Encounter Christianity: To Change the World lesson plan 11

Lesson eleven - pages 22-23 A death that changed the world

Text from the book

This death changed the world.
Christians believe that Jesus gave new life to the world when he rose from the dead. They remember the death and new life of Jesus when they share bread and wine together.

These two very different paintings will focus a discussion around Christian ideas about transformation and change.

Learning objective

Pupils will recognize Jesus as a prime mover in the process of change.

Bible references

Mark 14.32-40 and Luke 22.14-20

Background

The word ‘Gethsemane’ means ‘wine press’. Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane and one of these pictures substitutes the cross with a wine press. Christians believe that, through the agony of his death, Jesus identifies with human pain and suffering. His willingness to obey God’s will, by dying in this way, is seen by Christians to be the ultimate sacrifice. Christians share in, and are reminded of, Jesus’ sacrifice when they drink wine (Jesus’ blood) and eat bread (Jesus’ body) as they celebrate Holy Communion. This powerful Ethiopian image of Jesus, crucified on a winepress, captures the agony and anguish of the crucifixion. Jesus’ blood is squeezed out, given, Christians believe, for the salvation of others and represented in the wind shared at the Eucharist. Sophie Hacker, in her painting, uses light and colour to show the remembrance of Jesus’ death in the sharing of bread and wine. This is, for Christians, a joyous moment celebrating Jesus’ resurrection and his triumph over death. These juxtaposed images indicate the belief of Christians that in death there is life and in despair there is hope.

Ways of using the pictures

Read the story of Jesus at the Last Supper and in Gethsemane.
Why do the pupils think Jesus asked his followers to remember him when they shared bread and wine?
Look for the Christian symbols used by the artist in the abstract picture. What do the pupils think she is trying to say?

Key words

Resurrection
Light
Sacrifice
Completion
Ebullient
Explosion
Representation
Eucharist
Generosity

Activity

Read the dramatic account of the events of Holy Week (the week before Easter). It is a long story but the following two events are short and throw up lots of opportunity for discussion:

There is the story of Jesus coming into Jerusalem (Matthew 21.1-11) and then Jesus throwing the traders out of the Temple (Matthew 21,12-13).

How do the pupils think Jesus would have felt on these occasions? What emotions must he have experienced? How did the people react? What would they have felt as they watched these two events?

Now read the story of the Last Supper in Matthew 26.20-35. This was the last meal Jesus was to share with the disciples. He asks them to remember him when they break bread and drink wine together. He also says someone will betray him and Peter, his chief disciple, will deny knowing him.

Discuss how hard it must have been for Jesus to say these things. Do pupils ever have to say difficult things to each other, especially to their friends?

What thoughts might have gone through Peter’s mind after he was told he would deny Jesus? He must have felt very bewildered and confused. What do the pupils think was in his mind?

Why would Judas betray Jesus to the authorities in order that Jesus could be killed? What motives can the pupils suggest? After all he had been Jesus’ companion for years, why throw it all away now?

Christians share a meal together because Jesus said ‘Do this in remembrance of me’. What was the special importance of sharing a meal together? Watch the part of the ‘Jesus of Nazareth’ video where Jesus shares the meal with his disciples.

Pupils can share a meal together as a class with the teacher. What feelings and emotions are experienced? Do you learn anything new about the people sitting near you?

Learning outcomes

Pupils will:

have experienced a shared meal together;
be more familiar with the events of the last week of Jesus’ life;
have begun to recognize that the life of Jesus changed the world, certainly for Christians but also for those who aren’t.

Extension work

Write a poem either in the shape of a chalice or with words spilling out of the chalice capturing the experiences of either Jesus’ disciples or Jesus himself during his last week of life.

Web sites

http://www.gospelcom.net/rbc/dod/bvt/jer/garden.html
View an image from the garden of Gethsemane, as well as other photos from the Holy Land. Further photos can be found at http://www.christusrex.org/www1/jvc/TVCgeths1.html

http://www.ewtn.com/gallery/tnt/nt9s.htm
Gustav Dore provides a stark representation of the agony in the garden. Other artists have painted this scene such as:

Andrea Mantegna http://www.kfki.hu/~arthp/html/m/mantegna/1/agony.html

Giovanni Bellini http://www.kfki.hu/~arthp/html/b/bellini/giovanni/1459/018agon.html

El Greco
http://www.kfki.hu/~arthp/art/g/greco_el/1606-10/04agonz.jpg

http://www.culham.info/sg/symposium/hack01.html
Sophie Hacker, the artist of the painting featured on this Encounter Christianity double page spread, writes about religious art, creativity and her intention as an artist.

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