The Soldier's Visit

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The Soldier's Visit

The Crucifixion

Matthew 27:11–55

About this Video:

Jesus was condemned to die by crucifixion and the event drew large crowds of people who came to witness the execution. Many were happy to see Jesus punished, while others wept and disagreed with the way Jesus was being treated.

At one point during the crucifixion, the guards stripped Jesus of his robe and began to draw lots to see who could walk away with the so-called prophet’s only possession. The guard who won eventually realized that Jesus was innocent and felt remorse after his death.

Years later, the guard sought out Jesus' earthly mother and gave her the robe which he had won that day. He explained he was an eyewitness to the crucifixion and explained how Jesus had changed his life that day.

Questions to Consider:

How do you think the Roman soldiers who witnessed the darkness, earthquake, rocks splitting and the death of Jesus felt after these events?

What do you think happened to the soldiers who said, “Surely he was the Son of God?”

Do you think any of the Roman soldiers became believers in Jesus because of what they saw?

What do you think the Roman soldiers thought three days later when it was reported that Jesus raised up from the dead?

Background to the story:

This story basically follows Matthew 27:11-55. No additional points were included from parallel stories in Mark 15:1-41; Luke 22:54-23:49; and John 18:28-19:37.

Because of the short length of this book, many important events during the death of Jesus were left out of this story.

Though this story deals with a horrible act of cruelty and punishment, the death of Jesus is central to Christianity and therefore gently dealt with here to introduce the basic truth from the view of the Roman soldiers who guarded him.

Reference - Matthew 27:11-55

The History Lesson

Luke 2:8–20

About this video: The birth of the Jesus began with a series of miraculous events which ended with his arrival in a humble animal stable. His earthly parents, Mary and Joseph, were simply following God’s direction and made the journey by donkey to the town of Bethlehem where the baby was born. Then, in the days that followed, angels appeared and announced the birth to shepherds in nearby fields, who then sought the newborn Messiah foretold by their forefather years ago. Based on the story found in Luke 2, this video shows how the shepherds’ lives were changed that night as they became eyewitnesses to the birth of the Messiah. Questions to consider: How do you think the shepherds felt when the angel first appeared to them? Why do you think God chose the shepherds to announce the birth of his Son in Bethlehem? Why not tell the religious leaders? How would Joseph and Mary feel having a group of shepherds knocking on the door wanting to see the baby Jesus and telling them about the angel’s visit? Do you think any of the shepherds became followers of Jesus as he grew up? Background to the story: This story of the shepherds is recorded only in the book of Luke (2:8-20). Luke records three angelic visits preparing the world for the birth of Jesus. The angels visited Zechariah (John the Baptist’s father), Mary, and the shepherds. Luke often includes stories and reactions of common people who meet Jesus and hear his teachings. Reference - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke+2%3a8-20&version=niv

Helping the Outcast

Mark 1:39–45

About this video: Jesus had a reputation of healing the sick and helping the lame to walk. So when a man with leprosy approached him for help, He responded to the man’s belief that he could help heal his diseased body. Jesus responded by completely healing the man as the crowds watched. Many people were amazed as they witnessed the healing miracle. Jesus then told the man to go show his clean body to the priests and temple leaders so that they would know that Jesus has the power of God. Going away, the man could hardly contain his joy and ran to show his family and friends that he was healed. No longer would he need to live separated from his family and friends. Questions to consider: How do you think the man’s family and friends felt when they saw he had been cleansed and was able to return to his home? Do you think his family and friends came to believe in Jesus because of his healing? How do you think the man acted toward his friends in the lepers’ camp after his healing? If you had a sick person and Jesus was nearby, would you take them to Jesus and ask for healing? Background to the story: This story follows Mark 1:39-45. Parallel stories for this book are found in Matthew 8:1-4 and Luke 5:12-16. (Matthew’s version follows Jesus' Sermon on the Mount.) Jesus breaks traditional cleanliness by touching the leprous man. It is a mark of Jesus' great compassion for him and his condition and Jesus' power over leprosy. Reference - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mark+1%3a39-45&version=niv

The Bedmaker

Mark 2:1–12

About this Video: A man, lame from birth, hears that the miracle worker named Jesus is teaching in his village and calls his friends to help him go to see him. Not discouraged by the large crowds, the friends lower the man through the roof to be near Jesus, who recognizes the lame man’s faith and heals his body and soul. Most of the focus of this story is on Jesus' miraculous power in healing the lame man and the source of his authority to forgive sins. But the other part of this story is how this miracle changed the lame man long after Jesus left. What happened to him and what kind of work did he begin to do once he could walk and move about? Questions to Consider: What did the people in the crowded room think when the men on the roof began to open a hole to let someone enter from above? What do you think the lame man said to Jesus after being healed? Now that he could walk and move, what do you think the people said about Jesus after witnessing this healing? Background to the Story: It is easy to say, “Your sins are forgiven,” but proving that would be hard. On the other hand, saying, “Get up, take your mat and walk” is much easier to prove his power. Isa knew and understood that doubters would benefit from witnessing both. When the teachers of the law question his healing of the lame man, they were ultimately asking him to also prove he had the authority and power to forgive sins. Reference - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mark+2%3a1-12&version=niv