Analysis of Major Characters
Jesus
Jesus' identity is complex and changing throughout the
Gospels of the New Testament. Jesus is at once a “bright morning
star” (Rev. 22:16)
and a small child who worries his mother sick because he stays at
the temple for three extra days (Luke 2:46).
Jesus is called a “glutton and a drunkard” by those who dislike
him (Matt. 11:19), and
he breaks social boundaries by associating with women and the poor.
Jesus tells a man seeking eternal life to “go, sell what you own, and
give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then
come, follow me” (Mark 10:21).
While Jesus blesses the peace-makers, the meek, and the pure in
heart, he overturns the tables of the money changers in the temple,
yelling that they have made God's house “a den
of robbers” (Mark 11:17).
He is simultaneously a “Savior” (Luke 2:11)
and a servant who lowers himself to the ground, washing the feet
of his disciples (John 13:5).
Jesus is bread (John 6:35),
light (John 9:1),
and water (John 7:38-39).
He is also King of Kings, Lord of Lords (Rev. 19:16),
and tells a disciple, “[J]ust as you did it to one of the least
of these . . . you did it to me” (Matt. 25:40).
Peter
Simon Peter is one of the most sympathetic characters
in the entire New Testament. Peter is determined to be Jesus' best
disciple, but prematurely thinks he understands what it means to
follow Jesus. Peter does not believe Jesus' prediction that he will
deny having known Jesus, but Peter's eagerness is immature, and
he does end up denying his friendship to Jesus during the terrifying
series of events surrounding the trial and crucifixion. Peter realizes
his mistake and weeps bitterly. He is forgiven, and remains the
rock upon which Jesus says he will build his church. Peter is a
model of faithful discipleship. To this day, the Catholic Church
claims apostolic succession from this very Peter, whose faith was
as solid as a rock, but who was also at times overeager, afraid,
and all too human.
Paul
Paul, an extremely well educated Jew, is living in Palestine
when he receives a vision of Jesus and becomes a follower. Paul,
however, continues to call himself the “Jew of Jews.” Christianity
is indebted to Paul's tireless toil for the Gospel in the first
century, and to his robust intellectual prowess, which brings Christianity
from a small handful of fringe-society disciples to a church with
a sophisticated theology treating such complex issues as the relationship
between faith and works, and the balance between unity and diversity.
It is clear that Paul, whom some have called “history's first egalitarian,” develops
an enormous range of church leaders, including many women, in his
household churches that peppered the hillsides of the Roman Empire
and the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.
