Biographies of Jesus

The first semester concluded as the month of January ended. I asked my third year students to demonstrate what they have learned in Life and Teachings of Jesus class by writing a three page biography of Jesus. At the end of this biography, I asked for them to reflect on what they personally have learned about Jesus.

On the day these papers were due, I the students handed in four, fix and six page papers. I was a little confused, and I asked the students - "Ziaci, how long was this paper supposed to be?" (I was thinking - "Surely, I didn't assign a five page paper for third years.") The students responded, "Ms. Large it was a three page paper, but we had a lot to say."

Here is a collection of biographical excerpts on the life of Jesus written by the third years: (*As usual, I have not changed their vocabulary/grammar.)

"We usually start writing biographies by the birth but in this case it is card because as we understand it, Jesus’ existence did not really begin by his birth. It began with God."

"The story of Jesus starts before Jesus was born, when a lot of prophets were talking about a new king that will come. Jews thought that it will be some great warrior, who will change the political situation and will give them a new hope that they could be a strong nation."

"Jesus was one of the most important people in history of the whole world. His story of his life, teaching and death is well-known and very important for many people. Jesus, who is also known as Christ, The Son of God or King, was born in Israel around 6 BC."

"One day, there was a census ordered and so Joseph had to travel to his hometown. He took Mary with him and went to Bethlehem. Unfortunately, there was no room for them in the inn and Mary finally gave birth to Jesus. The biggest king of all kings was born and he was named Jesus what means Emmanuel – God with us… Jesus’ birth meant and still means as much for people as nothing else. He was the expected one. He was the one who came to save us. He was the one who should die in a terrible way hoping people will understand and follow him… Although Mary knew he was God’s son, none of them Mary nor Joseph knew what was Jesus’ duty here on Earth. It was a small paradox – the king expected by Jews should have been powerful and strong so he could easily defeat their enemies but instead there was a child lying in a manger."

"The warrior king was expected to come as a savior, but came as a humble baby came to save the world."

"There is the city of Bethlehem which means House of Bread, Mary gave birth to Jesus our Savior."

"Then, appeared star, which pointed the place of his birth so everyone could come there to honor him. Also the wisemen from the East came and gave him presents – gold, frankincense, and myrrh as the symbols of Jesus as king, as a priest and as a sacrifice FOR OUR SINS. King Herod, the contemporary ruler of the country wanted Jesus to be killed, because he was afraid of the prediction that he was going to be the next king. In that time, Herod did not know that Jesus’ kingdom wouldn’t be from this world, but it would be the kingdom of heaven."

"Jesus lived in an age when people lived in houses made from mud and brick which had been dried in the sun. Houses were usually two-story and four-roomed. These houses had flat roofs because of need of catching rainwater in large jars. On the first floor was usually a kitchen with firepit which was near the window and there were also animals. And on the second floor were rooms for sleeping. People at that time at grain bread and lots of dairy like milk, cheese and butter. Fish and chicken could eat everyone but only people who were wealthy could eat meat like beef or lamb. For dinking was common drink wine."

"As you know, Jesus’ parents were poor and lived because of their hard working, so Jesus knew what it means to be hungry and poor."

"Jesus was baptized in river Jordan by John the Baptist when he was 30 years old. After his baptism, Holy Spirit flew down as the dove and voice from heaven said, “this is my son the Beloved with whom I am well-pleased.” Then Jesus was led to desert by Holy Spirit where he was tempted by devil who wanted Jesus to bow down."

"During the act of his baptism, the heavens opened and there was a presence of Holy Trinity. Jesus’ main messages of his teaching were that God loves us and is always with us, that we should love each other, that the Kingdom of Heaven has come near and that God forgives us our sins if we are sorry for it."

"Jesus decided to call twelve disciples to help him bring people to his father."

"Jesus came to Galilee and met two brothers – Simon/peter and Andrew – who were fishermen and told them, “Follow me and I will manage you while you fish for people.”

"Jesus gave us many parables telling about ordinary people but symbolizing God’s house and the way God wants us to be. He also taught about LOVE. The most important thing in the whole world and the only thing that can lead us to heaven."

"Then Jesus went all over Galilee where he was teaching in synagogues, he was healing sick and those with demons and the messages about Him spread quickly through the whole country."

"But as Jesus’ popularity grew, the number of his enemies grew too."

"Some people did not like what Jesus was doing and that he proclaimed himself as a Son of God and break some rules which was given by Jewish people at that time. So they wanted him to be dead."

"Pharisees and Sadducees often wanted to trap Jesus and they asked him a lot of questions with which they thought would accuse him of blasphemy."

"Another reason the Pharisees and Sadducees don’t like Jesus was that He was sitting with sinners. Jesus told us that he didn’t come for righteousness people, but for sinner. Sick people need doctor, but no healthy people."

"The last periods of his life were death and resurrection. Jesus had foretold His death. He knew that will happen to him. He had a last supper with his disciples of which in the middle He blessed the bread with the words that it is His body and the wine with the words it is his blood."

People wish for his death because he was not the king people had expected. He was charged with blasphemy, claiming to be the king of the Jews and breaking the laws of Moses. So Jesus was brutally tortured and then crucified with two thieves. Jesus died on a cross."

"Jesus – the biggest person in the world ever, that was both human and God, that came to wash away the sin of people. He loved people and led himself to die for them."

"And when he died there wasn’t light for six hours and the curtain that was in the Holy of Holies ripped which probably symbolized that you don’t have to give the offerings any more because Christ paid everything on the cross. He was killed, put to grave, but in three days, he was alive again."

"Few days after resurrection, Jesus appeared to disciples. Thomas wasn’t there when Jesus came so he did not believe. A week later Jesus appeared to Thomas and he could touch his hands and side. Then he believed."

"Before he left he has told his disciples to go to the whole world and baptize people in the name of God. So it happened that the Holy Spirit came among them and they were spread out to the whole world and shared this."

"We are Christians and as God followers we have some kind of assurance that we will never die. It gives us hope and that’s the reason why the church exists for thousands of years and will exist till the end of the world."

"I really enjoyed talking about God with the others in class. Some of them do not believe in God and it is sometimes more interesting to talk to such people and to listen to their ideas. Before classes we used to talk about what we have written in our journals. This way we knew what the other things about that theme and we were discussing it."

"In my opinion, I don’t really know what I should if Jesus and God and all these things around exist. Because I don’t think thousands of letters in hundreds of books can prove that something really was and exist. But if I say that Jesus really lived some time on this planet I would say he had a very difficult life full of suffering… Maybe he believed that when he once died for us people will realize it and won’t do all these bad things and sins again, but they still do."

"In conclusion, I want to say that I have learnt a lot of new things on your lessons, which I had not known before. And it is good to know for me, because it forced me to think about God and Jesus. I cannot say that now I definitely believe in Jesus, but I can say it is kind of different for me now."

"And what I think about Jesus and his life? Surely I believe Jesus is Son of God. And I am also fascinated with description of His life. I like to read it, but sometimes when I read it there are things which I think could not happen or better explanation could happen but not exactly like the gospels say. We cannot be sure with all the words in it. After all, it was written by people and a lot of years after Jesus’ death. But I believe that the majority of what is written in the gospels is true. I like the parables which jesus told people. The right meaning is sometimes hard to find but when we comprehend it, it gives us good example how to behave and also it shows us how it will be when Son of Man comes to earth again. But to be truthful, I do not believe that 5,000 people get full with five loaves of bread and two fishes and also I do not believe that Jesus was walking on water. I do not have an explanation why I do not believe it happened. I think that in my case a reason won over the belief."

"Well, this is the story about Jesus. There are a lot of people that say, that’s not true! How could it happen? Is it really like that? Some people are just suspected of what the others believe and they’d rather believe something else. For them this is not real. It’s just a story that goes with Christmas and makes nice atmosphere when it walks about the baby born in manger, but they only do it for the atmosphere. And then, there are people that really believe it and that try to live like the Bible says and they say it’s surely true. I say: “Why shouldn’t it be true?” I guess I would be in the second group of people."

"And my opinion? I’m still not sure about it. As you know I’m a not-believer and I don’t think my opinion has changed, but it was still interesting teaching."

"I have learned to see Jesus where other people think he is not. I have learned to think about him much more than before. I have also got deeper in religion and faith. There are things I have never been thinking about. To tell the truth, I had never been thinking as much as I have been in this class. I thought I am a good Christian with strong faith but as I was reading through the Bible and working on my journals I found myself confused. I realized that I understand less with every new parable and miracle. Suddenly, I saw new meanings and vice versa – I gave up some ideas because they did not fit to what I found out."


Thanks be to God for the life and witness of the third years.