Prophets After the Exile

Transcription

1 Prophets After the Exile LESSON 14: JESUS AS PROPHET Objective Students will look at Jesus life and ministry and see how he acted like a prophet. Key Concepts Jesus was able to describe what was happening in his world in a way that made people think differently. Jesus condemned what the people were doing wrong in the sight of God. Jesus received his call from God, and people thought of him as a prophet. We can follow Jesus example. Estimated Lesson Time: 55 minutes Materials Scriptures for Centers (p. 136) Bible concordances, Bible dictionary Paper, pens or pencils Meet the Prophet note sheets (p. 59) Prophets Journals For Extend the Lesson: posterboard, magazines, markers, scissors, glue Teacher Preparation 1. Prepare the centers for lesson step 1: Centers can simply be desks that have room around them for students to stand. You will need a sheet of paper for each center with the printed verse and lots of blank space for writing. (Copy the Scriptures for Centers, letters A through J, from page 136. Cut them apart and glue them at the top of blank sheets, to place at the different centers.) Arranging centers in a circular pattern will make easier transitions from one center to the next. 2. Be sure there are enough Meet the Prophet note sheets for all students. INTRODUCING THE LESSON Characteristics of prophets. Have students read over their notes from all the prophets covered so far. After a few minutes, invite them to call out characteristics of some of the prophets. What made the person a prophet? What made him or her stand out? List characteristics on the chalkboard for reference during the rest of the lesson. LESSON STEPS 1. Jesus the prophet. Divide the class into nine roughly even groups, and have each group gather at a center. Instruct them to read over the scripture at their station, then list one characteristic of a prophet Jesus showed in the story. At your signal, everyone moves to the next station in the progression, reads the scripture and tries to list a different characteristic, adding to the one or ones 133

2 already on the list. (The group at station A will perform their task at that station and then move to station B, while the group from station B moves to station C, and so on.) Students lists might include some of the following: A. Matthew 3:14-17 Jesus is called by God B. Matthew 5:17-48 Jesus does not come to abolish the law, but fulfill it. He is speaking to the people in their own time. C. Matthew 11:2-15 Jesus is calling John a prophet and more than a prophet. D. Matthew 11:16-24 Jesus is condemning cities, just as so many other prophets did. E. Matthew 12:18-21 This is Matthew s hope for Jesus and reflects the collective hope of the Jews, like Moses, Elijah, and Isaiah, who talked about and did something to bring about justice and righteousness for the people. F. Matthew 13:53-58 Jesus refers to himself as a prophet (without honor in his own town). G. Matthew 15:1-20 It is not what goes in the mouth, but what comes out. Jesus admonishes the Pharisees and retells Isaiah s prophecy as relevant in his day. H. Matthew 16:1-12 The yeast of the Pharisees. Jesus calls this generation evil and adulterous. The Pharisees want a sign, but Jesus tells them they would probably not be able to read the sign if he were to give it. I. Matthew 21:10 At the triumphal entry, people are calling Jesus a prophet. J. Matthew 23:37 24:30 Jesus condemns Jerusalem and the temple, and talks about wars and rumors of wars. 2. Reports from the centers. After all have had an opportunity at each center, or however many centers time allows, invite groups to return to their first center and read what others have added to the page. Have each group share one or two characteristics from their page with the whole group. Also invite them to share something new they learned about Jesus in this exercise. 3. Meet the prophet. Give the background information on Jesus and have them fill in their Meet the Prophet sheets, augmented by what they have learned from the exercise and information from the answer key, page 137. Remind students to add the sheets to their Prophets Journals. 4. The Lord s Prayer. Jesus tried to change people s behavior by telling them about God s expectations for them. One of his methods was explaining in practical ways what the Kingdom of Heaven is like. This is a concept people didn t understand in Jesus day and still do not understand today. Ask a student to read aloud the Lord s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) and then John 3:5-6. Invite the class to use the clues in this prayer and in Jesus comment to Nicodemus to discuss what Jesus meant by the Kingdom of Heaven. Note the relationship in the phrase Your Kingdom come, your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Ask students to list out loud some of the ways God would have us act differently today to bring the Kingdom of Heaven to earth. Write these characteristics on the board. 5. The Kingdom of Heaven. Write the following passages on the board. Ask each student to select three, reading them to find how Jesus tried to take something difficult to understand and make it simple. Then, using one of their readings as a model, ask each student to write their own two- to three-sentence description of 134

3 the Kingdom of Heaven, using language and examples of today. Encourage them to imagine they are explaining it to someone who has no clue about it. Remind students to keep in mind the list of characteristics on the board and their previous discussion. Matthew: 20: :24 13:31 13:33 13:44 13:45 13:47 25:1 18:23 Luke: 13: :20-21 Ask for volunteers to share their brief explanations of the Kingdom of Heaven. 6. Work on prophet presentations. If time permits, allow assigned groups to work on their Prophetable Information presentation for next session. Remind them that the next time the class meets the projects will be due. The groups will be sharing with the entire class. If they need handouts copied for their presentation, make sure they give them to you now. EXTEND THE LESSON (This activity will extend the lesson to longer than 55 minutes.) Kingdom of Heaven posters. Have each student make a poster using the statement they created describing the Kingdom of Heaven. The drawings or graphics should enhance the message. Allow those who prefer not to draw to use a collage of pictures and photos from magazines. These posters might be posted around the school, or a photographer may be able to turn them into postcards to parents, congregations, and supporters of the school. 135

4 Scriptures for Centers A. Matthew 3:14-17 B. Matthew 5:17-48 C. Matthew 11:2-15 D. Matthew 11:16-24 E. Matthew 12:18-21 F. Matthew 13:53-58 G. Matthew 15:1-20 H. Matthew 16:1-12 I. Matthew 21:10 J. Matthew 23:37 24:30 136

5 ANSWER KEY for Meet the Prophet Jesus: Prophet s name. What does this prophet s name mean? God Saves or Anointed One (Note: The test uses the words Anointed One. You may want to give credit for either answer.) Where did this prophet live? He lived in Bethlehem and grew up in Nazareth, which was in Galilee. When did this prophet live and who were the kings of his/her time? Discrepancies exist about the birth date of Jesus. It may be best to simplify by using the approximate date of 1 CE, but acknowledge to students that this is not entirely clear. Israel was under Roman rule and Herod Antipas. What did this person do before becoming a prophet? He was a carpenter s son. To whom did this prophet speak? He spoke to all people, including those on the fringes of society. He challenged the authorities, as well. What was the main message of this prophet? Jesus tried to explain how to be the person God wanted each one of us to be. Jesus taught us to be servants and peacemakers. He taught us to love our enemies. He challenged people to give up everything and follow him. He used simple stories called parables to get his message across. How did people respond to the message? The Pharisees and religious leaders despised Jesus and put him to death on the cross. However, he had a loyal band of followers called disciples that carried the good news to all parts of the earth. They told people that Jesus was the Messiah promised in the Old Testament. What did this prophet say that might be important for us today? Jesus is our perfect example today. Everything he said and did is relevant to us today. Through Jesus death on the cross, our sins are forgiven. Jesus message, his actions, and his very life are our salvation. What questions do you have about this prophet? Answers will vary. 137

6 Directions: Multiple choice Assessment for Prophets After the Exile 1. Haggai s biggest accomplishment was a. Rebuilding the temple in 30 days. b. Getting the building of the temple and organization of worship back on track. c. Leading the people out of Israel. d. Being the last prophet to speak to the people before Jesus came. 2. Huldah was a. one of the Judges b. a friend of Jesus c. consulted by King Josiah d. famous as a writer of songs 3. John the Baptist was considered a prophet because: a. He took a Nazarite vow b. He baptized people c. He wore funny clothes d. He helped people get right with God 4. Old Testament prophecies were used in the New Testament chiefly: a. To show people that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah b. To test people s knowledge of the Bible. c. As good stories to make people think d. So people wouldn t forget the good old days. 5. Miriam s most famous prophecy: a. Was about how the people would enter the Promised Land. b. Came after the defeat of Pharaoh's army. c. Gave hope to the people during a time of worry and doubt. d. Was a response to something Pharaoh had said. 6. Jesus fulfilled the prophecies of the Messiah. Messiah means a. God is with us b. God will save us c. Anointed one d. The one who will purge our sins Directions: Give short answers. 7. How were some prophecies from the Old Testament used in the New Testament? Give specific examples. Have I Got News for You!: Assessment for Prophets After the Exile 138

7 Assessment for Prophets After the Exile, p Name one woman prophet and what she did. 9. Explain the role John the Baptist played in starting Jesus off in his ministry. 10. Explain the situation surrounding the prophecies of Haggai. Have I Got News for You!: Assessment for Prophets After the Exile 139

8 ANSWER KEY Assessment for Prophets Before the Exile 1. b 2. c 3. d 4. a 5. b 6. b or c* * Either b or c is correct. Some resources give one meaning and some the other. 7. They were used to prove that Jesus was the Messiah. They were used to convince those who didn t believe in Jesus. Jesus was the fulfillment of the prophecies. Things happened to Jesus according to God s plan. 8. Deborah leader (judge) and prophet led an army when her general would not do it was a judge in the tradition of Moses, settling disputes Miriam sister to Moses cared for her brother when he was a baby. (This isn t a prophetic act, but was already showing Miriam s responsibility and loving care of others.) sang a song celebrating the defeat of Pharaoh s army took her brother to task over his marriage and contracted leprosy as a judgment from God against her. (This is in the teacher background but isn t really covered on the Meet the Prophets page or in the lesson. Consider giving students extra credit if they include it here.) Huldah lived in the time of Josiah was consulted when a Book of Law (probably Deuteronomy) was found in the temple prophesied destruction of the people for being unfaithful said that because of Josiah s faithfulness, God would not punish the people while he still lived Anna not much is known about her she is called a prophet in the scriptures was worshipping in the temple when Jesus parents brought him in prophesied that Jesus was the redemption of Israel 9. He preached repentance and forgiveness. He foretold of one coming greater than he. He baptized Jesus. He gradually faded into the background while Jesus ministry grew. 10. People were just back from exile in Babylon. They spent a lot of time building the wall around Jerusalem. They built houses for themselves, but did not rebuild the temple. Haggai shamed the people into beginning temple renovations. Have I Got News for You!: Assessment for Prophets After the Exile 140