THE WORSHIP Who God Is: The King Who Loves Leader s Guide: Ages 12-14 Kings & Kingdoms Part 1: The Life of Jesus Unit 3, Lesson 12 Jesus Is Anointed Lesson Aim: To give our treasures to Jesus as an act of worship. THE WORD What He Has Done: Jesus received and delighted in Mary s sacrificial worship. Scripture Focus: John 12:1-11; Mark 14:6-9 Key Verse: Mark 14:6 Christ Connection: Psalm 51:1, 2, 15-17 THE WAY The Big Question: What do you treasure that you would give to Jesus? UNIT 3 FOCUS VERSE Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments. Deuteronomy 7:9 Unit 3: The King Who Loves Bible Story What He Has Done Lesson Aim* 12 Jesus Is Anointed, John 12:1-11; Mark 14:6-9 13 The Triumphal Entry, Luke 19:28-44; John 12:12-19 14 Jesus Washes the Disciples Feet, John 13:1-17 15 Jesus and the Last Supper, Luke 22:1-23, 31-34 16 Jesus in the Garden, Matthew 26:36-54; Luke 22:51 17 The Cross: Jesus Dies for Us, John 19:1-16, 28-30; Luke 23:32-43 Jesus received and delighted in Mary s sacrificial worship. Jesus rode into Jerusalem as the humble King. Jesus washed the feet of His disciples. Jesus gave His disciples a way to remember Him. Jesus prayed and then He submitted to being arrested. Jesus chose to suffer and die to save us from our sins. To give our treasures to Jesus as an act of worship. To understand the deeper meaning of the triumphal entry. To love others through serving. To see communion as a declaration of the new covenant. To pray for God s will to be done, and to submit to it. To see how Jesus suffering and death finished God s plan for our salvation. LEADER S ENCOURAGEMENT This week, read 2 Corinthians 2:14-16. Please join us in praying, Jesus, thank You for Your sacrificial love. Show us what You want as our sacrifice of worship. Amen. Lesson Aims are based on reflecting God s character as we participate in His actions to, for, and in the world. Take Home Elements: The Journal Entry, Action Card, and Family Discussion Card may be sent home to encourage students to reflect on the lesson. The Journal Entry is an in-depth personal study. The Action Card is a visual reminder of the Bible story, God s action, and how we can join into that action. The Family Discussion Card gives parents and guardians a way to engage their students in what they are learning. Leader s Tip: For larger gatherings, teach THE WELCOME, THE WORSHIP, and THE WORD in a large group setting and divide into small groups for discussion with THE WAY. Permission is granted to reproduce these materials. Not for resale. Use is subject to the Terms of Use available at ResourceWell.org. Terms are subject to change without notice. All other rights are reserved. Kings & Kingdoms Unit 3, Lesson 12 ~ Ages 12-14 ~ Page 1 of 6
Getting started THE WELCOME Suggestions: Choose a game that focuses on concepts related to the lesson such as treasures, worship, perfume, dinner, or money ACTIVITY OPTION 1: LINE UP Purpose: This version of Four Corners introduces the idea of giving treasures to Jesus. Supplies: Treasures (beads, marbles, bits of paper, or individually wrapped candies), four bowls, four paper bags, four pieces of different colored paper, tape, dark marker Prepare: Divide the treasures equally among the four bowls and place a bowl in four corners of the room. Tape a different colored paper above each bowl. Number the bags 1, 2, 3, and 4. Directions: 1. Form four teams with an equal number of students on each team. 2. Assign each team a number (1, 2, 3 and 4). Place the team bags outside the play area or assign one member of each team to carry their team bag. 3. Students begin in the center of the room. 4. Have a class assistant close his or her eyes, say, GO! and begin counting backward from 10. On GO! each student is to run to one of the four corners in the room before the class assistant is finished counting. Students do not need to stay with their teams. 5. After counting down to 1 and with eyes still closed, the class assistant calls out one of the four corner colors. Each student in that corner picks up one treasure, places it in their team bag, and returns to their corner. You may choose to add more treasures to a bowl if there s not enough. 6. Everyone stays in the game. 7. Repeat steps 4-6 for a several rounds or until one or more of the treasure bowls are empty. 8. Let each team count their treasures. The team with the most treasures wins. ACTIVITY OPTION 2: ALABASTER JAR RELAY Purpose: To introduce the alabaster jar from today s Bible story. Supplies: One plastic water bottle per team, tape or chalk, optional: white paint Prepare: Use the tape or chalk to make the start/finish line and the halfway mark. Optional: Paint each bottle white. Directions: 1. Divide students into teams of four or more members per team. 2. Design a relay race of your choosing where teams compete in a relay race using the alabaster jar as their relay baton. Relay race suggestions: Team members may run to the half way mark and back, team members may do a crab walk (face upward, walking on hands and feet) holding the bottle on their stomachs, or two teammates may toss the bottle back and forth toward the halfway mark and back. Anyone who drops the bottle has to go back to the start line. Optional: Run an outdoor water relay. Students remove their socks and shoes. One team member is seated at the start line and a bucket of water is set at the halfway line. The first runner runs to the bucket, fills the bottle with water, runs back to the start line, and pours the bottle of water on the bare feet of the seated team member. The runner hands the bottle to the next team member and becomes the seated team member. The person who was seated goes to the end of the line. The team whose members complete the relay first wins.. Kings & Kingdoms Unit 3, Lesson 13 ~ Ages 12-14 ~ Page 2 of 6
The King who loves THE WORSHIP Note to Leader: The instructions below are suggestions only. Adapt this time of worship to suit your environment, resources, and cultural expression. Encourage students to broaden their view of corporate worship by including a variety of expressions such as group prayer, group praise, silent meditation, singing, listening to music, reading scripture, collecting an offering, drama, dance, visual arts, and/or a physical exploration of nature or neighborhoods. Ideas for Optional Visuals: The Seven Stars of Lent If this lesson is taught during the Lenten season (the 40 days before Easter), we recommend the Seven Stars of Lent activity located at ResourceWell.org under Other Resources. Choose one star for each week of the Lent season. Today, we worship God as the King who loves. He loved us so much He gave His life for us. When we worship Jesus, we are showing Him we love Him. In today s story, we will see how Mary worshiped Jesus by pouring expensive perfume on His feet. The sweet smell of the perfume filled the house. In a similar way, our worship fills this room and the heavens with our prayers and praise to the King who loves us. Read Unit 3 Focus Verse: Deuteronomy 7:9. Sing worship songs that focus on Jesus, the King who loves us. Read Psalm 141:2. Invite students to offer sentences of praise to God by completing the following sentence: Lord, we worship You for. Kings & Kingdoms Unit 3, Lesson 13 ~ Ages 12-14 ~ Page 3 of 6
Jesus is anointed THE WORD Presentation Note to Leader: Adapt this segment to your setting (Sunday School class, youth group, multi-age gathering, youth camp, retreat, etc.). In some settings, you may choose to have a student read the scripture aloud, and then have the leader, in his or her own words, briefly communicate the Teaching Points, the Christ Connection, and the Big Question. In other settings, a teacher, pastor, or other experienced speaker may present a lecture or extended message that includes those same elements. Ideas for Optional Visuals: You may choose to include an object lesson, video clip, drama, dance, song, or work of art to illustrate the teaching points. Option 1: Option 2: TEACHING POINTS Consider current culture and influences impacting your students, and adjust the teaching accordingly. Read the suggested scripture and communicate each of the points noted. The leader or a student reads John 12:1-11 and Mark 14:6-9 aloud. This story marks the beginning of the last week of Jesus life on earth. It takes place on the night before He entered Jerusalem. He went to Bethany for a special dinner in the home of Mary, Martha, and their brother Lazarus, whom Jesus had just raised from the dead. In Bible Times, dinner guests ate at a low table as they laid on their side or stomach with their feet behind them. This would have made it easier for Mary to reach Jesus feet. Where they lived, it was dry and dusty, so it was a special act to rub perfume oils on someone s feet or head. Mary s perfume was made from pure nard, an expensive perfume. Biblically, anointing someone with oil showed they had been set apart by God for a special, sacred purpose, such as the role of a king or high priest. Perfume oils were also used in preparing bodies for burial. Even though Mary didn't know Jesus was going to die soon, she was symbolically preparing His body for burial when she poured the nard on His feet. Most women value their own hair. Mary s choice to use her own hair to wipe Jesus feet was an act of worship. She was showing she loved Jesus and putting Him first. Jesus described Mary s offering as beautiful. The expensive perfume and the use of her hair showed how important Jesus was to her. We each have special treasures we can give to Jesus as an act of worship. Our time is a treasure we can give by sharing God s love with others. Our favorite activities or our skills and talents can also be our treasures for Jesus. We can ask Him to use these things to bring people closer to Him and we can give Him the credit for all the good that comes from what we say and do. Kings & Kingdoms Unit 3, Lesson 13 ~ Ages 12-14 ~ Page 4 of 6
THE WORD Presentation continued Judas led the criticism of Mary s extravagant gift. While it is right to give to the poor, it is likely that Judas was not concerned for the poor but for his own gain as we learn he was stealing from the group. Jesus was not implying that we should not give to the poor. He was saying there will be plenty of time to give to the poor, but very little time remained to give to Him because He would die soon. Many Jews believed in Jesus and began following Him. The chief priests were so determined to stop this that they plotted to kill Lazarus to destroy evidence that Jesus raised him from the dead. When we give our treasures to show our love for Jesus, He values what we have done and remembers it forever as He did with Mary s gift. Connecting the Old Testament, the New Testament, and Us CHRIST CONNECTION In the whole story of God, what's the connection between this New Testament story and the Old Testament? God has always wanted our worship, not as something extra we do, but as giving Him the best offering we have our hearts and our lives. These offerings include our confessions, our repentance, our love for others, our good works, and our praise. The leader or a student reads Psalm 51:1, 2, 15-17. When our spirit or heart is broken due to our circumstances, we often depend more on God. King David knew our greatest offering is a broken and humble heart that fully turns to God. THE BIG QUESTION Introduce and elaborate on this question. Students will answer it in their discussion group. What do you treasure that you would give to Jesus? Kings & Kingdoms Unit 3, Lesson 13 ~ Ages 12-14 ~ Page 5 of 6
Offering our treasures THE WAY Discussion GETTING STARTED Display and review the Discussion Group Covenant below: We will include everyone here, treating one another with respect and kindness. We will encourage everyone here to express their thoughts and opposing views. Every student shares his or her best experience or greatest challenge of the past week. READ IT AGAIN Read John 12:1-11; Mark 14:6-9 silently or aloud. What did Jesus say about Mary s gift? Why did the chief priests plot to kill Lazarus? THE BIG QUESTION Invite students to share their answers. What do you treasure that you would give to Jesus? TAKE ACTION Lead students in a discussion using the questions below. Mary s extravagant gift cost her not only financially, but also socially. Sacrificial giving to Jesus can cost us, too. When have you given or dedicated to Jesus something you treasure? Why do you think Mary chose to pour expensive perfumed oil on Jesus feet? Have you or someone you know ever been criticized for putting Jesus first and giving their special treasures (time, talents, gifts) to Him? Ask each student to complete this sentence: God calls us to give our treasures to Jesus SO THAT others might. PRAY Share prayer requests and answered prayers. Have students pray with partners, or have the whole group pray together. FINAL FIVE MINUTES When only 5 minutes remain, begin this segment. Give each student Action Card #12 and Journal Entry #12. Take home today s Action Card as a reminder of how we can join in what God is doing. Use the Journal Entry as your personal devotional study. Complete your Journal Entries at home and keep them together in a notebook or in your Bible. Optional: Provide parent or guardian with Family Discussion Card #12. Kings & Kingdoms Unit 3, Lesson 13 ~ Ages 12-14 ~ Page 6 of 6
KINGS & KINGDOMS JOURNAL ENTRY #12 Jesus Is Anointed John 12:1-11; Mark 14:6-9 WHAT DOES IT SAY? Pray!!! Ask the Holy Spirit to show you what He wants you to learn from this passage. Now read John 12:1-11 and Mark 14:6-9. WHAT DOES IT MEAN? Judas said the perfume was worth a year s wages. What does that show you about Mary s love for Jesus? Jesus knew He would soon be put to death. How might Mary s anointing of His feet have encouraged Him? WHAT CAN I DO? Our own time is one of our treasures. How can you use your time to bring glory to Jesus? What did Jesus say about Mary s actions? Even though Jesus is not physically present, what do you treasure that you would give to Jesus? What did Jesus say was the reason God planned for Mary to use this perfume? How did the chief priest plan to destroy the evidence of Jesus power? People remember Mary and her love for Jesus whenever they read this story. What would you like people to remember about your love for Jesus?