Christian Religious Studies - Junior Secondary 2 - The cleaning of the temple

The cleaning of the temple

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TERM: 3RD TERM

WEEK: 2

CLASS: Junior Secondary School 2

AGE: 13 years

DURATION: 40 minutes

DATE:

SUBJECT: Christian Religious Knowledge

TOPIC: The Cleaning of the temple

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES: At the end of the lesson, the learners should be able to

1.) Give an account of the cleaning of the temple by Jesus

2.) State the significance of Jesus cleaning his temple

INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNIQUES: Identification, explanation, questions and answers, demonstration, story-telling, videos from source

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS: Recommended Christian Religious Knowledge textbooks for Junior Secondary School 2

INSTRUCTIONAL PROCEDURES:

PRESENTATION

TEACHER’S ACTIVITY

PUPIL’S ACTIVITY

STEP 1

Review

The teacher revises the previous lesson

Learners pay attention

STEP 2

Introduction

She then introduces the new topic by giving an account of the cleaning of the temple by Jesus Christ

Learners pay attention and participate

STEP 3

Explanation

She further states and explains the significance of Jesus cleaning the temple

Learners pay attention and participate

STEP 4

NOTE TAKING

The teacher writes a short note on the board for the learners to copy

The learners copy the note from the board

 

NOTE.

THE CLEANING OF THE TEMPLE

The cleansing of the temple is a significant event recorded in all four Gospels, with variations in detail. Here’s a summary based on the accounts primarily found in Matthew 21:12-13, Mark 11:15-19, Luke 19:45-48, and John 2:13-16:

As Jesus entered Jerusalem shortly before His crucifixion, He went to the temple and was deeply troubled by what He saw. The temple, intended to be a house of prayer and worship, had been transformed into a marketplace. Money changers and merchants were conducting business, exchanging currency and selling animals for sacrifices, which hindered true worship.

In righteous anger, Jesus overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. He shouted, “It is written, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a den of robbers.” Jesus’ actions were a demonstration of His authority and a clear denunciation of the corruption and commercialization of religious practices.

Following this act, Jesus continued to teach in the temple, healing the blind and the lame who came to Him. The religious leaders were indignant at His actions but were afraid to confront Him openly due to the popularity He had gained among the people.

 

Significance of Jesus Cleansing the Temple

  1. Restoration of Sacred Space: Jesus’ cleansing of the temple highlighted the importance of maintaining the sanctity of places of worship. By removing the commercial activities, He aimed to restore the temple’s purpose as a space for prayer and communion with God.
  2. Condemnation of Corruption: The act served as a powerful condemnation of the corruption and exploitation within the religious system of the time. It addressed the ways in which religious leaders prioritized profit over genuine worship and the spiritual needs of the people.
  3. Messianic Authority: By taking decisive action in the temple, Jesus demonstrated His authority as the Messiah. His cleansing of the temple was a prophetic act that signified His role in fulfilling and redefining the relationship between God and His people.
  4. Foreshadowing Judgment: The cleansing of the temple foreshadowed the judgment that would come upon Jerusalem for its failure to recognize Jesus as the Messiah. It symbolized the coming judgment against unfaithful religious practices and a call for true repentance.
  5. Invitation to True Worship: Jesus emphasized that the temple should be a place of prayer, inviting people to engage in sincere worship rather than transactional religion. His actions urged individuals to seek a deeper, more authentic relationship with God

 

EVALUATION:

  1. What were the primary reasons for Jesus' anger when He entered the temple, and how did He express this anger?
  2. In what ways did the actions of the money changers and merchants in the temple contradict its intended purpose?
  3. How did Jesus’ cleansing of the temple serve as a demonstration of His authority, and what implications did this have for the religious leaders of His time?
  4. Discuss the significance of the phrase "My house will be called a house of prayer" in the context of Jesus’ actions in the temple. What does it reveal about His mission and vision for worship?
  5. What broader spiritual lessons can be drawn from the cleansing of the temple regarding the nature of worship and the relationship between God and His people?

 

CLASSWORK: As in evaluation

CONCLUSION: The teacher marks their books and commends them positively