion (40 minutes) Note to Study Leaders: There is a short small-group discussion for the first week. Use the additional time to divide participants into small groups of eight to twelve people, ensure that everyone has the study materials, and explain how the study works. Each small group should be led by a trained facilitator. 3. Video Presentation (30 minutes) 4. Closing and Prayer (5 minutes)
Getting the Most out of This Study This study will help you understand the person of Jesus Christ and the Gospels in a new way. The “head knowledge” you gain will help you grow in “heart knowledge” as you follow up on what you have learned. The Bible will always remain a mystery, though, and that is part of the beauty of it: We can never exhaust the treasures of Scripture. Fortunately for us, the Bible is not a subject to master; it is a place to encounter the living Word of God. Whenever you open your Bible to read, start with prayer, and place yourself in God’s presence. You might take Samuel’s prayer as your own: “Speak, Lord, for your servant hears” (1 Samuel 3:9). When you read, adopt an attitude of listening. Try not to treat Scripture as a text but as a personal message from God. What is he saying? What does it mean? What does it mean for my life? If you come to the Word focused on having an encounter with the Lord, he will speak to your heart, and you will be transformed.
An Important Note About the Responses to the Study Questions Responses to the study questions are provided in the back of this workbook. These responses do not exhaust the meaning that can be found in the Scripture reading. People will have unique insights. The responses have two important functions: • The first purpose of the responses is to provide a review of each session, which will help
establish a context for the reading and questions in the following session. The best time to read the responses is just before starting the next session. • The second purpose of the responses is to provide guidelines for the small-group facilitators.
Facilitators: Complete the Scripture reading and answer the questions on your own before reading the responses in preparation for facilitating the small-group discussion. Participants should not review the responses for each session until after the session is completed. Although it might be tempting to look at these responses in advance, it is important to wait, for the following reasons: • Bible study is not about simply watching a video presentation or reading a Bible commentary. It
is just as important to immerse yourself in the Word of God itself and engage it with your heart and mind. The questions in this study are designed to draw you into the Scriptures so that the
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Word of God will be planted and grow in your heart. Reading a response written by someone else may satisfy your mind for a moment, but it will not result in the kind of growth that will occur if you attempt to answer the question on your own first. • The success of a small group depends on a good discussion. A group of participants who have spent
time pondering the Scripture passages on their own will have more varied insights to discuss. For these reasons, please wait to read the responses until after the session. When you follow the steps of this study as intended, you will explore the Word of God in different ways—in the reading, the smallgroup discussion, the video presentation, and finally the responses. Follow these steps over time and you will be more than fed—you will learn to feed yourself.
Ten Commandments of Small-Group Discussion 1. Enjoy yourself! 2. Speak with respect and charity. 3. Do not ridicule or dismiss what others say.
Keep comments positive. 4. Come prepared. 5. If you were not able to prepare, let others speak first. 6. Stick to the topic and questions at hand. 7. Start and end on time. 8. Allow silence. Give people a chance to think. 9. Listen to others without interrupting. 10. Keep personal matters within the group. —Adapted from Thomas Smith’s original “10 Commandments of a Small Group.”
Christ, the Lord of the World by Peter Paul Rubens
INTRODUCTION
RE FO C U SING ON JESUS The richness of the Catholic Faith is simply breathtaking! Yet the many and marvelous gifts in the treasury of Catholic Tradition—such as Mary, the saints, the Eucharist, and the Creed—all flow from and point back to one single figure: Jesus Christ. He is the vital center of it all—indeed, the heart of our Faith. One of the constant themes of all the popes for the past sixty years has been the need to re-center everything in Catholic life on the person of Jesus. This, of course, is the key to effective evangelization. Each and every Catholic is called to help bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to a world that desperately needs him. But it is only to the degree that we know him and abide in him that we can share him effectively. True, all of us know much about him already. Yet how well do we actually know him? If St. Paul, after decades as an apostle, can say that he is eager to “press on” to a greater knowledge of Christ and yearns for a deeper intimacy with Christ crucified and risen (Philippians 3:3-12), how much more zealous should we be to unpack the “unsearchable riches of Christ” (Ephesians 3:8).
All the Gospels That is the purpose of this study. It is meant to be a new and fresh look at Jesus—who he is, what he taught, and what he did for our salvation.
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While the study of one Gospel is extremely valuable, we will not follow that format here. There are four Gospels for a reason: no one Evangelist, though inspired by the Holy Spirit, gives us a full picture of the Savior. Each one offers his own unique perspective. When we look at the four Gospels together, a composite sketch emerges that provides us with new insight—indeed, greater depth perception. If this study couldn’t be limited to one biblical author, neither could it be written by a single contemporary author. The three of us have prepared ourselves to collaborate on this study by traveling many times to the land Pope Benedict XVI called “the fifth Gospel”—the Holy Land. There we have walked in the footsteps of Jesus, pondering his words and deeds in their original setting. In this study, we want to invite you to take this journey with us and participate in our dialogue with the land, the inspired texts, and each other.
Encountering the Way, the Truth, and the Life Sometimes, committed Catholics can be tempted to cultivate a personal relationship with theology rather than with Jesus himself! You will certainly learn a lot of new things in this study. But this program is designed not just to share in formation but to lead to trans formation—a new encounter with Christ that will energize and empower you to live for him more joyfully and share him with others more effectively. That’s why this study is called Jesus: The Way, the Truth, and the Life. The truth about him can only be uncovered by walking in the way of discipleship, which leads to the abundant life that will be Good News for the world! Your brothers in Christ,
Marcellino D’Ambrosio
Jeff Cavins
Edward Sri