Lazarus
THE RAISING OF LAZARUS
Objectives:
- Students should be able to tell the story of Lazarus in their own words.
- Students should know the names of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus.
Possible Lesson Plan:
- Open with prayer.
- Scripture Reference: John 11. Where was Jesus when Lazarus became sick? Who were the sisters of Lazarus? How was Lazarus by the time Jesus came? What did Jesus do? Why did Jesus cry? What happened to Lazarus after Jesus prayed? Review the story with the icon, identifying Jesus, Lazarus, Peter, and the sister.
- Reporters for the Bethany Times: Pretend that the students in the class are reporters for the Bethany Times. We’ve all seen it done on TV -- a microphone stuck in someone’s face and questions, some reasonable, some silly, asked. Each student interviews a different person in preparation for writing a story on what has to be one of the biggest events in recent history. Some of the interviewees are eyewitnesses; some are being interviewed as to what they think because of their high position. Spend a few minutes rereading John 11 in the eyes of one person – Lazarus, Mary, Martha, unidentified mourning neighbor, Peter, Simon the Zealot, Judas Iscariot, high priest, or Pontius Pilate (governor). Present the quite varied accounts to the entire class as editor. What should the headline read?
- Discussion: Was this the first person Jesus raised from the dead? (No, the son of the widow of Nain and the daughter of Jairus, but both had just died; they had not been dead for 4 days) Why is the 4 days important; why did Lazarus “already smell”? (The 4 days show true corruption, the rottenness inside us all, defeated by Jesus in the tomb, since He alone is without corruption or sin) Who did Jesus say that He was to Martha? (I am the resurrection…) What’s the shortest verse in the Bible? (piece of trivia, “Jesus wept.”) Why did Jesus weep? (because God truly cares, He is the Lover of Mankind)
- Play a learning game: The Big Step. Players line up along one wall. The opposite wall is the finish line. Teacher asks each player a question about today’s lesson in turn. If the player gives the correct answer, he can advance one giant step toward the goal. If not, next player gets a chance with the same question. First player to the opposite wall is the winner.
- Add to your time line as usual.
- Begin your Lenten Journey Calendar, adapted for Orthodoxy from the Catholic Icing website. Print on cardstock for each student and color in or mark off the days already past. Then take home and begin the countdown to Holy Week and Pascha.
- Close with prayer.
