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Life, Ministry and Identity of Jesus

  1. Lesson One
    Nativity and Early Years (Matthew 1–2, Luke 1–2)
    18 Activities
  2. Lesson Two
    Baptism and the Desert (Matthew 3–4, Mark 1:1–13, Luke 3–4:13)
    18 Activities
    |
    1 Assessment
  3. Lesson Three
    The Ministry of Jesus (Mark 1:21–2:12, Luke 4:14–6:49)
    17 Activities
    |
    1 Assessment
  4. Lesson Four
    The Miracles of Jesus (Mark 5–6, John 2, 20)
    14 Activities
    |
    3 Assessments
  5. Lesson Five
    The Identity of Jesus
    18 Activities
  6. Course Wrap-Up
    Course Completion
    1 Activity
    |
    1 Assessment

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When we encounter chiastic patterns in the Bible they often involve a repetition of language or themes. But sometimes they’re more about the way different scenes or developments are framed. Chiastic narrative patterns allow the biblical writers to create tightly packaged units of story within the broader narrative. Carefully read Luke 4:17-20 and map the pattern in Jesus’ behavior in the chiasm below.

A: Jesus…stands up
B: Jesus…receives the scroll
C: Jesus…unrolls the scroll
D: Jesus…reads the scroll 
C’: Jesus…rolls up the scroll
B’: Jesus…gives back the scroll
A’: Jesus…sits down

Source: Brendan Byrne, The Hospitality of God, 2000, pp. 46-47.

Notice how the pattern in the chiasm from Luke 4 gives the reader the sense that Jesus is on a mission. It contains no wasted movement or details. Jesus is there to deliver his message and does so directly and succinctly. When he’s done he sits down and “the eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him.”