VIDEO: Son of God DVD (the 2014 movie)

A lesson sketch particularly good for older students.

Update: I had written a free teacher's outline to the movie Son of God (2014).  I updated it in 2020 and gave it to Rotation.org's Supporting Member Resources here (along with many of my other Bible movie guides). Neil

2 Clips to show from the movie Son of God: 

a)    Man Let Down Through Roof  (Jesus calls us to believe in him)

b)   Jesus Calls (Heals) Matthew **

**Some might think to stop showing this video at the end of the miracle story, but don't. Pause, and discuss the first clip (see notes below), and then set up the next chapter in the video where Jesus calls Matthew. It might as well be titled, "Jesus HEALS another 'lame' man named Matthew." Instead of calling Matthew to walk, he calls him to follow.  As the actor portraying Matthew so touchingly shows, Matthew the tax collector experienced a healing/forgiveness in that call. When you see the video, you'll know what I'm talking about!

Jesus' forgiveness and healing comes in many forms. That healing is also a call to follow.

Important Notes about Miracles and This Story

The primary purpose of Miracles in scripture is to tell us about God, and in this case, WHO Jesus is, what and who he cares about. Miracles are signs of God's heart and what is to come.

Miracle stories also tell us about people (us), our needs, problems, and God’s desire that our needs be met.

Importantly, the miracle of the Man Let Down Through the Roof happens at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry in Mark and Luke. It is placed there as SIGN to all about who know how to read it.

Things to Say Before Watching:

The Bible has several “beginning” stories.

What’s the big “beginning story” in the Book of Genesis?  (Creation). 
This story tells us that God made the world and thinks its pretty good!

What’s the big “beginning story” at the beginning of the Gospels? (Jesus’ birth). 
What does this beginning story tell us?  (that God so loved the world).

There’s another beginning in the Gospel stories, and that’s the beginning of Jesus ministry when he was about 30 years old. He gets baptized, then goes into the wilderness to pray, but his very first PUBLIC ACT is what we are learning about today. His very first public act will tell everyone WHO he is, and WHAT he has come to do. It is a sign. That story is called  “The Man Let Down Through the Roof.” (write these things on the board)

After I show you the video clip, I’m going to ask you to share what you think the story of the Man Let Down Through the Roof TELLS US about WHO Jesus is, and WHAT he is going to do.

SHOW the Man Down Through the Roof Video Clip from Son of God DVD.

Discuss: 

Ask:

• What did the story tell you about WHO Jesus was and WHAT his ministry was going to be about?   ….that Jesus was the Son of God with authority to forgive. …that he wasn’t just another teacher or leader. …that he was here to forgive sins (heal), …not lead a rebellion or punish people.
• Why was the Pharisee upset with Jesus' actions? (The Pharisees wanted to be in control, to have the authority, and Jesus was a threat because he claimed his own authority and backed it up with the miracle!)
• What do you think Peter meant when he said to the Pharisee, "This is only the beginning" ???  The beginning of what?  It's a powerful moment.

Say: There are OTHER ways to look at this story: as a story about YOU.

About You #1: You are the lame man on the stretcher in need of help.

Imagine you are the man in the stretcher.  How do you sins make you lame? How do your sins keep you from learning from Jesus? What kind of help do YOU need?
Who helps you learn from Jesus?  (parents, friends, church, Bible –these things are your stretchers & helpers. Write them out as they are offered, and draw a picture of stretcher above them)

About You #2: You are the friends trying to help another be with Jesus.

Imagine you are the friends carrying and lowering their friend down through the roof to see Jesus. How do YOU share Jesus with your friends? How does the church do it?  How easy is it?

SHOW the Call (Healing!) of Matthew video clip

It comes right after the Man Down Through the Roof clip.

**Before showing, tell the group that they will now see another man “healed” by Jesus, but that he won’t be on a stretcher or have physical problems. I will ask you at the end of the clip “what kind of problems did the man have that Jesus healed?”

Neil