Lesson 13

JESUS’ LAST DAYS

Objective: The last days of Jesus’s life involved the Atonement.  The last week shows what Jesus did in preparing his disciples and himself for this event.

Lesson ideas:

* Bible dictionary has an excellent description of the Atonement: “Jesus Christ, as the Only Begotten Son of God and the only sinless person to live on this earth, was the only one capable of making the atonement for mankind.”

* Jesus loves and cares for all of us. The soul shall be restored to body and the body to the soul every limb and joint shall be restored to its body, yea even a hair of the head shall not be lost; but all things shall be restored to their proper perfect frame. (Alma 40: 23)

The events of the last days of Jesus’ life:

* Palm Sunday:  (Matthew 21: 1-11)

* Mary anointed Christ’s head and feet: (John 12: 3)

* Cursed barren fig tree: (Matthew 21: 18, 19)

* Jesus cleanses the temple:  (Matthew 21: 12-16)

* Heals sick, children cry hosanna to the son of David:  (Matthew 21: 14-16)

* Parables, one was the ten virgins: (Matthew 25: 1-13)

* Widows mite: (Mark 12: 41-44)

* Arranged Passover meal:  (Luke 22: 10-13)

* Ate bread and blessed it:  (Matthew 26: 26-29)

* Jesus washed feet: (John 13: 1-20)

* Agony in Gethsemane:  (Matthew 26: 36-46)

* Judas betrayal:  (Matthew 26: 47-50)

* Jesus questioned by Annas:  (John 18: 19-24)

* Peter denies Christ:  (Luke 22:57)

* Formal trial:  (Matthew 27: 1, 2)

* Judas dies:  (Matthew 27:3-10)

* Soldiers divide his clothing:  (Matthew 27: 35. 36)

* Over cross “King of the Jews”:  (Matthew 27: 37)

* Words Jesus said on cross, “Father forgive them know not what they do”:  (Luke 23: 34)

* Jesus dies:  (Matthew 27:50)

* Darkness comes: (Luke 23: 44)

* Pierced Jesus’s side: (John 19: 34)

* Burial:  (Matthew 27: 57-61)

* Guards placed at tomb:  (Matthew 27:62-66)

* Tomb opened:  (Matthew 28:2-4)

* Mary Magdalene and other woman come to tomb:  (Matthew 28: 1, 5-7)

* Mary tells Peter:  (Luke 24: 9-11)

* Savior appears to Mary:   (Mark 16:9)

* Two disciples see Savior on the road to Emmaus:  (Luke 24: 13-19)

* Appears to apostles:  (Mark 16: 14)

* Doubting Thomas:  (John 20: 24-29)

* Peter feed my sheep:  (John 21: 15-19)

* In Jerusalem Jesus appears to 500:  (1 Corinthians 15: 6)

* Jesus also comes to the America’s: (3 Nephi 9:15) He also performs miracles there:  (3 Nephi 17:7)

* John’s testimony, “Jesus is the Christ the Son of God: and that believing ye might have life through his name. (John 20:31)

* The resurrection is the Good News of the Gospel

* Great destruction took place in the Americas at his death. (3 Nephi 8: 5-11)

Scriptures:

Bible

John 10:15 I lay down my life for the sheep

John 17:4 I have finished the work which thou

John 11:25 I am the resurrection and the life

LDS Scriptures

3 Nephi 11: 3-11 Father testifies of Son

3 Nephi 9: 1-14 Cities destroyed

3 Nephi 9 15-22 I am Jesus Christ

* Bring out a glove: Put on the glove, this could represent Christ while on the earth.  He died for us as part of the atonement.  Take off the glove and see it motionless.  Then put the glove back on.  This shows that Christ was resurrected which made it possible for us to be resurrected also.

* Play a forgiveness game: Pretend you broke a toy bat.  Tell the person you broke it and say you’re sorry and will try a fix it or replace it.  Have the person whose toy was broken say, “I know you didn’t mean to break it, “I forgive you.” (We hope to change our hearts to be more like Christ)

* Take the time to thank Jesus for the sacrifice he made for us, either in prayer, actions, or testimony.

* Easter stickers can be used for an activity.

* Obtain a box big enough to get into and pretend you have died then get out of the box giving thanks to Jesus Christ that you are alive.

* Easter Egg Activity: with twelve plastic Easter Eggs with items about Christ (Author of that activity unknown)

Easter Egg Activity:  Get 12 plastic eggs and label them 1 – 12.  Put the following in one of each egg and then pass out the eggs and have the person with number one start. You can have pieces of paper with the words on it to read or read directly from the scriptures.

1.  Sacrament Cup:  And He went a little further… (Matthew 26:39)

2.  Three dimes:   Then one of the twelve…. (Matthew 26: 14-15) Thus fulfilling the prophecy in (Zechariah 11:12-14) that Jesus would be sold for thirty pieces of silver.

3.  Knotted twine:  When the morning…. (Matthew 27:1-2)

4.  Piece of Hand Soap:  When Pilate saw…    (Matthew 27:24-26)

5.  Piece of Red Velvet:  And they stripped Him … (Matthew 27:28-30)

6.  Small Nail: And after that they had mocked Him… (Matthew 27: 31, 32)

7.  Pair of dice: And they crucified Him, and parted His garments… (Matthew 27: 35-36)

8.  Pieces of rocks: Jesus, when He had cried … (Matthew 27:50-51, 54)

9.  Piece of white linen cloth: He went to Pilate …. Matthew 27:58-60

10.  Stone:  And laid it … Matthew 27: 60, 65-66

11.  Bay Leaf, Cloves, or Allspice:  And when the Sabbath was past…  (Mark 16:1)

12.  Empty – “He is not her, for He is risen … (Matthew 28: 6)

Songs:

Hymns

# 200 Christ the Lord Is Risen Today

# 199 He Is Risen

# 194 There Is a Green Hill Far Away

# 190 In Memory of the Crucified

Children’s Songbook

# 68 Easter Hosanna

# 70 Jesus Has Risen

# 65 He Died That We Might Live Again

# 64 Did Jesus Really Live Again?

Treats:

Any Easter treat or little loafs of bread or fish shaped candies or crackers.

Additional Easter help.  A book called “A Christ-Centered Easter” by Janet and Joe Hales gives a week of activities to center our thoughts on the Savior, His last supper, His trial, His crucifixion, and His resurrection.