VERSES: Matthew 17:1-9
MEMORY VERSE: Matthew 17:5 "...This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: hear ye him."
BOOK TO REMEMBER: Genesis. Write the name of this first book of the Old Testament, Genesis, on small slips of paper, so the students may memorize this book at home.
PRAYER: Pray that we will read the Bible every night and remember the things that we read, holding its words dear to our hearts.
SPECIAL SONG: Read, Read Every Day (see February 2014 - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #1. Click on orange circle to hear tune.)
VISUAL AID: Large Activity (see below)
LESSON POINTS:
- Jesus took three of His disciples, Peter, James, and John up into a high mountain and was transfigured before them. His face shone just like the sun and His clothes were as white as the light. Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared to them and they were talking to Jesus.
- Peter, not knowing what to say (Mark 9:6), said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to here. If You want, let us make three tabernacles or tents right here; one for you, one for Moses, and one fore Elijah." While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud suddenly overshadowed them. Then they heard a voice coming out of the cloud that said, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: hear ye him."
- When the disciples heard the voice, they were afraid and fell on their faces, but Jesus came and touched them and said, "Get up and do not be afraid." When the disciples looked up, they did not see anyone, but Jesus.
- What did the transfiguration mean? This was God's way of saying that the Jews were to listen to Christ now instead the Law (Moses) and the Prophets (Elijah). As they came down the mountain, Jesus told Peter, James and John not to tell anyone about what they had just seen until Jesus had risen from the dead.
- To transfigure means to transform into something more beautiful or elevated.
- Two times God said he was pleased with His Son: at Jesus' baptism and at His transfiguration.
- Read Hebrews 1:1, 2. God used to talk directly to men like Moses and Elijah and then they would talk to the people, but now, God talks to us through His Son. We find Jesus' words today in the Bible.
Materials needed: 9" x 12" light blue construction paper, 8" x 12" dark brown construction paper, 4" x 4" white paper, 6" x 12" tan paper, 2" x 3" white paper, glue, crayons, scissors, marker.
- Hand out light blue paper.
- Hand out dark brown paper.
- Tear dark brown paper into a large triangle. This is the mountain.
- Glue mountain to bottom of light blue paper.
- Hand out 4" x 4" white paper.
- Cut large cloud out of white paper.
- Glue cloud to top of mountain.
- Draw, cut and color Elijah.
- Draw, cut and color Moses.
- Draw, cut, and color Jesus out of the small white paper. Color Jesus' face yellow, leaving His clothes white.
- Draw, cut, and color Peter, James, and John.
- Glue Jesus in the middle under the cloud.
- Glue Moses and Elijah on either side of Jesus.
- Glue Peter, James, and John at the bottom of the picture with their faces to the ground.
- Write "The Transfiguration of Christ" and "Matthew 17:1-9" at the top of the blue paper.
- Write "Voice out of the cloud: 'This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: hear ye him." in the middle of the cloud.
- Write "Bright cloud overshadowed them" and draw an arrow to the cloud.
- Write "High Mountain" and draw an arrow to the mountain.
- Write "Fearful Disciples fell on their faces" and draw arrows to the disciples.
- Write "Jesus' clothes were white as the light." and draw an arrow to His clothes.
- Write "Jesus' face shone as the sun" and draw an arrow to Jesus' face.
- Write "Elijah" on Elijah, "Moses" on Moses, and "Jesus" on Jesus.
- Write "Peter", "James" and "John" on the disciples.