JESUS AS THE LAMB, THE DOOR AND GOOD SHEPHERD

Subject: Christian Religious Studies (CRS)

Topic : Simple Greetings

Class: Senior Secondary School 1 (SS 1)

Term: First Term

Week: Week 1

Instructional Materials:

  • The Holy Bible

 

Reference Materials

  • Scheme of Work
  • Online Information
  • Textbooks
  • Workbooks
  • 9 Year Basic Education Curriculum

Previous Knowledge:

The pupils have previous knowledge of

JSS 3 FIRST TERM LESSON NOTE CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS STUDIES (CRS)

 

Behavioural Objectives :  By the end of the lesson, the learners will be able to

  • point out Jesus as the lamb of God
  • say the characteristics and features of a lamb
  • identify Jesus as the good shepherd and the door
  • say the qualities of a good door
  • say the difference between a good shepherd and hireling
  • write out the functions of a door

 

Content :

 

WEEK 1

TOPIC: JESUS AS THE LAMB, THE DOOR AND GOOD SHEPHERD

CONTENTS:

1. THE LAMB JOHN 1:29-34

2. THE DOOR

 

SUB TOPIC 1: JESUS AS THE LAMB

 

As John the Baptist baptized people in River Jordan, he made them understand that there was someone coming that is greater than him. The day Jesus came to him to be baptized, he declared Jesus as the Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world. John the Baptist saw Jesus again the next day as he was ministering to people about Christ and declared again publicly that Jesus is the Lamb of God.

John then said:

 

This is he of whom I said,“After me comes a man who ranks before me.” I myself did not know him; but for this I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel…” John 1:30-34.

The title “Lamb of God” is given to Jesus Christ in the Bible because He is the perfect, sinless sacrifice for the sins of mankind. In ancient times, people sacrificed lambs as an offering for their sins, but those lambs were never really able to take away sins. They were only a temporary covering. Only the blood of Christ, shed on the cross, can provide everlasting forgiveness.

SIGNIFICANCE OF JESUS AS THE LAMB:

1.     By describing Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, Jesus had replaced the Jewish yearly sacrificial Lamb and had become the once and for all atoning Lamb.

2.     Like a sacrificial lamb, Jesus laid down his life for the sins of the world.

3.       He suffered and died innocently for sinners to be cleansed and saved.

4.      Jesus did it willingly and in accordance with the will of God. He was eventually glorified and exalted by God.

5.     With Jesus as the Lamb of God, there is no need for us to recognize another sacrifice for our sins. His sacrifice is sufficient for all time.

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, thank you for being the Lamb of God who takes away my sins. I believe that your blood was shed for me on the cross and that it is sufficient to cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I receive your forgiveness and life today. Amen.

EVALUATION:

1.     Explain the testimony of John the Baptist concerning Jesus.

2.     How does the description of Jesus as the lamb significant to Christians?

3. What does the lamb of God symbolize?

4. In what ways is Jesus our sacrificial lamb?

5. What is the significance of Jesus being a willing sacrificial lamb?

SUB TOPIC 2:

i) JESUS AS THE DOOR

In the book of John, Jesus is also referred to as “the door”. A door is something that provides entrance into a building or room. The Bible describes Jesus as the door in various places. In John 10:7,9, Jesus said: “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep… I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.”

In this instance, Jesus was saying that He is the only way to enter into a personal relationship with God. Just as a door provides entrance into a room, Jesus provides entrance into eternal life. In John 14:6, Jesus said “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

This passage is often misused by people who think that it means that Jesus is the only way to heaven and that everyone else is going to hell. But this is not what Jesus is saying. He is saying that He is the only way to know God intimately. He is the only way to have a personal relationship with God.

There are many ways that people can come to know about Jesus Christ, but there is only one way to really know Him. And that is through a personal relationship with Him. Jesus said in John 15:5 “I am the vine,

Jesus explained that to genuinely enter the sheep-fold(the community of God’s people) one must pass through the door and not through any other way. He stated that whosoever does otherwise is a thief or robber and is also regarded as a false prophet. If anyone enters through

 

 

Jesus, he will be saved.

 

God, the gatekeeper of the sheepfold, had made Jesus the only door through whom God opens the gate and allows entrance into the sheepfold, He calls His sheep by name and leads them to pasture.

ii) GOOD SHEPHERD

 

Jesus explains the mutual relationship that exists between Him and His sheep by stating that He is the Good shepherd. The Good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep’. A hireling is not a good Shepherd because when he sees a wolf he escapes and the wolf snatches, kills and destroys the sheep. Condemning the selfish nature of false shepherds, Jesus said they had come to:

1.     Steal

2.     Kill and

3.     Destroy

The Good shepherd, on the other hand, comes in order that:

1. The sheep may have life, and

2. Have it abundantly (John 10:10).

A good Shepherd is one who takes care of His sheep and protects them from harm. He does not neglect them or abandon them. A good shepherd knows his sheep by name and leads them to pasture.

PRAYER: Jesus, thank you for being the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for me. I repent of all the times I have followed false shepherds who have led me astray. I receive Your forgiveness and life today. Amen.

 

He (Jesus) has come to give abundant life to the sheep.

QUALITIES OF A GOOD SHEPHERD

1.     The fear of God and willingness to obey Him.

2.     Honesty.

3.     Love and concern for the Sheep.

4.     A good and sincere sense of direction

5.     Ability to take wise decisions.

6.     Self-sacrifice.

7.     Ability to relate intimately with his sheep.

8. Courage and fearlessness in the face of danger.

9. Diligence and hard work in taking care of the sheep.

10. Humility.”

 

EVALUATION:

 

1.       Explain Christ as the door and good shepherd.

2.     State the mission of false shepherds.

3. Mention the qualities of a good shepherd.

4. What did Jesus come to give His sheep?

5. How can you tell a false shepherd?

1. Christ is the door and good shepherd because He provides entrance into eternal life and leads His sheep to pasture

2. The mission of false shepherds is to steal, kill, and destroy the sheep

3. Qualities of a good shepherd include: having the fear of God, being honest, having love and concern for the sheep, having a good and sincere sense of direction, being self-sacrificial, being able to relate intimately with the sheep, being courageous and fearless in the face of danger, and being diligent and hardworking in taking care of the sheep

4. Jesus came to give His sheep abundant life

5. You can tell a false shepherd by their selfish nature and their lack of concern for the sheep

 

SIGNIFICANCE:

 

1.     By saying He is the door; Jesus means He is the only means to salvation. No one can get to God except through Him.

2.     As one that lays down His life for the sheep shows that He loves us that He agreed to die so that we might live.

3.     As the giver of abundant life implies that he who believes in Him, even if he dies, he shall live again eternally.

4.     Jesus as the door provides protection and security for all who believe in Him. No one can pluck them from His hand.

5. The parable also teaches us to be discerning in following spiritual leaders. We should not follow anyone who is not called of God and is not leading us to Jesus.

6. The qualities of a good shepherd are also the qualities we should look for when choosing spiritual leaders. They should have a good relationship with God, be honest, have our best interests at heart, be hardworking, and be humble.

7. Finally, the parable reminds us that Jesus is the Good Shepherd who is always looking out for us and His desire is to give us abundant life.

 

GENERAL EVALUATION:

 

1. Explain Jesus as the lamb

2. Describe the activities of false shepherds.

3. State your understanding of Christ as the Door and Good shepherd.

4. Mention two significances of Christ as the lamb to Christians.

5. Mention the qualities of a good shepherd.

1. Jesus as the lamb refers to His role as the ultimate sacrificial victim who takes away the sins of the world

2. The activities of false shepherds include: stealing, killing, and destroying the sheep

3. Christ as the Door and Good shepherd provides entrance into eternal life and leads His sheep to pasture

4. The significances of Christ as the lamb to Christians include: showing that Jesus loves us and providing protection and security for all who believe in Him

5. Qualities of a good shepherd include: having the fear of God, being honest, having love and concern for the sheep, having a good and sincere sense of direction, being self-sacrificial, being able to relate intimately with the sheep, being courageous and fearless in the face of danger, and being diligent and hardworking in taking care of the sheep.

 

WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT

 

1.     John the Baptist spoke of Jesus as the…………. Who takes away the sins of the world.

A. Son of God.B. Good Shepherd. C. Lamb of God. D. Messiah.E. king

2.     Jesus speaking about himself as “the door” means.

A. he is the only gateway to God. B. on the last day, he will stand on the door of heaven.

C. that the door of the temple was under His control. D. he opens to whoever he wishes.

E. all of the above.

3.     All except one is not a quality of falseshepherds’ .A. selfishness. B. dishonest .C. lack of fear of God. D. selfless .E. disobedience

4. What can you say about Jesus as the Good shepherd?

A. provides food and clothing for His sheep. B. gives them abundant life.

C. leads them to pasture . D. all of the above E. none of the above

5. The primary objective of a shepherd is _____________.

A. to provide food and shelter for the sheep B. to lead them to pasture

C. to protect them from predators D. all of the above E. none of the above

1. C

2. A

3. D

4. D

5. D

ESSAY QUESTIONS:

 

1.     Explain the testimony of John the Baptist concerning Jesus.

2. What do you understand by “Jesus as the Door”?

3. What are the qualities of a good shepherd?

4. How is Jesus both the lamb and the shepherd?

5. What makes Jesus the Good shepherd?

1. The testimony of John the Baptist concerning Jesus is that He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world

2. “Jesus as the Door” means that He is the only way to salvation and eternal life

3. Qualities of a good shepherd include: having the fear of God, being honest, having love and concern for the sheep, having a good and sincere sense of direction, being self-sacrificial, being able to relate intimately with the sheep, being courageous and fearless in the face of danger, and being diligent and hardworking in taking care of the sheep

4. Jesus is both the lamb and the shepherd because He is the ultimate sacrificial victim who takes away the sins of the world and He is also the Good Shepherd who provides for, protects, and leads His sheep

5. What makes Jesus the Good shepherd is His love for us and His desire to give us abundant life.

  1. State the mission of false shepherds.

The mission of false shepherds is to steal, kill, and destroy the sheep. They are selfish and dishonest and lack the fear of God. They are also disobedient and will not hesitate to put their own interests above those of the sheep.

 

WEEKEND ACTIVITY:

 

1. State ways, one can walk in the light.

 

2. List two consequences of walking in the darkness.

 

3. Mention one vice as evidence of walking in darkness.

 

4. Explain Jesus as the vine.

1. Ways one can walk in the light include: reading and studying the Bible, praying, attending church, fellowship with other Christians, and living a life that is pleasing to God

2. Consequences of walking in darkness include: separation from God, spiritual blindness, and being led astray by false teachers

3. A vice that is evidence of walking in darkness is unforgiveness

4. Jesus as the vine means that He is the source of our strength and sustenance and without Him we can do nothing.

 

 

 

 

 

Presentation

The topic is presented step by step

 

Step 1:

The subject teacher revises the previous topics

 

Step 2.

He introduces the new topic

 

Step 3:

The subject teacher allows the pupils to give their own examples and he corrects them when the need arises.

 

 

 

Conclusion :

 

The subject teacher wraps up or concludes the lesson by giving out a short note to summarize the topic that he or she has just taught.

The class teacher also goes round to make sure that the notes are well copied or well written by the pupils.

He or she makes the necessary corrections when and where the needs arise.