Encounter Christianity: In Words about Jesus lesson plan 4

4. Peter calls Jesus the Messiah (pages 8-9)

Text from the book

'You are the Messiah'.

As Jesus traveled around the countryside, he gathered a group of followers around him. One of his closest friends, Peter, was bold enough to say that Jesus was the Messiah, the saviour who had been promised by God.

How do you think Peter's words about Jesus would change their friendship?

Do you always believe what your friends say about you?

Aims of the book

Pupils will:

explore some of the key sayings of Jesus;
be aware of what friends and enemies said about him;
reflect on the layers of meanings in the words.

Learning objectives

Pupils will:

understand the meaning of the word ‘Messiah’ and its importance;
learn more about Peter, Jesus’ disciple;
consider the importance of titles and names.

Background

This is Peter’s answer to Jesus’ question on pages 2-3. Peter is an impulsive man and will become the leader of the disciples. He will also deny knowing Jesus three times, at Jesus’ trial. Here he states that, in his opinion, Jesus is the Messiah (the Anointed), the promised Saviour. Jesus is not another prophet like John the Baptist. This moment, the first time Jesus is acknowledged as the Messiah, is a key moment in the Gospel and in Jesus’ ministry. The Messiah was the person promised to the Jews by God who would come bringing a time of peace and justice. It would herald the beginning of a new age when all would keep God’s commandments and live in peace and love. Jews are still waiting for the Messiah but Christians believe Jesus was that promised Messiah. There have been many claimants to the position of Messiah in the history of the Jews but none, they believe, has fulfilled the requirements laid down by God.

Peter denied Jesus because he was afraid of what would happen to him yet he is the first person to say he believes Jesus is more than just a prophet, there is something distinctive and unique about him. Peter would go on to lead the disciples after Jesus’ death. Tradition says he went to Rome and became the first Bishop of Rome, the first in a line coming down today to the Pope. Peter, tradition says, died by being crucified upside down because he said he was not worthy to die in the same way as his Lord. His tomb is in St Peter’s in the Vatican.

Ways of using the picture

Think about some occasions when you realize the importance of something, when the penny drops.

List some reasons why Peter recognised Jesus as special.

Once a person has been given a distinctive name, or given a label, do they feel they have to live up to it?

Bible reference: Mark 8.29

Key words

Messiah
Peter
Anointed
Saviour
Impulsive
Belief

Activity

You will need:

A Bible
A CD/tape of the Messiah by Handel
A picture of the Coronation (if possible)
Some fragrant oil
Some symbols off authority that people use, carry or wear.

Read the following Bible passages to the class:

1 Samuel 10.1: Samuel the prophet of God anoints Saul as the first king of

Israel

1 Samuel 16.10-13:David is anointed King by Samuel

Psalm 23: in which is said ‘You have anointed my head with oil and my

cup overflows'.

John 12.1-11 Jesus' feet are anointed by Mary

The Acts of the Apostles 4.24-31 The disciples pray to God describing Jesus as being anointed as the Messiah.

You may need to remind pupils that the monarch is anointed with oil at the Coronation. It is still a sign of kingship, of being Lord over; a people, a land, a world, a creation. Then there are symbols - the mace, the orb (with a cross on the top) carried by the Queen. The mace is kept in Parliament lying between the Conservative and Labour parties- a symbol of power.

These are difficult concepts but pupils do know how we, and they, recognise achievement. What symbols can they think of that show the status of a person? These could include not only royal symbols but symbols certain people wear as part of their job, something that defines status. It might be something they wear, where they are allowed to go, or where they can sit.

Is there some ritual the pupils go through when they join something? Do they feel different? Do they act differently? Can it change their relationship with their friends?

Do the pupils think that their relationship would change if one of their friends became very important? Peter was Jesus’ friend, supportive and impulsive, quick to offer his support. But Peter realised Jesus was more than just a friend. Make a list of things pupils’ value in friendship. Then ask them to make a similar list of things they think their friends value in them.

Play the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah.

Ask the pupils to describe their feelings when hearing the music. Do any of their feelings relate to their word collections? What qualities do they think Peter would have seen in Jesus? They should be able to write about what Peter felt about Jesus. They could write a letter as if they were Peter writing home to his family explaining why he was going to follow this powerful man and would not be coming home for a while.

Learning outcomes

Pupils will have:

reflected on qualities of friendship and leadership;
learned about the meaning of the term ‘Messiah’;
explored the feelings that might have been experienced by Peter.

Extension work

Having listened to the Hallelujah Chorus the pupils could create their own exciting and dramatic music to signal the impressive moment in the life of Jesus and Peter.

Web sites

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09620a.htm

The image on these pages is taken from the illuminated manuscript, the Psalter of Ingeburg. These pages, from the Catholic Encyclopedia, give a very thorough history of illuminated manuscripts.

http://www.providence.edu/dwc/medmanu.htm

An excellent 'portal' to a number of sites featuring illuminated manuscripts, from the Bodleian Manuscripts and Book of Kells, to The Book of Hours.

http://www.hartfordchorale.org/Messiah.htm

Information about Handel's Messiah, to use alongside the recording used in the activity for this lesson plan.

http://www.christiananswers.net/q-eden/edn-r004.html

A site that provides some background information on the title of 'Messiah'.

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