1. Five categories of people Jesus dealt with: Friends (he had circles of influence); seekers; opponents; outcasts and the infirm.
2. Four broad themes from those encounters.
a. His dominant call was to faith (Calming the storm; Centurion’s servant). He was relentless in his demands (Would-be disciples; a call to a cross – the new method of victory. This leads to the second theme.)
b. His kingdom was an upside-down kingdom where the winners became losers and visa-versa (Nicodemus and the Woman at the Well; parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector praying)
c. Compassion – This introduces a new mode of morality. The Sabbath controversies fit under this theme.
d. His own identity. The incarnation was such a radical idea that it had to be justified significantly. (See handout on claims to Jesus’ deity). Some of the most impressive are forgiving sins of the paralytic and the I AM statements of John.
B. Objections to Jesus
Sabbath controversies and other religious ritual
Fraternizing with sinners
Blasphemy
C. Why Jesus Got angry with others
1. Sadducees, cleansing the temple
2. Pharisees, prioritizing ritual over compassion 3. Disciples, not allowing the little children to come to him.
