AQUINAS UNIVERSITY OF LEGAZPI

RAWIS, LEGAZPI CITY

OFFICE OF THE RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS (ORA)

CENTER FOR RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (CREED)

RE 102
MODULE 1
IMAGES WE HAVE OF
JESUS:
DO THEY MATTER?

I. OBJECTIVES
1. To enumerate images of Jesus in popular Christianity
2. To identify Filipino Values behind images of Jesus in popular Christianity
3. To describe the effort of the Church, using the lenses, in searching for the
historical Jesus
4. (To revisit the 6 anthropological constants in the context of contemporary search
for salvation)
5. To evaluate the way of the disciples in interpreting Jesus in our Filipino situation
6. To assess ones personal images of Jesus that affect how one lives as Christian
MOTIVATION on LIFE SITUATION
(Suggested Activities)
A. Group Activity (Group Discussion)
A class is divided into several groups. Each group will come up with three
description of Jesus that the group believes are very important. Have the groups
write their descriptions on the board. Class comments on the descriptions. End the
activity saying something about the following:
Is there a common description of Jesus that is coming out?
Do the descriptions say something relevant about Christian life?
B. (Alternative Activity) Group Activity (10-15 minute activity)
Divide the class into 5 groups. Assign each group one image of Jesus in popular
Christianity. (Written on the board are 5 dominant Filipino Values). Ask the groups
to identify the Filipino values behind the image of Jesus in popular Christianity
assigned to them. And then, give them time to answer the following questions in a
sheet of paper:
1. Why do you think your chosen image of Jesus is popular?
2. How is it connected to Filipino values you chose?
3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of your chosen Filipino values
inspired by the
1. Sto. Nio (Jesus: Son of God/Son of Mary)
popular image of
Family-oriented
Jesus?
2. Jesus as Host Meal/Party oriented or Hospitality
3. Jesus as suffering servant Kundiman-Oriented or
(After 15 minutes, ask
each group to choose their Heroism
4. Jesus as Christ the King Optimism
spokesperson who will
share their work in the class)
C. (Alternative Activity) Group Activity
Divide the class into several groups. Ask the group members to share among
themselves about the following:
a. Which among the five popular Filipino images is most familiar and least familiar
to me? Why?
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b. Which among the five Filipino images would I consider most acceptable/ least
acceptable to me? Why?
c. Reporting follows.
II. LIFE SITUATION (SEE)
A. Jesus as Understood in Popular Christianity
1. Jesus: Son of God and Son of Mary (Anak ng Diyos at Anak ni Maria)
2. Jesus as Host
3. Jesus as Suffering Servant
4. Jesus as Christ the King (Cristo Rey)
5. Jesus the Miracle Worker
B. Some Observations Regarding the Popular Filipino Images
-5 images as parallel to our 5 dominant Filipino Values
1. family-oriented - STO. NIO
2. love for celebration & hospitality - HOST
3. willingness to sacrifice or heroism (kabayanihan) - BAYANI
4. optimism CRISTO REY
5. being in touch with the spirit MIRACLE WORKER
- Disadvantages of 5 dominant Filipino Values
1. Family-Oriented nepotism, political dynasties, crimes in the name of clan,
corruption and violence to protect familys name
2. Love for celebration wasteful spending (prodigal son)
3. Heroism suffering could be a good thing, we may not see the problem as they
are, we see God as sadist!
4. Optimism could result to treating suffering as unreal, we can become
unconcerned about issues and problems, lack of concern prevent us from doing
something to ease our suffering and those of others
5. Miracle worker Jesus as magician,
- DO WE SEE JESUS WE MEET IN THE GOSPEL IN THE POPULAR FILIPINO IMAGES?
- there should be a link b/w our images of Jesus and the Jesus in the gospel
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------(Next Meeting?) MOTIVATION on LIFE SITUATION
1. Make a list of your personal descriptions of Jesus. Put them in the order of
importance.
2. Tell something about your list in class. Tell the class if you are convinced of
your descriptions or if you are confused.
THE HISTORICAL CRITICAL IMAGE

C.

-Enlightenment culture questioned everything including Church teachings and beliefs

- Some scholars accused the Christian churches of creating an image of Jesus that did
not reflect well the Jesus of history
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- Protestant scholars started the search in the 19th century, Catholic scholars followed
later
- Divino Afflante Spiritu (Inspired by the Holy Spirit), Encyclical by Pius XII in 1943
permitted Catholic scholars to use the historical critical method
- Some results of the research
Jesus as a great teacher of right living (something went wrong)
stolen body of Jesus, invented resurrection, put up the Church
Removing myth, we discover Jesus as great philosopher
Hundreds of lives of Jesus: from traditional portraits of Jesus as servant and Son of
God to Jesus as a political revolutionary or a founder of a cult.
- In the 20th century, Albert Schweitzer, a theologian and doctor, who would became
famous for his hospital work in Africa, published his writings criticizing the Jesus
research of the 19th century.
According to him, scholars did not understand Jesus because they failed to take into
consideration the historical setting and the Jewish culture in which Jesus lived. As a
result, these scholars created their own Jesuses according to their interests and
concerns. Jesus became a reflection of their own faces in the bottom of the well.
- Albert Schweitzer reconstructed his own image picture of Jesus based on a careful study
of the Jewish society in Jesus time Jesus as a prophet of the end time (this slowly
influenced much of the 20th century biblical research.
- The 19th century historical method of biblical study had dissolved a lot of difficulties in
understanding Jesus and the Christian faith. Yet ironically, the advances in method,
though they continue to contribute to a better appreciation of the Christian message, led
to new forms of confusion because scholars came up with various portraits.
-

Which among these widely varying portrait is closer to what Jesus was really like?
Can we take them all as correct?
Or do we have to agree with Schweitzer that these portraits are the scholars own
reflection in the bottom of a well?
- Are we also trying to say that we cannot have faith without the modern research?
- Many people have believed long before this research was developed and many will
believe without having heard about it.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------MOTIVATION on LIFE SITUATION
ACTIVITY A
1. Recall an experience with somebody who greatly inspired you because of
your relationship with him or her.
2. If you relate this experience and description to a friend and you friend
relates the same to a third person, do you think your friend will be able to
communicate fully the content of your original experience? Why?
ACTIVITY B
In a form of a short text message, how will you gm (group message) your
special description of Jesus that helps you build relationship (either with your self,
family, friends, nature, society, community, or God). Type your answer in your
phone and send to (phone number).
Discuss some answer to the class.
[The objective of this activity is to see the connection of students personal
image of Jesus and their process of building relationships (the 6 anthropological

III. INPUT (DISCERN)

- Jesus the Savior is the dominant image of Jesus for Filipinos. It reflects the experiences
and longings of the Filipino masses.
- We questioned, however, its biblical and theological correctness.
- We also saw that during the last two centuries, biblical research produced quite a
number of so-called historical images
- How can all of them be considered historical if many of them contradict one another?
ASSIGNMENT (to be given before hand)
- We are now asking, WHO IS THE REAL JESUS?
Read the text about the council of Jerusalem (Acts 15:1-35) and answer the
following questions:
A. CONTEMPORARY SEARCH FOR SALVATION
1. What was the issue and reason for the issue in the council of Jerusalem?
2. What does this change of policy in admitting gentiles into the Christian
- It is natural for human to search for meaning.
community say about how we interpret Christianity in a changed situation?
- Salvation as well being.
- (anthropological constant) we become fully human only insofar as we relate with
others. We are relational being. Our well being is closely link to relationships we build.
- There are 6 aspects of this relationship building that we have to focus on if we are to
experience genuine well being of fuller humanity. These 6 aspects are interconnected
dimensions or value centers called the anthropological constants. We have to build
meaningful relationships with our body, with nature, and cosmos; with other persons;
with the community, society, institutions, and structures; with culture and history; with
our thoughts and actions; and with the Ultimate.
- The Philippine experience of injustice, oppression, inequality, and mass poverty, implies
that much has to be done to rebuild these relationships on the individual as well as on
the community level.
- Can the story of Jesus of Nazareth, or our personal image of Jesus, help us Filipinos live
more fully these relationship building?
B. THE WAY OF THE DISCIPLES
The way of the disciples invites us to follow 3 steps
1. we will look at Jesus as he was experienced by the disciples
2. we will trace how this experience came to be interpreted and re-interpreted in
history
3. we will have to interpret again this interpreted experience within our situations
as Filipino Christians
1. The Disciples Meet Jesus of Nazareth
- see 4 gospels, Acts
2. Jesus is Interpreted
- Jesus was interpreted in:
a. within Jewish culture (prophet of YHWH, messiah, son of man,
Emmanuel, Lord, Christ, Servant-Messiah, Shepherd, Bread of Life)
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b. within Greco-Roman World (influenced by Greek philosophy within the

Roman Empire, Christians began to stress the divinity of Jesus. Jesus is
affirmed as both human and divine here Jesus can give us salvation or
divinity. [Nemo dat quod non habet]) also the use of Greek language in
pronouncing Catholic doctrine about Jesus. Not understood, led to the
development of the divine savior image of popular Christianity.
c. Germanic tribes (resulted Western Christianity)
(apostles experiences interpreted reinterpreted in diff contexts)
3. Re-appropriating Jesus in the Filipino Situation
- constant re-interpretation is needed because times and situations change.and
so the message of Christianity had to be expressed in more understandable and
relevant ways.
-

How can Jesus and his message interpreted in the past, become relevant to us as
Christian Filipinos today?
How can we come up with an understanding of Jesus that is closer to history but at
the same time addresses our concerns now?
Can we find something in the preaching and ministry of Jesus that can uplift the
Filipino condition (much poverty, corruption, injustice, and environmental
destruction)?

C. LENSES FOR RECONSTRUCTING THE JESUS OF HISTORY

Tools/lenses helpful to understand the Jesus of history:
1. considering the gospels as developing traditions
2. the study of Judaism
3. the inter-disciplinary study of the social world of Jesus
4. cross-cultural study of religion and worldview
1. The Gospels as Developing Traditions
- the gospels contain two kinds of materials
a. history remembered (some go back to Jesus)
b. history interpreted (interpretation of Jesus after he died)
- the writers of the gospels used symbolic language and metaphor
2. The Study of Judaism
- as a Jew, Jesus shared much of the way of thinking and behavior of his people
- Assignment: DATA ABOUT JESUS (name, place of birth, Civil Status, occupation,
religion, age at time of death)
3. The Study of Social World of Jesus
- history, anthropology, sociology, psychology, archeology and other related
disciplines contribute to the understanding of Jesus social world
- culture
4. The Cross-Cultural Study of Religion and our Worldview
- Jesus was a spirit person he was constantly in touch with the world of spirit
- sacred/profane; holy/mundane; material/spiritual common to Jews
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- Jesus functions as mediator b/w those two worlds

- secular view is to say that only material world exists
- studies about Jesus is affected by either secular or religious view
Layers that must be studied to find the
Historical Jesus

World view
Social world
Judaism

Historical
Jesus

IV. INTERPLAY

Gospels

(ACT)

- There is a strong connection between what we think of Jesus and how we see the
Christian life. What we think of the Christian life, in return will have an effect on how we
live as Christians.
- Look at our personal portraits of Jesus!
- Asking serious questions about our faith shows our maturity.
ALTERNATIVE GROUP ACTIVITY
Make a list of popular devotion to Jesus Christ in the Philippines and interpret
how this devotion affects the lives of Filipinos.
OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT:
Paste on a piece of paper a newspaper report describing one or several
of the great problems faced today by Philippine society and say
something about it in class.
REFLECTION PAPER (CHOOSE ONE)
- Reflect on your images of Jesus and write down elements in it that are not clear to
you. Propose ways by which you are going to clarify these things.
- Make a short reflection on the following image of Jesus contained in the following
quotation:
o Jesus means in Hebrew: God saves. At the annunciation according to
Luke (1:31), the angel Gabriel gave him the name Jesus as his proper name,
which expresses both his identity and mission. Since God alone can forgive
sins, it is God, who, in Jesus his eternal Son made man, will save his people
from their sins (CCC, 109)
-

In the Jewish tradition, as in many other traditions, names have meanings and the
person is expected to live according to his/her name. The name speaks of the
identity of the person. Christians affirm that Jesus lived according to his name. His
name, therefore, spoke of who he was.
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Write about the meaning of your name and the challenges your name calls you to
respond to.
V. INTEGRATION (ACT)
-

EXERCISES
o In a sheet of paper, write your favorite/personal image of Jesus and how
do you think this image affects your way of life (lifestyle), and your building
of relationships.
Our lifestyle, priorities, values and relationships are usually affected and formed
depending on how we look at Jesus, or how we consider Jesus in our life. Our
images of Jesus therefore really matter.

VI. (SUGGESTED) PRAYER

LEADER: Discovering who Jesus is, is discovering him in study, in action, and in
prayer. Who is Jesus? What is his significance in todays world? Jesus gives an
answer in the following text:
READER: On the following day as John stood there again with two of his disciples,
Jesus passed and John stared hard at him and said, Look, there is the lamb of
God. Hearing this, the tow disciples followed Jesus. Jesus turned around, saw them
following and said, What do you want? They answered, Rabbi, - which means
Teacher where do you live? Come and see, he replied; so they went and saw
where he lived, and stayed with him the rest of the day (Jn 1:35-39).
LEADER: Jesus, you invite us to come and see. But sometimes our seeing is not
clear.
ALL: Many things are said about you. Some are the usual things we hear in
catechism and Bible classes. Others are new and strange. The variety of
descriptions is overwhelming. Yet in the midst of confusion we understand that
behind the various portraits are the differences in place, time, culture, and
experience. May God, your Father, and our Father, grant us openness to see
through these images hoping that we may find something about you that can help
us make our life and those of others more meaningful.
(May put an appropriate song here.)
VII. GLOSSARY
1. Emmanuel/Immanuel (God with us) Matthew uses this text of Isaiah (Is 7:14) to announce the
conception of Jesus who will be called God with us (Mt 1:23).
2. Enlightenment An 18th century European philosophical movement characterized by a reliance on
reason and experience rather than on authority and tradition. Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) main rep.
3. Eucharist (to give thanks) A term for the Mass or the Lords Supper deriving especially from Jesus
prayer of thanksgiving during the Last Supper with his disciples. Jesus prayer at the Last Supper (and the
Eucharistic prayer in the Mass today) was the Jewish prayer of thanks, called Berakah. The Jewish still pray
that prayer today. A more elaborate Berakah is used at the Passover meal.
4. Germanic Tribes occupied Germany and Eastern Europe in the beginning of the Christian era.

5. Greco-Roman World refers to the Roman Empire that has its beginning with Emperor Augustus (27
BCE). At its peak it included Western Europe and the lands at the Mediterranean Sea. The Empire was
divided into East and West (395 CE). The word Greco is added because the Roman Empire, occupying
Greece, adopted the Greek culture.
6. Great Councils refer to the controversies of the 4th and 5th centuries in formulating a doctrine about
Jesus Christ. After four Councils (Nicea-325, Constantinople-381, Ephesus-431, Chalcedon-451), the
bishops agreed on a terminology which we partly find in the official creeds of the Church.
7. Heretical, Heresy (choice) a choice of a view that is not consistent with the official teachings of the
Church. Such a view is therefore regarded as wrong and potentially dangerous to the faith.
8. Historical critical method refers to various scholarly approaches which were developed in modern
times to arrive at a richer understanding of the Bible.
9. Metaphor a figure of speech by which one thins is spoken of in terms of another (ex. I am the bread
of life).
10. Myth (tale, fable) a story that is used to evoke the spiritual and religious significance of a belief, practice, or
natural phenomenon

11. Neo-platonic philosophy A school of philosophy developed by Plotinus (205-270 AD) in Alexandria
based on modified Platonism. All forms of existence emanate from a single source with which the soul
seeks mystical union.
12. Prophet of the end time (eschatological prophet)
13. Savior (one who saves) a biblical term for God as deliverer and protector of the people; Jesus has
this role
14. Secular (age generation) a) in the module, it expresses an atheist or agnostic ideology
(secularism); b) this is to be distinguished from secularity, or the attitude of being concerned with this
world and its affairs but not necessarily in an anti-reliious way; c) secularization also refers to any social
and historical process which brings a change in society, away from ecclesial or religious control.
15. Son of Man human being human kind but can also be a reference to a figure at the end time
who will be the judge of the righteous and unrighteous (Dan 7:13-14)
16. Symbolic Language a symbol mediates something other than itself by drawing or leading beyond
itself to a deeper truth.

VIII. REFERENCES
Borg, Marcus J. Jesus A New Vision. New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 1991.
Borg, Marcus, Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time. New York: Harper Collins, 1994.
Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines. Catechism for Filipino Catholics. Manila: Word of
Life
Publishers, 1997.
De Mesa, Jose M. and Lode L. Wostyn. Doing Christology. Quezon City: Claretian Publications,
1989.
Wostyn, Lode. Believing Unto Discipleship: Jesus of Nazareth: A Workbook for Theology 2.
Quezon City: Claretian
Publication, 2004.