11.       JESUS

Preparation.  Display table;  picture books, maps and costume dolls of Palestine.   Creative work;   Glue, brushes;  crayons;  scissors and a copy for each child of Diagrams 11 and 11A.   Prepare the verse for this week.

Prayers.

Song.   'In Gallilee.’  from the Nursery Song and Picture Book.

News Time and Birthdays.

Revision of the previous week, linking with today's lesson.

Introduction:   Use the display table to give the children an idea of life in Palestine at the time of Jesus.  Jesus was a Messenger of God. I’m sure you remember the story of Jesus' birth.  Can you tell me how it happened ?

Story:   Jesus was born in the country called Palestine.  The people in Palestine, called Jews, were not very happy at that time.  An army from a country called Rome had invaded them and had taken over the running of Palestine.  The Jews were not allowed to do many things without asking the permission of the Romans.   In their Holy Book it spoke of a Messiah who would come to help them.  They prayed He might come soon to fight the army and send them away.  Now Jesus was that Messiah but He had come to help them to get closer to God and to be more loving towards one another    So the Jews did not recognise Jesus as God's Messenger.  Only a few men and women did.  Do you remember how He called the fishermen and they left their nets to follow Him ?

Jesus wandered around for three years, often He did not have a bed to lie on or food to eat, but He knew God would help Him.   He told the people in the villages that God was like our Father, so kind and loving.   God wanted them to be kind also, even to their enemies. This was very difficult for some of the people to do, especially the priests and leaders.  They wanted to  get rid of the Roman army and did not like to hear Jesus tell them to love the soldiers.   In the end the leaders decided to kill Jesus to stop Him talking.   They killed Him in a very cruel way and all His friends were so sad and afraid in case the same thing happened to them.  After three days they felt better and bravely decided to go out and tell people about Jesus.   They travelled to far off  laces and had many adventures. We can read about them in the Bible.

Reading:           Matthew 6, verses 9 - 13.   The Lord's Prayer. Type or write this out for the children to stick in their books. Explain the meaning.

Creative work:   Diagram 11 shows a town in Palestine.  Colour it in,
and the people in Diagram 11A.   Cut round the figures.   (You may have to assist the younger children) and stick them in the street.

Diagram 11.

Diagram 11A.

 Last modified: May 22, 2001

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