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Lesson Series

10. The Life of Paul

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©2007 David A. Jones.
All rights reserved.

OBJECTIVES:  To show
1. That in the midst of all the opposition to Jesus, there were those who loved Him and wanted to honour Him.
2. When cleansing has taken place, the past history of an unclean life is not a hindrance to serving the Lord.
3. When someone gives testimony of love and appreciation for the Lord Jesus, there are always those who criticize, and other who are in agreement.
4. The Lord Jesus recognizes publicly the worship given Him, worship which affected all those present.

SCENE No. 1.  In Bethany, in the house of Mary and Martha.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE LESSON:
- This section is based on Luke 10:38 – 42.
- During His earthly life, Jesus was shown hospitality from time to time in the homes of people who loved and appreciated Him greatly.
- On this occasion He was received in the house of a woman named Martha, sister of Mary and Lazarus.
- Mary, seated at Jesus’ feet, heard His word.
- As a result, she learned that the Lord was about to die, but that after three days, He would rise from the dead.
- No doubt she meditated a great deal on Jesus’ teachings.
- Martha was a very active person.  She concerned herself totally with duties related to housekeeping.
- Wishing to serve her very special guest in the best possible way, she went back and forth, very busy with the preparation of the food she planned to serve them.
- She was also annoyed that her sister Mary was not helping her, and spoke to the Lord when  she could restrain her annoyance no longer.
- Drawing near to where the Lord was, Martha asks Jesus if He didn’t care that her sister had left her to serve alone, wanting Jesus to send Mary to help her.
- The answer Jesus gives her stresses the importance of learning from Him.
- Jesus lovingly reproves Martha because her concern for the meal had made her excessively upset and troubled about many things.
Apl. Discuss with the students how annoyance can affect one’s thinking and cause inappropriate action.
- Jesus goes on to use the situation to teach something to all those who are present: that only one thing is needful.
- Jesus calls this the “good part” or portion.  GOOD refers to something useful, excellent, healthy.
- He emphasizes that Mary had chosen that good portion and it would not be taken away from her.
Cmt. Mary received teaching from the Lord that revealed to her events surrounding the crucifixion soon to take place.
Cns. Later on, she would use that knowledge to carry out a GOOD WORK on the Lord’s body. Mark 14:6
- Martha offered the Lord her careful service, but there was something He wanted more than that.  A simple meal would have been just as acceptable to Him.
Apl. Some exert themselves to have good works to offer God, hoping thus to obtain salvation.  The Lord is looking for hearts submissive to His word.
- Without a doubt, Martha humbly accepted the rebuke of the Lord Jesus, for on a future occasion, we find her serving without complaint.  John 12:2.
Apl. This experience taught Martha to serve in an acceptable way.
Cns. How do we act when we are doing something alone and feel that others ought to be helping us?
- Mary learned that the Lord Jesus would die, be buried but would not remain long in the tomb.
- Based on this knowledge,  she made preparations to do a service for Him that no one else did.  “Against the day of my burying hath she kept this” (John 12:7) in order to anoint Him for His burial.
Cns.  Mary was not among the women that went to the tomb the first day of the week, when the Lord had already risen from the dead.

SCENE No. 2. Again in Bethany, but  in Simon the leper’s house
DEVELOPMENT OF THE LESSON:
- This section is based on Matt. 26:6-13, Mark 14:1-9, John 12:1-11,
- What was said and done during this visit to Bethany is of great importance, because within six days, the Lord would be put to death.
-  In His visits to different homes and places, those who received Him always benefited from His grace and from His teachings.
Apl. Ask the children, What changes would there be in your house if Jesus came to visit or to live there?
Apl. Ask not only about possible changes in their homes, but also in their lives.
Note:  The following examples are designed to show changes that occur when people come in contact with the Saviour.  Visuals could show some of the people “visited” by the Lord Jesus during His life on earth, where He left marks of  His blessing behind.
(1) The Samaritan woman received salvation and through her, others were brought to Christ.   Many were saved and their lives transformed.
(2) When the paralyzed man of John 5 met Jesus, he was made able to walk despite his many years of paralysis.  During the remainder of His life, he would be a living testimony to the Lord’s power.
(3) The burdened hearts of the couple who were traveling to Emmaus were cheered when Jesus revealed Himself to them in their home.  (Luke 24:13-33).
(4) Lazarus experienced an outstanding miracle in his life (John 11) and his sisters loved Jesus dearly because of the love He had shown them and also because He was their Messiah.
(5) Simon himself, in whose house Jesus was being shown hospitality, had previously been a leper, but now he was able to be with others.
(6) Jesus received the children whose mothers brought them to Him for blessing. Mark 10:13-14.
Sug. Encourage the children to think about how they would have felt had Jesus taken them up in His arms.

SCENE No. 3. In Simon’s house.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE LESSON:
- Simon invite a group of people to have a meal in his house on this occasion.
- Jesus showed that He was willing to go wherever they invited Him. It gave Him the opportunity to be with people in order to teach them about the Way of Life.
Apl. God always seeks the fellowship of those He created.
- This time, the Lord is seen eating in the house of one who was known as “Simon the leper”, showing that he had been healed, as otherwise no one would have been able to eat with him
- During these visits the Lord Jesus taught and this provided an opportunity for people to show their real feelings towards Him.
- Among those present at the table are the disciples and Lazarus, recently raised from the dead after four days in the tomb.
Cns. What would the guests be talking about?  Would they speak of Lazarus and his resurrection?  about other miracles carried out by Jesus?  about His teachings?
Cns. Would they talk about the future?  about the religious fervor, on account of the Passover feast being about to begin? Would Jesus mention His death, soon to occur?
Sug. If the children had Christ nearby, what questions would they ask Him? What would they want to talk to Him about?
Note. If the teacher asks him/herself questions such as these during the personal preparation time, it will not be difficult to relate to the children during this part of the lesson.
- Martha is once again occupied in activities having to do with the kitchen and serving, things she well knows how to do.
- Mary stands out because of her unique action. She anoints the Lord with a precious ointment that she did not use at the time her brother Lazarus was buried.  She had   kept it especially for Jesus.
Apl. Mary loved Jesus even more than she loved her own brother.
Cns. Mary knew that the period of time between the death of Jesus and His resurrection was going to be very brief.
- This knowledge was the  “good part” that she had learned at the feet of Jesus.  Luke 10:42. It led her to anoint the Lord BEFORE he died.
- There was both appreciation and scorn shown to Mary for what she did.
- Judas Iscariot’s true condition is revealed in his comments.
- Some of the disciples were influenced by Judas (see Matt. 26:8 and Mark 14:4)
Apl. It is important that the children be careful when in the company of others, not to be influenced by those that give a bad example, but rather, imitate only that which is good.
- All who are present smell the odour of the ointment.
Apl. When someone serves or worships God, others become aware of it although they react in different ways, depending on the state of heart of the person.
- The Lord defended Mary.  Mark 14:6, “Let her alone.  Why trouble ye her? She hath wrought a good work on Me.”  Vs. 8  “She hath done what she could.”
Apl. It is encouraging to think that the Lord knows how to evaluate actions of worship shown to Him and defends His own before those who criticize.
Lsn. Their criticism found no place in the Lord’s heart.  This can be applied to the common practise of criticizing others for what they are doing in the Lord’s name.   It is comforting to know the Lord appreciates it.

SCENE No. 4. Summary
DEVELOPMENT OF THE LESSON:
Note: The visuals of this scene could show different attitudes that people adopted towards the Lord Jesus.
- Judas deceived everybody except the Lord who knew his real thoughts
- Others loved to serve Him, as did Martha in her work and Mary in her worship.
- Mary’s appreciation of the Lord Jesus is seen in her generosity.
- In Mary we a reflection of God’s heart:  “God so loved that HE GAVE.” “We love Him because He first loved us.”  “God loveth a cheerful giver.”
- The anger such as that shown by some of the others was displeasing to the Lord and it is sin.
Thus:
- Some appreciate the Lord,
- Others have no interest in Him.
- Some are eager to serve Him.