Historical Jesus - Teacher's manual

5 lessons on the events that shaped world history For high school students in years 9 and 10

Teacher’s handbook Written by Tim Clemens To be used with Historical Jesus Student handbook and the Life of Jesus DVD

Christian Education Publications PO Box A287 Sydney South NSW 1235 Australia Ph.: +61 2 8268 3333 Fax: +61 2 8268 3357 Email: sales@youthworks.net Website: www.cepstore.com.au Published January 2013 Copyright © Tim Clemens 2013 This book is copyright. Apart from fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism and review as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part of this book may be reproduced by any process without the express permission of the Publisher.

Scripture taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV). Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. ‘New International Version’ and ‘NIV’ trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica. Use of either trademark requires the permission of Biblica.

Life of Jesus DVD © 2010 by Centre for Public Christianity (CPX) and Anglican Media Sydney.

All rights reserved. This product has been included in this pack with the permission of Zondervan®. No copies of this program, in whole or in part, may be made for any reason or purpose whatsoever. A limited license for public viewing is allowed in churches or homes so long as no fee of any kind is charged. Commercial use of this program, including broadcast and fundraising, is strictly prohibited. www.zondervan.com National Library of Australia ISBN 978-1-922000-54-5 Author—Tim Clemens Managing editor—Julie Firmstone Theological editor—Loren Becroft Design—Chrisy Savvides

CO N T E N T S How to use this manual

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About the author

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Unit overview

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Chapter 1

Jesus in history

Luke 1:1–4

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Chapter 2

Jesus in context

Luke 2:8–12

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Chapter 3

Judge and friend

Luke 11:42–46

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Chapter 4

Jesus crucified

Luke 22:14–20

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Chapter 5

The risen Jesus

Luke 24:1–11

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How to use this manual Historical Jesus is part of a series of curriculum products written by Tim Clemens for Years 7–10 students studying Christian studies in independent schools and Special Religious Education in State schools.

As for all Christian Education Publications, Historical Jesus is grounded in the belief that God is the source of all truth and his word, the Bible, is where God reveals himself and his saving purposes. Each lesson aims to teach students directly from the Bible or, when this is not possible, to engage them with issues from a biblical perspective.

This unit is intended to provide you, the teacher, with reliable, engaging and readyto-use material. With a total of five lessons, Historical Jesus is designed to run for one school term. Each of these lessons is structured to run for 40 minutes to one hour, but can be shortened or extended to suit your needs.

P R E PA R AT I O N Before you teach each lesson: • pray for students to have open minds and hearts to receive God’s word • read through the lesson plan and the Bible passage(s). Think through how you will lead the discussion and what you will share of your own experience with the students • watch the relevant DVD section and make sure you have the equipment ready to play the DVD at the appropriate time in the lesson • have the Student handbooks ready to hand out (one per student) • gather together any additional props or materials you will need to run the games and activities.

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L E S S O N F O R M AT The lessons in this unit follow a basic format from week to week: PRAYER

An opportunity to commit the lesson to God and get the students used to praying and talking with him.

INTRODUCTION/ RECAP

Lesson 1—A brief overview of what will be covered in this unit. All other lessons—a short revision of the previous lesson’s big idea.

DISCUSSION OR ACTIVITY READ THE BIBLE

SHARE

STUDENT HANDBOOKS

DVD REINFORCE THE BIG IDEA

CHAT

ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

An interactive section designed to get the students talking and thinking about the topic.

A chance for students to read the Bible themselves. Get a confident reader in the group to read the passage for the day aloud. Key passages are printed in the Student handbooks for easy reference.

An opportunity for you, the teacher, to share something of your own life and walk with Christ as it is relevant to the topic.

A resource for students to complete with a variety of questions and activities based on the teaching. Be sure to allow time for students to share their answers with the class and for you to see how well they have understood the material. See the note on page 6 for more information.

A segment of the Life of Jesus DVD as it relates to the day’s lesson topic.

A way to finish the lesson with the key points from the study.

An invitation to students to challenge you on any point they disagree with or find difficult to accept or understand. Encourage any young person to approach you after class with questions or comments, and offer to pray with any student who wants this support.

Some examples of difficult questions you may get asked by students on the main issues discussed in each lesson, together with appropriate and helpful responses.

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A NOTE ABOUT THE STUDENT HANDBOOKS Each student should have their own handbook. Hand them out at the time indicated in the lesson plan and collect them again at the end of class. This will give you the opportunity to review and mark (if you wish) their work, and to see whether the students have understood the material. At the end of the last lesson, allow the students to take home the handbooks as a record of what they have covered that term and a potential resource for any unanswered questions.

A B O U T T H E AU T H O R Tim Clemens is passionate about reaching youth with the gospel of Jesus Christ. He has been involved in youth ministry since 2006, and began teaching Special Religious Education (SRE) at St Ives High School in 2009. Tim’s desire is to develop material which will engage and challenge high school students as they hear the gospel.

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Unit overview The Historical Jesus unit builds upon students’ understanding of Jesus of Nazareth as a historical figure. It seeks to demonstrate to students that the Jesus they meet in the Bible was a real man, living in a real time and place. It provides a detailed portrait of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, and the implications of that life for us today. In doing so, it aims to reassure students with the message that they can have confidence in the biblical record.

There are five lessons in the unit: 1. Jesus in history. Jesus revealed God to us.

2. Jesus in context. Jesus was the long-awaited Saviour King promised by God in the Old Testament.

3. Judge and friend. Jesus called on people to repent and avoid God’s coming judgement.

4. Jesus crucified. Jesus died on the cross so that we could be forgiven.

5. The risen Jesus. Jesus rose from the dead and promised eternal life to those who repent.

Key to this unit are the documentary, Life of Jesus, and Bible reading. Each lesson revolves around watching an excerpt from the John Dickson DVD and reading a related passage in the Bible. This has the benefits of reinforcing the main learning points, keeping students engaged, and giving them an opportunity to read the Bible for themselves.

UNIT AIMS This unit aims to: 1. present students with a detailed portrait of the Jesus of history 2. demonstrate to students that the gospels are grounded in historical fact 3. challenge students to devote their lives to following the man from Nazareth.

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A SSUMED KNOWLEDGE Having participated in Christian Studies for 2–3 years, it is assumed that students will have: • an understanding of the Bible as the inspired, inerrant and reliable word of God • good skills in reading the Bible and locating Bible passages • a fundamental understanding of the Christian faith including i God as Creator ii Man as sinful iii Christ as Saviour • a good understanding of what it looks like to live as a Christian • a detailed knowledge of the person and work of Christ • a strong knowledge of God’s dealings with the people of Israel.

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Jesus crucified

BIG IDEA Jesus was crucified so that God’s judgement might pass over those who trust in him.

OUTCOMES In this lesson students will: • re-enact the Last Supper • discuss the worst way to die • consider the spiritual significance Jesus placed on his death • be challenged to respond to Jesus in faith.

KEY PASSAGE Luke 22:14–20 21

T O DAY ’S L E S S O N PR AYER Begin by praying something like, ‘God, please teach us about your Son, Jesus. Help us to understand why he had to die, and what his death accomplished for those who trust in him. Give us confidence that we can trust what we read in the Bible and show us what it means for our lives today. Amen’.

RECAP Ask the students what they remember from last week’s lesson. Perhaps you could provide a reward for the first student who reminds the class of the big idea—Jesus warned that God would judge those who failed to repent and ask for forgiveness.

DISCUSSION Facilitate a class discussion on the worst way to die. This might sound a little morbid but, if done appropriately, it can be a fruitful and engaging discussion. After you have given the students an opportunity to share their own thoughts, you may like to conclude the discussion with the question and answer below.

Q: What would be the worst way to die?

A: People in the first century would answer this question unanimously—crucifixion was the worst way to die. This, in part, is the scandal of Christianity. Not only was its founder crucified; the cross is its identifying symbol. How can this be?

The answer to this question lies in the spiritual significance that Jesus placed on his death. His self-sacrifice would deliver his people from God’s judgement. Jesus made this clear in a conversation he had with his disciples on the night before he died.

READ THE BIBLE Ask for a volunteer to read Luke 22:14–20.

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OLD TESTAMENT (OR THEOLOGICAL) NOTE Jesus made reference to the ‘new covenant in my blood’ (Luke 22:20). A covenant is a binding relational agreement between two parties (a little like a marriage).

Although there are several covenants in the Old Testament (Genesis 6:18; 9:17; 2 Samuel 7), a defining one for the people of Israel was the covenant at Mount Sinai (Exodus 24) when God delivered the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt and gave them the Ten Commandments.

Around 600 BC, the prophets of Israel began to speak of a new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31). God promised to cleanse his people from their sins once and for all, and to give them his Spirit (Ezekiel 36:24–28).

Jesus was claiming that his blood (his sacrificial death) would bring in the new covenant promised by God in the Old Testament. This new covenant brought life (2 Corinthians 3:6).

ACTIVIT Y: PA SSOVER MEAL Set up some tables at the front of the class and invite a few volunteers to help you re-enact the basic events of Luke 22:14–20. You should play the part of Jesus. Pour out some red cordial (or juice of some sort) and break some bread. Be sure to emphasise the fact that Jesus spoke about the wine as ‘my blood poured out for you’.

Note: This is not supposed to be communion. Communion is a sacrament reserved for the family of God. The purpose of this re-enactment is to help students: 1. visualise the events of the night before Jesus died 2. understand that Jesus attached spiritual significance to his death.

STUDENT HANDBOOKS Hand out the Student handbooks and ask the students to complete the Quick question before they watch the DVD. They should answer the From the DVD questions while the DVD is playing but wait until the episode has finished before answering the Digging deeper section.

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DVD Watch Episode 5 of Life of Jesus: ‘Cross Examination’.

After the episode has finished, be sure to give the students plenty of time to finish the exercises in their handbooks. Depending on time, you may like to get your students to complete the Get creative activity.

Be sure to give the students an opportunity to perform their ‘war cry’ in front of the class.

REINFORCE THE BIG IDEA Make sure the students understand that Jesus saw himself as the new Passover lamb. God’s judgement will ‘pass over’ all those who put their faith in Jesus.

CHAT Invite any students who have questions or who wish to talk further about the concepts in this lesson to speak with you during or after class.

ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS Why couldn’t God just forgive people? It all seems a bit unfair for Jesus.

Do you remember how we spoke about God as a judge in the last lesson? Imagine if a judge in today’s society let criminals go without sentencing them. You would rightfully cry out, ‘Where is the justice?’ It’s the same with God. God is a just God. He cannot allow wrongdoing to go unpunished.

But he’s also a loving God. As John 3:16 says, ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life’. Sin must be punished, but God was willing to spare us the consequences of our own sin.

Instead, God stepped into our world in the human form of Jesus and took the punishment for sin upon himself. Jesus was not a random third party—he was God in the flesh.

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