Encounter Christianity: In Questions about Jesus lesson plan 12

Lesson twelve - Jesus at the Last Supper (pages 24-25)

Aims for the book

To introduce pupils to key events from the life of Jesus and the way in which these raise questions about the person of Jesus.
To enable pupils to understand the importance of these events at the time of Jesus.
To enable pupils to reflect on the relevance of these events for Christians today.
To encourage pupils to raise questions about these events in the light of their own experience.

Learning objectives

Pupils will;

understand the symbolism of the sharing of bread and wine for Christians, and

explore their hopes for the future.

Text from the book

How do we remember our friends when they are not there? Do you ever wonder about things you can’t explain?

Christians experience Jesus in different ways. Jesus told his disciples to remember him when they share bread and wine together. Christians throughout the world still do this today. They believe that this helps them to share in Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. In a mysterious way, they find themselves coming close to their saviour, Jesus Christ.

Background

Many Christians feel the close presence of Jesus, not in a personal revelation or experience, but in the Lord’s Supper (often called the Eucharist, Mass, Holy Communion or the Breaking of Bread). In the act of sharing bread and wind, Christians remember the Last Supper Jesus shared with his disciples where he asked them to ‘do this in remembrance of me’. It is, for Christians, proof of the resurrection – that Jesus lives on in the bread (Jesus’ body) and wine (Jesus’ blood). Salvador Dali shows the Christian belief that Jesus is present whenever they gather to share the bread and wine.

Ways of using the picture

How do families (and schools) remember special events and special people?
Sharing a meal is an important social event. What do the pupils think Christians take from the sharing of bread and wind in memory of Jesus?
With the pupils, organize a simulation of the Eucharist (or invite in a friendly minister) and look at the meaning of, and symbolism used in, the ritual.

Bible references

Matthew 26. 26-30, Mark 14.22-26, Luke 22.14-23, 1 Corinthians 11.23-25

Key words

Mystery
Symbolism
Sharing
Eucharist
Holy Communion
Bread and wine
Body and blood
Remembrance
Salvation
Eternal life

Activity

As a class, discuss times of shared celebration and remembrance such as birthdays, anniversaries and festivals. Contrast these happy occasions with those that are associated with feelings of sadness.

Ask the pupils to think about someone very special to them. How do you remember them? What difference does this remembering make to you? Perhaps if a member of your family was going away for a long time, you might decide to have a special family celebration or meal that you will all remember. Talk about the last time Jesus met with his friends the night before he died, and how he asked them to remember him after he had left them. Each time they broke bread and drank wine they were reminded of the Last Supper they had shared together and of Jesus' life, death and resurrection. This is why Easter is the most important festival and the happiest time of the year for Christians.

Use an extract from the book Badger's Parting Gifts by Susan Varley. Read how, although badger was no longer with his friends, he had given each of them a special memory of him. He wanted them to help each other using these gifts.

Discuss the joy and the mystery of the resurrection for the disciples and the Christian belief that Jesus is present with his followers every time they break bread together.

Plan an Easter menu for a special celebratory Christian meal, explaining the symbolism of the food. Remember that the colours of Easter are white and gold (yellow) - the colours of new life. Design a tablecover that reflects the importance of the celebration. Use candles to add to the atmosphere.

Bake some Hot Cross Buns. The ingredients symbolise Jesus' death: currants - nails
spices - bitter tears and sadness
cross - crucifixion

Conversely, the yellow Simnel cake, baked for Easter day, celebrates new life.

Make a loaf of bread to share. (Links could be made with the Key Stage 2 Big Book pages 10 – 11 - All Change Rap) What happens to the loaf in the process? Compare this with the yeast-less (unleavened) bread that Jesus would have eaten at Passover. Find out if it keeps fresher for longer than ordinary bread. Why did Jesus talk about himself as bread?

Share the meal together in a circle time. Choose one child to represent Jesus and break the bread to pass around in a basket. Is this different from eating individual rolls? Bring some red grape juice to represent the wine.

Eucharist is a special celebration 'meal' for the Christian 'family'. Ask a member of the clergy to show the children how s(he) prepares the table for the Eucharist and the special objects used - chalice, paten, candles. The word Eucharist comes from the Greek word eucharisto meaning 'thanksgiving' and during this service, Christians say thank you to God for sending his Son to be their Saviour. The bread and the wine used in the Eucharist help Jesus to come alive for people today and bring Christians closer to God. Some Christians call this service Holy Communion because the word 'communion' means 'joining together'. Is it important for Christians to meet together as a family?

Ask the children to reflect on the concept of 'new starts'. Think about the opportunities for new starts in their own lives and compare this to Eastertime. So just as spring gives rise to feelings of joy and hope as the apparently dead world is reborn, so also out of disappointment, despair and even death can come hope and a fresh start.

Why do people say, 'We live in hope'? Explore with the children some of their wishes for their own future. Make a display of work 'My hope is …'

Learning outcomes

Pupils will;

have celebrated a shared meal;

know the Christian symbols of the Eucharist.

Extension work

Christians believe that death is not the end. Death is seen as a beginning - entering on a new life. They believe Jesus' resurrection and teachings can guide and inform their lives today. Read poetry and prose, such as the Narnia Chronicles which convey a message about Christian beliefs in eternal life.

As a group, record on tape your joint hopes and dreams for the future of the world. Make a class poem out of this wish list.

Web site links

http://ellensplace.net/dali.html
Salvador Dali once described his famous painting as 'an arithmetic and philosophical cosmogony based on the paranoiac sublimity of the number twelve...the pentagon contains microcosmic man: Christ'. Let the painting speak for itself, as you view it at this web site or at http://www.dali-gallery.com/html/dali.htm

http://www.request.org.uk/main/dowhat/dowhat.htm
Find out more about Holy Communion at this site. There is information on how the communion service is celebrated in an Anglican church, Roman Catholic and non-conformist churches.

http://www.narnia.com/
The Narnia Chronicles, mentioned in the extension work section above, are the main focus of this web site. The children can discover more about C.S. Lewis and the creation of the world of Narnia, take a tour of Narnia, or find out more about the creatures that inhabit the world.

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