lesson five: messiah Main Point: Jesus, the Messiah, was anointed to overcome death. Bible Verse: I know that the Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ.) When he comes, he will tell us all things. Luke 4:25 Bible Story: Resurrection, Matthew 28 Something to think about before teaching: Messiah means the anointed one. Jesus, the Messiah, was chosen by God and anointed to come to earth to triumph over death. He accomplished this role by his obedience, his suffering and his death. The triumph was fully realized in His resurrection. Kids will learn that Jesus accomplished God s plan to save us at the resurrection. We have hope forever, because of what the Messiah did for us. Each Lesson contains: Planning: Gathering the information about the name Minute to Build it Game The Flying Ace Discovering the Flight Plan Learning the Plan constructing: putting together what God says about the name Bible Story Extreme Flight Tales Building the Device testing: applying the name The Test Flight Lab Craft Games Bible Memory Express Yourself Snack Building the Name Cards Building Family Time 1
Planning minute to build it game: kite flight PP Supplies: three baseball caps, three kites Preparation: Tie the kite string to the baseball cap. Pick three contestants. The contestants must keep the kite up in the air for 60 seconds by running in a circle. (If space is limited, have one contestant try this at a time to reduce the possibility of the strings becoming entangled.) the flying ace PP The Flying Ace enters the room holding his stomach. He is swaying back and forth a bit. That was close. So close. I was staring death right in the face. No one told me the pilot was a trick pilot. No one told me the plane was a trick plane. I thought I was just going Airborne. But no, we had to fly this way, then that way, then this way and then that way. (Makes motions with his arms.) We went upside down. UPSIDE DOWN I TELL YOU! And made loops (use arm to show) with the plane. Loops and loops and loops. And then when I thought it could not be any worse, he went upside down toward the ground flying only a few feet off the ground. I knew we were going to crash at any moment. Any second. It was terrible. Awful. However, we somehow made it back to the landing strip. And here I am in one piece. I think. (Checks to make sure his body parts are all attached.) Yes, one piece. I have come to a conclusion. It is a sad conclusion, but a necessary one. I was not created to be airborne. I was made to have my feet planted securely on the ground. I will be changing my name from The Flying Ace to The Feet on the Ground Ace. Some people are made to fly and to overcome gravity. But overcoming gravity is not my thing, I have decided. I was not one created for that purpose. I have overcome my desire to be a pilot, I can tell you that for sure. In fact, the rest of the afternoon I intend to celebrate this fact by flying a kite. Flying with my feet firmly on the ground. 2
discovering the FLIGHT plan PP Supplies: For optional display-open tomb picture, Messiah sign Each week our name of Jesus is going to have a symbol to help us remember the meaning of the name. We will try to guess what the symbol is. (Have all the kids work together, divide into teams or choose two people to compete.) What do you think a picture of the empty tomb has to do with the name of Jesus, Messiah? (Give the kids some opportunities to guess.) God had promised a Messiah long before He came. He promised that the Messiah would come and set the people free. They would be set free from their sins. In order to do this, the Messiah had to die and then overcome death. The empty tomb is a symbol that Jesus, the Messiah, did not stay dead but rose from the dead. He was resurrected. He has power over death. The word, Messiah, means the anointed one. Jesus was anointed to come to earth. Today, we learn that Jesus, the Messiah, was anointed to overcome death. Options: Display: Place the empty tomb in the display. Make sure to print out the name Messiah from the file to label the empty tomb. No Power Point: If you do not have access to power point, put the empty tomb in a box and have the kids guess what might be in the box giving clues. learning the plan PP PP Read Luke 4:25 together: I know that the Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ.) When he comes, he will tell us all things. Let s say the verse again with some motions to help us remember it. I know (Point to chest and then head. ) That the Messiah (Make cross with fingers.) Is coming. (Walk fingers of one hand over the palm of the other hand.) He who is called Christ. (Put hands up to mouth as if talking through them.) When he comes. (Walk fingers across hand again.) He will tell (One hand on side of mouth.) Us (Point to self.) All things. (Put hands out and gather in with the hands.) 3
investigating bible story PP The Resurrection Matthew 28 Supplies: Empty tomb, bright colored paper, markers Preparation: Make an empty tomb out of cardboard or brown paper. Place it at the front of the room with the rock rolled to one side. Jesus had been buried in a tomb. It was a cave with a rock rolled in front of it. This was on a Friday. The next day was the Sabbath (Saturday) and His followers would have gone home to celebrate the Sabbath. But the day after the Sabbath, as the sun came up, Mary Magdalene and some other women came to see the tomb. There was a great earthquake and an angel came down from heaven. The stone was rolled back. On the stone sat the angel. The women were scared. The angel spoke, Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you. The women took off quickly filled with fear and with joy. They ran to tell the disciples. And along the way, Jesus met them. He said, Greetings! They came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Jesus, who died on the cross for our sins, had defeated death. He was alive again. He had been resurrected. Our Bible verse today says, I know that the Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ.) When he comes, he will tell us all things. Luke 4:25 This was spoken by the Samaritan woman to Jesus. She believed that when the one promised by God came, they would know all things. The promised one had come. He had come on a donkey as a king bringing in a heavenly kingdom. He had come to the temple as the Son of David, a man from David s line but also the spiritual promise. He had come to the Last 4
Supper as the Lamb of God, ready to be sacrificed for the sins of the world. He had come to the cross as the Chosen One, the One who God had sent to die for the sins of His people. And now He had come back from death as the Messiah, the anointed one to carry God s plan to completion. Jesus, as the Messiah, had told all things. He told them with His actions. That we can be saved from our sins. That we can live forever with Him in heaven. Jesus, the Messiah, was anointed to overcome death. On Easter, we celebrate the fact that the Messiah overcame death. We celebrate new life that Jesus gives us. This morning, let s celebrate by drawing things that remind us of new life. It might be flowers or butterflies. It might be baby chicks or trees budding with leaves. Then, next to the picture, write a praise to Jesus such as He is alive or Hosanna to the King or He overcame death. When you are finished, attach the picture to the tomb. Let s cover the tomb with reminders that Jesus, the Messiah, overcame death. Prayer PP Thank Jesus for giving new life to those who believe. Give kids an opportunity to accept this new life if they have not done so. extreme flight tales PP How many of you have ever flown a kite before? It is amazing how high a kite can fly. It is also amazing that just a little piece of plastic, silk or paper and some string can make something so majestic in the sky. When flying a kite, it can feel like a celebration of being free in the air. Let s see if you know some trivia about kites. I will tell you a statement and you decide if the statement is true or false. PP 1. The first kites were invented by the Chinese about 3,000 years ago. Answer: True PP 2. Kites were used as far back as 1,000 years to lift dogs in the sky to see how scared they would get. Answer: False. They were used to lift men into the sky to look over the battlefields during war. 5
PP 3. In many countries, kite fighting is popular. People try to bring down each other s kites often severing each other s kite strings. Answer: True. PP 4. In South America, specifically Guyanna, kites are flown only around Easter as a symbol of the Risen Lord. Answer: True PP 5. Kites over 20 feet long cannot fly. Answer: False. Kites can be over 100 feet long. Flying a kite gives a person a feeling of freedom and celebration. Today is a great day of celebration. Easter is a day to celebrate the resurrection. Because of Jesus, the Messiah, who conquered death by rising from the dead, we can be free from sin. building the device PP Option One: Kite Day Supplies: kite for each child As a part of the Easter celebration, buy an inexpensive kite for each child. Spend this segment putting the kites together. Go outside and fly them if the weather permits. Option Two: Airborne Celebration Supplies: odd and end supplies left over through out the unit (clothespins, balloons, colorful paper, streamers, straws, paper clips, spoons, etc.) Divide the kids into groups. They will need to use the materials provided to build a device that will fly (for at least a few seconds) that celebrates the tomb being empty. They must be able to explain to the large group how their device celebrates Jesus resurrection. They may use any of the ideas talked about in the unit: catapults, hot air balloons, airplanes, rockets or kites. They may also use anything that will go airborne (will fly in the air without them touching it) whether discussed or not. 6
debriefing flight test lab: experimental flyers Supplies: paper plates, crepe streamers, paper lunch bags, markers, glue, tape, scissors, string or ribbon Let the kids experiment making a kite that will stay in the air when they run with it (no wind needed.) Make sure to attach string or ribbon to it to hold onto. Examples: Cut a large hole in the middle of the paper plate. Attach streamers. Or cut the bottom out of the lunch bag and make a box. Attach streamers. Run in an open area or go outside and run. How long can they keep their flyer in the air? Remind them that the resurrection is a celebration day. Fly their kites in celebration of the freedom the Messiah brings us. craft: names of jesus eggs Supplies: five plastic eggs, symbols resource page, scissors, tape or glue, white paper lunch bag Cut out the symbols and names. Place each symbol inside the egg and the corresponding name taped or glued to the outside of the egg. Decorate the lunch bag. Place the eggs inside the bag. Review all the names and what each symbols means. Encourage the kids to take home their bags, hide the eggs for their family and then after the hunt share with their families the meaning of each name and symbol. game: easter egg hunt Supplies: eggs from the craft Hide the eggs with names on them. Hide the symbols. Kids try to find both the eggs and the symbols. After all of them have been found, work together to place the correct symbol with the correct name. For larger groups, divide into teams and race against each other to find the eggs and symbols. bible memory I know that the Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ.) When he comes, he will tell us all things. Luke 4:25 Supplies: Frisbee or foam ball Have the kids stand in a circle. Throw the Frisbee or ball back and forth to each other. When the 7
Frisbee is caught, the next word to the verse must be said. Start by having everyone say the verse together. Once the kids have learned the verse, have the person who catches the Frisbee say the next word. express yourself Supplies: Copy of questions for each small group 1. What does the word Messiah mean? 2. What was Jesus anointed to do? 3. What was proof that Jesus had conquered death and was alive? 4. The Jewish people looked for a Messiah for a long time. They believed that He would be anointed by God. However, they did not understand what He would conquer. What did they think? What did He actually do? 5. What are some ways that you can celebrate the resurrection today that will help you remember that the Messiah conquered death and gives new life? snack: empty tomb Supplies: doughnuts, doughnut holes, plate Preparation: Cut the doughnuts in half. Place a doughnut half with the cut ends on the plate making a semicircle that faces down. Place the doughnut hole to the side of the opening in the doughnut. This is the rock in front of the empty tomb. Review what the empty tomb symbolizes with the name Messiah. building the name cards Supplies: printed card for each child, markers or crayons (optional) Name: Messiah Symbol: Empty tomb Verse: I know that the Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ.) When he comes, he will tell us all things. Luke 4:25 Give each child the card. If using the coloring cards, use markers or crayons to decorate them. Go over the verse together and review the symbol. 8
Supply List minute to build it: Three baseball caps Three kites the flying ace: None discovering the plan: For optional display-open tomb picture Messiah sign bible story: Empty tomb Bright colored paper Markers building the device: Kite for each child OR Leftover materials flight test lab: Paper plates Crepe streamers Paper lunch bags Markers Glue Tape Scissors String or ribbon craft: Five plastic eggs Symbols resource page Scissors Tape or glue White paper lunch bag game: Eggs from the craft bible memory: Frisbee or foam ball express yourself: Copy of questions for each small group snack: Doughnuts Doughnut holes Plate building the name cards: Printed card for each child, markers or crayons (optional)
Building family time Main Point: Jesus, the Messiah, was anointed to overcome death. Bible Verse: I know that the Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ.) When he comes, he will tell us all things. Luke 4:25 Bible Story: Resurrection, Matthew 28 Family Imaginative Thinking: Think of ways in which your family can celebrate the Messiah overcoming death. Make a plan to do one of these things during the week. Family Building Activity Using materials found around the home, build a tomb along with a rock to go in front of the tomb. Take a picture. Roll the rock away from the opening. Take another picture. Place the pictures on the refrigerator or bulletin board to remind your family of Jesus resurrection. Family Discussion: Have your child tell you the story of the Resurrection. 1. What does the name Messiah mean? 2. How did Jesus overcome death? 3. What is the proof that He rose from the dead?
express yourself 1. What does the word Messiah mean? 2. What was Jesus anointed to do? 3. What was proof that Jesus had conquered death and was alive? 4. The Jewish people looked for a Messiah for a long time. They believed that He would be anointed by God. However, they did not understand what He would conquer. What did they think? What did He actually do? 5. What are some ways that you can celebrate the resurrection today that will help you remember that the Messiah conquered death and gives new life?