Answer these
questions in full sentences, using the sense of the
question in your answer.
1. At the time of Jesus, what
was the great hope of most Jewish people?
2. What is meant by the name 'Messiah'?
3. Who was meant to come before the Messiah?
4. What title did the first Christians give to Jesus to make their claim that he was the Messiah?
5. In what ways was Jesus different from the Messiah who the Jews expected?
6. Do you think Christians are right to say Jesus is the Messiah the Jews waited for? Give reasons for your answer.
At the time of Jesus, the Jewish people looked forward to the coming of the Messiah.
This person would be a great warrior and king, like David. He
would rescue the Jews from all their enemies. He would bring a
new Kingdom, where God would be the ruler.
'Messiah' means 'Anointed One'. A king is anointed to begin his reign. The Greek word for Messiah is Christos which gives us the word Christ.
The Jews believed that before the Messiah came, the prophet Elijah would come to prepare things for him.
The first Christians believed Jesus to be the Messiah, the
Christ, but his kingdom is very different from the political
kingdom which most Jews expected. The Christians believed that
John the Baptist was the new Elijah who was also expected.
Many different titles are used for
Jesus in Mark's Gospel. Each one says something different about
how Jesus was understood. There are four main groups of titles:
Son of God, Son of Man, Saviour and Messiah.
To say that someone is the 'Son of' someone or something is a figure of speech. It means that they have some resemblance, or characteristics of the person or thing. For example, Jesus called James and John 'Sons of Thunder' because of their temper.
� The first meaning of 'Son of God', is that Jesus is chosen by God, or close to God. It is a way of saying how special Jesus is to Mark and the first Christians.
� Son of God is a way that non-Jewish Christians explained the importance of Jesus. For them, to say he is 'Christ' or 'Messiah' needed to be explained. Son of God helped to do that.
� 'Son of God' reminds Christians that Jesus very often called God his 'Father'. It is especially suitable as a title for Jesus.
7. What is
the meaning of the title 'Son of God'?
8. Why was the title 'Son of God' helpful for non-Jewish Christians?
9. Why might the title 'Son of God' be especially appropriate for Jesus?
10. When is the title 'Son of God' used in Mark's Gospel? What do these situations have in common?
11. Do you think 'Son of God' is a helpful title for Jesus today? Give reasons for your answer.
In Mark's Gospel, the title 'Son of God' is not used very often. When it is used, it is especially important.
� Jesus is called Son of God in the very first verse of Mark's Gospel;
� Jesus is called Son of God at the beginning of his ministry, when he is baptised;
� Jesus is called Son of God at the Transfiguration;
� Jesus is called Son of God
immediately after his death by the Roman Centurion.
