END OF YEAR RS

• What are the two parts of the bible called?

  Old and New testament
• The Bible


  A collection of many books, some have called it a 'library of books'
• Main sections of the Bible

  • The Old Testament (also used by Jews - they call it the Tanakh)
  • The New Testament (about Jesus and only used by Christians, includes the 4 Gospels)
• Bible reference


  Made up of three parts: Book name, Chapter, Verse
• Ways of interpreting the Bible

  • Literal interpretation: believe what the Bible says word for word, even if unusual
  • Symbolic interpretation: if it doesn't make sense, it's a symbol that stands for something else
• Similarities in the birth narratives of Jesus

  • Name Mary and Joseph as Jesus' parents
  • Give Bethlehem as Jesus' place of birth
  • Say Jesus grew up in Nazareth
• Differences in the birth narratives of Jesus


  • Matthew: 3 wise men, killing of children under 2, family fled to Egypt then returned to Nazareth

  Luke: Joseph and family lived in Nazareth, went to Bethlehem for census, Jesus born in a manger
• The story of Jesus' birth wasn't written down until 60 years after, so some details may have changed in oral transmission
• Matthew and Luke tell the story from different viewpoints, so they include only the details they find important
• Some of the differences in the birth narratives actually seem to make the accounts incompatible (they don't fit together)
• Baptism of Jesus


  Jesus was baptised by his cousin John the Baptist, who preached a message of repentance and forgiveness
• Supernatural events at Jesus' baptism

  • The heavens opened - symbol of God revealing himself

  The Spirit descended upon Jesus like a dove - symbol of peace, purity, Holy Spirit

  A voice from the cloud - God spoke, approving of Jesus
• Temptations of Jesus

  After his baptism, Jesus went into the desert and was tempted by the devil, but did not give in
• The devil's temptations of Jesus


  • Turn stone into bread

  Offer power and glory if Jesus worships the devil

  Jump off a tower to prove he is the son of God
• Christians remember Jesus' temptations during the season of Lent, which lasts 40 days
• Things Christians do during Lent

  • Become aware of their sins and repent

  Give up something like sweets or biscuits

  Spend more time on spiritual things like praying
• Miracles


  Events that are impossible for humans, represent a break in the laws of nature, happen for a positive reason, and are understood to be due to some external force (e.g. God)
• Types of miracles performed by JesusHealing miracles

  Nature miracles

  Exorcism

  Raising the dead
• Miracles performed by Jesus


  • Jairus' daughter raised from the dead

  Calming of the storm

  Feeding of the 5000

  Healing of the paralysed man
• The miracles were told to show that Jesus had God's power and could do the impossible
• The miracles happened for a good purpose, to help people
• Miracles

  Events that show Jesus had God's power and could do the impossible
• Purpose of miracles


  • To show Jesus was special
  • To help people - e.g. healing, feeding the hungry
  • To lend authority to Jesus' teachings
• Miracles

  Make Jesus seem trustworthy
• Some people find the miracles hard to believe and question whether they really happened
• Arguments for miracles really happening

  • The Bible gives a lot of detail
  • There were many witnesses
  • If something important hadn't happened, the stories wouldn't have been passed on
  • Some Christians today report witnessing miraculous healing
• Arguments against miracles really happening


  • The Bible was written long ago, so details may have been added over time to make the stories more spectacular
  • The followers of Jesus may have invented the miracle stories to gain fame and power
  • The miracles could be understood symbolically rather than literally
• Parable


  A story with a hidden message or meaning, used by Jesus to teach about God and the Christian life
• Parable of the Good Samaritan


  • A Jewish man is beaten and left for dead on the side of the road. A priest and a Levite pass by without helping, but a Samaritan stops to care for the man and pay for his recovery.
• The Parable of the Good Samaritan is a very well-known parable that Christians should think about how to apply in their daily lives
• Palm Sunday


  • Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey, not a warrior's horse, showing he is a humble man of peace, not the warrior king people expected
  • The people cheer Jesus as the Messiah, waving palm branches as signs of victory over the Romans
• Events of Holy Week

  1. Monday to Wednesday: Jesus teaches and preaches in Jerusalem, including driving out money changers from the Temple

  2. Maundy Thursday: Jesus has the Last Supper with his disciples, foretelling his death

  3. Good Friday: Jesus is put on trial, mocked, beaten, and crucified

  4. Saturday: Jesus' disciples hide in fear

  5. Sunday: Jesus' resurrection, with appearances to his disciples
• Christians commemorate the Last Supper through Holy Communion or the Eucharist
• The crown of thorns placed on Jesus' head represents both his suffering and the fact that he was mocked by his persecutors
• According to the Bible, the crowds call for Jesus' death, and he is mocked, beaten, whipped, and finally crucified
• Jesus' body was put in a tomb before nightfall on the day of his crucifixion
• On the day of the resurrection, Jesus' tomb was found empty, and he appeared to his disciples