Christian Religious Studies · Lesson 7

Miracles, parables, Sermon on the Mount, confession, transfiguration and Johannine teaching

JAMBWAECNECO

What the syllabus asks

JAMB: 4 Miracles (nature, resuscitation, healing, exorcism); 5 Parables (kingdom; love of God; love for one another; wealth; prayer); 6 Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5; 6; Lk 6:17-26); 7 Mission of the twelve and the seventy (Mt 10:5-15; Mk 6:7-13; Lk 9:1-6; 10:1-24); 8 The Great Confession (Mt 16:13-20; Mk 8:27-30; Lk 9:18-22); 9 The Transfiguration (Mt 17:1-13; Mk 9:2-13; Lk 9:28-36); 14 Jesus’ teachings…

WAEC: 15 Jesus’ teaching on forgiveness (Mt 6:12, 14-15; 18:21-35)

NECO: 15 Jesus’ teaching on forgiveness (Mt 6:12, 14-15; 18:21-35)

What you will learn

Classify the miracles of Jesus, indicate their occasions and examine their significance.
Define a parable, classify the parables, identify their occasions, interpret them and give reasons for Jesus’ use of parables.
Analyse the Sermon on the Mount and the demands and rewards of the kingdom.
Distinguish between the missions of the twelve and the seventy and assess their outcomes.
Analyse the Great Confession and the Transfiguration and their significance.
Interpret Jesus’ teachings about himself and his teaching on love and forgiveness.

Key points

Nature miracles: stilling the storm, feeding the five thousand, walking on the sea, water into wine (first sign at Cana).
Raisings: widow’s son at Nain, Jairus’ daughter (“Talitha cumi”), Lazarus (“I am the resurrection, and the life”).
Healings: lepers (one Samaritan thanked), man at Bethesda (sabbath), centurion’s servant (great faith), the blind (Siloam; Bartimaeus).
Exorcisms: Legion and the swine; the epileptic boy (“help thou mine unbelief”).
Miracles show compassion, the kingdom, Jesus’ identity, faith and the defeat of Satan.
Parables are earthly stories with heavenly meanings; kingdom parables: sower, tares, drag-net, wedding garment.
Luke 15: lost sheep, coin and son, told because Pharisees murmured that Jesus received sinners.
Good Samaritan, rich man and Lazarus, rich fool, unjust judge, Pharisee and publican.
The Sermon on the Mount: Beatitudes, salt and light, fulfilling the law, love of enemies, secret piety, treasures in heaven, seek the kingdom first.
The twelve (to Israel) and the seventy (Luke) were sent to preach and heal, travelling light.
Peter confessed Jesus as the Christ at Caesarea Philippi; at the Transfiguration Moses and Elijah appeared: “hear ye him.”
“I am” sayings; God so loved the world; love one another; forgive seventy times seven.

Start here: Nature miracles

Stilling the storm (Mt 8:23-27; Mk 4:35-41; Lk 8:22-25)

Crossing the sea of Galilee, a great storm arose while Jesus slept “in the hinder part of the ship… on a pillow”. The disciples woke him: “Master, carest thou not that we perish?” (Mk 4:38).

“And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” (Mark 4:39, KJV)

He asked why they were fearful and had no faith. They asked, “What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (4:41).

Feeding the five thousand (Mt 14:13-21; Mk 6:30-44; Lk 9:10-17; Jn 6:1-13)

The only miracle (apart from the resurrection) in all four Gospels. Jesus had compassion on a crowd in a desert place. Andrew found “a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes” (Jn 6:9). Jesus made the people sit, gave thanks, and the disciples distributed food; all were filled and twelve baskets of fragments remained. Those fed were “about five thousand men, beside women and children” (Mt 14:21).

Walking on the sea (Mt 14:22-33; Mk 6:45-52; Jn 6:16-21)

In the fourth watch Jesus came walking on the sea; the disciples thought he was a spirit. He said, “Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid” (Mt 14:27). Only Matthew records Peter walking on the water:

“But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” (Matthew 14:30-31, KJV)

Water into wine (John 2:1-11)

At a wedding in Cana of Galilee the wine ran out. Mary told the servants, “Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.” Jesus had six stone waterpots filled; the water became wine, and the ruler of the feast said the good wine had been kept until now.

“This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.” (John 2:11, KJV)

Significance: Jesus is Lord over nature; he provides for need; faith overcomes fear; the signs reveal his glory.

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Practice questions

1. At Cana, how many waterpots of stone were filled?

Six
Five
Seven
Twelve

Show answer

A: Six
John 2:6.

2. In the feeding of the five thousand, the food was

seven loaves and a few fishes
twelve loaves
two loaves and five fishes
five loaves and two fishes

Show answer

D: five loaves and two fishes
Matthew 14:17.

3. How many baskets of fragments remained after the five thousand were fed?

Five
Three
Twelve
Seven

Show answer

C: Twelve
Matthew 14:20.

4. Why did Peter begin to sink when walking on the water?

He let go of Jesus
He saw the wind boisterous and was afraid
The boat moved away
Jesus told him to go back

Show answer

B: He saw the wind boisterous and was afraid
Matthew 14:30.

5. How long had Lazarus been in the grave when Jesus arrived?

Four days
Three days
Two days
Seven days

Show answer

A: Four days
John 11:17.

Key words

Miracle: An extraordinary act showing divine power; John calls them “signs”.
Exorcism: Casting out an evil spirit.
Resuscitation: Restoring a dead person to life.
Parable: A short story from everyday life used to teach a spiritual truth.
Kingdom of heaven: God’s reign; Matthew’s usual phrase for the “kingdom of God”.
Tares: Weeds sown among wheat (Mt 13:25).
Beatitudes: The “Blessed are…” sayings (Mt 5:3-12; Lk 6:20-23).
Mammon: Wealth or riches, treated as a rival master to God (Mt 6:24).
Scrip: A traveller’s bag (Mt 10:10).
Caesarea Philippi: The district where Peter made the Great Confession (Mt 16:13).
Christ/Messiah: The “anointed one” expected by Israel.
Transfiguration: The change in Jesus’ appearance on the mountain before Peter, James and John.

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