Lesson Overview:
This lesson explores the events and themes presented in the Urantia Book, Section 177:3.1-8, focusing on the day spent at the camp on Mount Olivet by the apostles and disciples, their feelings towards Yeshua’s absence, and the unfolding plans against Yeshua by the chief priests and elders in Jerusalem.
Objectives:
- Understand the emotional state of the apostles and disciples during Yeshua’s absence.
- Analyse the speech by Nathaniel on “Supreme Desire”.
- Discuss the actions and motivations of David Zebedee regarding Yeshua’s safety.
- Examine the interaction between Yeshua and the Greeks.
- Understand the context of the chief priests’ and elders’ plans in Jerusalem.
Materials:
- Urantia Book, Section 177:3.1-8
- Whiteboard and markers
- Printed handouts of the text
- Notebooks and pens for students
Lesson Activities:
1. Introduction (10 minutes)
- Brief Overview: Provide a short introduction to the Urantia Book and its significance.
- Context: Explain the setting of this section – the time leading up to Yeshua’s crucifixion.
2. Reading the Text (15 minutes)
- Group Reading: Divide the students into small groups and assign each group a passage from 177:3.1 to 177:3.8 to read aloud.
- Discussion: After reading, ask each group to summarise their passage and share their initial thoughts.
3. Emotional State of the Apostles and Disciples (10 minutes)
- Discussion: Focus on 177:3.1 and 177:3.2. Discuss the apostles’ feelings of loneliness and anxiety without Yeshua, and their internal debate about his safety.
- Reflection: Encourage students to reflect on how they cope with the absence of a leader or mentor in their own lives.
4. Nathaniel’s Speech on “Supreme Desire” (15 minutes)
- Analysis: Read Nathaniel’s speech in 177:3.2. Discuss what Nathaniel means by “Supreme Desire” and being “half-hearted”.
- Activity: Have students write a brief paragraph on what “Supreme Desire” means to them personally.
5. David Zebedee’s Actions (15 minutes)
- Examination: Look at 177:3.3 and 177:3.4. Discuss David Zebedee’s foresight and actions regarding Yeshua’s safety.
- Debate: Was David right to act on his own initiative? Should he have informed others?
6. Interaction with the Greeks (10 minutes)
- Discussion: Focus on 177:3.5 and 177:3.6. Discuss the significance of Yeshua meeting with the Greeks and the potential ordination.
- Contextual Understanding: Why would ordaining the Greeks have disturbed the apostles and disciples?
7. Plans Against Yeshua in Jerusalem (10 minutes)
- Context: Analyse 177:3.7 and 177:3.8. Discuss why the chief priests and elders were planning to destroy Yeshua and their confusion over his actions.
- Critical Thinking: Why did Yeshua exhort the crowd to conform to the authority of those “who sit in Moses’ seat”?
8. Conclusion and Reflection (10 minutes)
- Summary: Recap the main points discussed in the lesson.
- Personal Reflection: Encourage students to reflect on the themes of leadership, foresight, and desire in their own lives.
- Q&A: Open the floor for any questions or further discussion points.
Homework:
- Essay: Write a short essay on how the actions and feelings of the apostles and disciples reflect their understanding of Yeshua’s mission and their own roles within it.
- Reading: Assign the next section of the Urantia Book for the next class discussion.
Assessment:
- Participation in group discussions
- Paragraph on “Supreme Desire”
- Final essay submission
By the end of the lesson, students should have a deeper understanding of the complexities of the apostles’ emotions and decisions during Yeshua’s absence, as well as the broader context of the political and religious tension in Jerusalem at the time.