Jesus’ Teachings
2 Parts
Sat 8/10 • 10am – 4pm ET
Fri 8/23 • 10am – 1pm ET
Course Description
Teachings about the Gospels have usually portrayed Jesus as the “Great Exception” to being human. Jesus was a skilled storyteller and perceptive teacher who used parables from everyday life to effectively convey his message and meaning. Life in first-century Palestine was very different from our world today, and many traditional and metaphysical interpretations of Jesus’ stories ignore this disparity, so his teachings have gotten lost over the millennia.
Many of us learned simple interpretations of Jesus’ parables as children. But these stories are far more than comforting tales. They are provocative, profound, and often unsettling. This class revisits the parables through their historical and cultural context. Discover the true depth of Jesus’ teachings—understand them as Jewish stories, revealing insights into first-century Jewish social dynamics, economic and ethical implications, and even Jesus’ humor.
Many of us heard our first parables of Jesus when we were young, and learned only the simplest interpretations.
- “God forgives” – The Prodigal Son
- “Help others” – The Good Samaritan
- “Keep praying” – The Persistent Widow
But Jesus’ parables are not comfortable stories designed for children. They are provocative and profound; they both delight and discomfort. And even for those of us who revisited the parables as adults, we often interpret them through the blurred perspective of our 21st-century mindset, missing out on the rich historical and cultural context that would reveal their full meaning.
We will analyze the “problems with parables,” reflect on his sayings and methods by taking a reader back in time to understand how their original Jewish audience understood them. With a revitalized understanding, we interpret these stories, as well as healings and teachings written in the gospels, for our contemporary world. Showing how the parables are not just about Jesus, but are also about us – and when read rightly – still challenge and provoke us two thousand years later.
This course meets the educational needs for Unity S.E.E. students, however, the experiences are designed for everyone and anyone interested in the topic.
If you are taking this for credit you will need to pay the $45 credit fee with UWSI, when UWSI registration opens up, I will inform those who are registered.
