Daily Archives: December 21, 2011
What’s in a name? – The Life of Jesus DVD Curriculum
Often people say the words “Jesus Christ” like Jesus is his given name and Christ is a surname, as if his parents were Mary and Joseph Christ.
But as John Dickson explains in the second session of The Life of Jesus, the name Christ was not actually a name at all; it was a title meaning Messiah or Anointed One. And when someone claimed to be the Messiah, everyone at the time knew that meant they were making a claim to be anointed for kingship like David had been a thousand years earlier.
Of course the tension in the story of Jesus, is that he didn’t look like the sort of Messiah the people had come to expect. Born in humble circumstances, working most of his life in relative obscurity, coming from the backwater of Nazareth instead of the halls of power in Jerusalem, he didn’t look like the kings they were used to, the Herods, Pilates, and Caesars.
But that was the point right from the start. In the temptation narrative Jesus turns down the offer to attain power and domination, and in the end his ultimate victory looks like defeat on a Roman cross.
The historical figure of Jesus broke every mold, and in the six sessions of The Life of Jesus, John Dickson guides us through his story, from birth to resurrection.
“John Dickson has done a marvelous job of presenting the story of Jesus, and the full meaning of that story, in a way that is both deeply faithful to the biblical sources and refreshingly relevant to tomorrow’s world and church. I strongly recommend this study to anyone who wants to re-examine the deep historical roots of Christian faith and to find them as life-giving as they ever were.” — Tom Wright
“John Dickson is an engaging and gifted scholar whom I am privileged to work alongside in various global settings. His passion for history, keen knowledge of the Scriptures, and ability to communicate are truly inspiring. I am thrilled to see his unique work displayed in Life of Jesus and I know you will find this study equally fascinating.” — Ravi Zacharias
