Bible crossword puzzle: Jesus -- The mediator of the new covenant

Based on material in chapter 19, Discovering the Bible by Alex Varughese

Challenge: Can you solve this puzzle even if you do not have the book by Varughese?

ACROSS

1 A teaching method Jesus often used to illustrate the kingdom of God
6 The Gospel that stands apart from the other three in its wording, structure, and general characteristics
9 King over Palestine at the time of Jesus' birth
10 Town where Jesus grew up
11 A First Century method of execution reserved for non-Romans, revolutionaries, the lowest classes, and the most dangerous criminals
12 The way scholars label the issue of accounting for the similarities and differences between the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke
13 Greek word that means "gospel"

DOWN

2 Place where the Old Testament prophet Micah had said that the Messiah would be born
3 The son of Herod the Great who executed John the Baptist
4 The high Jewish council in Jerusalem that charged Jesus with blasphemy because He identified Himself as the Son of Man of Daniel 7:13 and had declared that He would be seated at the right hand of God and coming on the clouds of heaven
5 Roman governor who condemned Jesus to death under pressure from the Jewish Sanhedrin
7 Physical demonstrations by Jesus showing that the Kingdom of God had come
8 The label for the way in which the story of Jesus was passed on until it was finally written down

This crossword puzzle was created for use in Introduction to Biblical Literature. The words and clues come from the textbook Discovering the Bible: Story and Faith of the Biblical Communities edited by Alex Varughese and published by what is now called The Foundry.

-- Howard Culbertson,

Afterword: The "New" Covenant

The phrase "New Covenant" has great significance in the Bible. Symbolizing the promise of redemption, forgiveness, and salvation through Jesus Christ, "new covenant" represents a significant shift in the relationship between God and humanity. The New Covenant concept is rooted in the Old Testament prophetic writings. In Jeremiah 31:31-34, God promises to establish a new covenant with His people, one that would transcend the limitations of the Mosaic Law. In the New Testament, Jesus inaugurates this covenant through His death and resurrection. He offers believers a renewed and everlasting relationship with God based on grace and faith. This covenant signifies not just a legal agreement. It is a spiritual transformation that stresses reconciliation between God and humanity and the fulfillment of divine promises. It serves as the cornerstone of Christian faith and embodies God's unwavering love and mercy toward His creation.