EASTER

Lesson 1 Lesson Plan

THE ROAD TO THE CROSS

Mark 20:17-21:11, Mark 10:32-11:11,

Luke 18:31-19:44 and John 12:12-19

Trivia Questions

1. What day of the week do we celebrate Easter? (Sunday)
2. To what feast were Jesus and his disciples going? (Passover)
3. Where did Jesus meet Bartimaeus and Zacchaeus? (Jericho)
4. Why did Jesus ride an ass to Jerusalem? (To show he was king)
5. What did the people shout? (Hosanna)

THE FOLLOWING LESSON IS DIVIDED INTO THREE LEVELS OF DIFICULTY. THEY CAN BE USED TO SEPARATE AGE GROUPS OR LEVELS OF BIBLE STUDY BACKGROUND.

Level 1

1. As usual, we always start each session with prayer. This is a good time to review the names of the disciples. Many of them figure prominently in the Easter story so it is a good time to get their names fixed in the memories of the students. The simple method is to put their names to song. To the tune of “Jesus Loves Me” recite these names. “Peter, Andrew, James and John, Jesus called them one by one. Then comes Thomas, Matthew too, Philip and Bartholomew.” (Chorus) Yes, Jesus called them. Yes, Jesus called them. Yes, Jesus called them. He called them one by one. (2nd verse) “James, the one they called the less, Simon, also Thaddeus, twelfth apostle Judas made. Jesus was by him betrayed.” (Repeat chorus) Many will know this song but go over it if you think it is necessary.
2. Begin the lesson with discussion of the exact date of Easter. For the younger students, just let them know that Easter might fall on a different date on the calendar but it is always on a Sunday. To start the lesson the students should turn to Matthew 20:17-19. The teacher or students can read these few verses. Then explain to the group that Jesus and his disciples were on their way to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. Review quickly what the Passover represented and how and why the Jews celebrated it. Review the passage that was just read and explain that Jesus was telling his disciples that he was going to dies but the disciples did not believe him. Tell the class that Jesus and his disciples probably walked all the way to Jerusalem and that they had to pass through many towns on their way. Explain the custom of the people lining the streets of the town to get a look at the new teacher they had all heard about. As they approached Jericho this same thing happened. Read or have class read Mark 10:46-50 and review quickly the story of Bartimaeus, the blind beggar then review by using the song about Zacchaeus. Explain what a tax collector did for the Roman government and why these men were hated. Read Matthew 21:2-3 and tell the students why Jesus would have wanted to ride into Jerusalem on an ass. (Use the word donkey if you find it more appropriate to the age level or maturity of your group.) Explain that this was the way the ancient kings used to come into a city for the first time and that Jesus used an ass/donkey to show that he came as a king of peace. Remind the class that Jerusalem was a city that was occupied by a foreign army and any kind of commotion might bring soldiers to the scene to stop a possible riot. This is what the Pharisees feared when the people shouted “Hosanna.” Read Luke 19:39-40 and ask the group what they thought of Jesus’ response. Conclude with the fact that this made the Pharisees very angry and they wanted to kill Jesus but didn’t know how they could do it without causing a riot all over again and this was a step closer to the cross for Jesus.
3. Memory Verse: John 14:6 “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” Explain that Jesus was saying we had to all believe in Him to get to Heaven.
4. Snack and craft. Cut out the donkey form and color it or if you have it on construction paper the class simply needs to cut it out. Attach snap close pins for the legs so the donkey can stand.
5. Closing prayer.

Level 2

1. Open with prayer and review the names of the disciples. You may use the song if age appropriate.
2. Begin the lesson as in Level 1 with a discussion of the exact date of Easter. Have the students turn to and read Matthew 20:17-19. Let them see that Jesus knew full well what was going to happen to him when he went to Jerusalem this time. Discuss why his disciples did not want to believe what Jesus was saying. Go over the stories of Bartimaeus and Zacchaeus in the city of Jericho from Mark 10. Continue the lesson as in Level 1 to show how and why Jesus rode the ass into Jerusalem and what the reaction of the crowds and the Pharisees were to this.
3. Memory verse: Same as Level 1.
4. Snacks and trivia or if group is younger have them do the craft.
5. Close with prayer.

Level 3

1. Opening prayer and review the names of the twelve disciples. If the song from Level 1 is not age appropriate, have the group look up the list in Mark 3:16-19 or Matthew 10:2.
2. Discuss the actual date of Easter as in Levels 1 and 2. Go through the lesson as in Levels 1 and 2 but have the students read more of the material themselves and discuss what was happening. Conclude with Jesus riding into Jerusalem just as the ancient kings did in Israel. Show how this action was a step toward the cross for Jesus.
3. Memory verse: Same as in Levels 1 and 2.
4. Snacks and trivia.
5. Close with prayer.