Skip to main content

(WT) Jesus and Nicodemus: Art Workshop

Rotation.org Writing Team

Nicodemus and Jesus: Seeing As God Sees

"God's Eye" Art Workshop

Summary of Activities

GodEye2Students will make a "God's Eye" to remind them that, like Nicodemus, they are called to see the world as God sees it. 

They will use their understanding of Jesus' words to make decisions about their selection of yarn color and styles, and if they wish, to add yarn streamers that hang from the God's Eye. If time permits, they can make one to share. 

This particular art lesson is a good example of a hands-on project that creates art that's directly related to the scripture and gives the teacher plenty of time to share content and ask questions as students wrap yarn on their sticks. The choice of yarn types and colors are opportunities for inquiry and expression.  See the "tips" and "things to share" at the end of the lesson plan. 

See the short article, "God's Eye History and Meaning," below.

Scripture

John 3:1-5, The story of Nicodemus and Jesus

Key Verse: Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” (John 3:4 NRSV)

Lesson Objectives

See the Bible Background at rotation.org for this set's complete list of objectives. 

Preparation and Materials

  • sticksRead the Bible Background and scripture.
  • Whiteboard and markers.
  • Sticks cut in 6" and 8" lengths.
  • Various colors of yarn, especially white (God), red (Spirit), and blue (water). Also, have various thicknesses. Thicker yarn is easier for smaller hands.
  • A thin crochet hook
  • Scissors
  • We suggest tieing the sticks together in advance to save time.

Lesson Plan

Opening Study

Welcome your students and explain what they'll be learning and doing in today's lesson.

Read the following creative version of John 3:1-10. As you read it, invite different students to come draw it on the board next to you. Have them use simple figures, symbols, and keywords. Join in drawing with them. Make suggestions. Use stick figures, and things like arrows to illustrate the action. Add keywords, question marks, and exclamation points. Especially suggestive keywords have been highlighted below. Have the students work quickly and let other students suggest things to add to the drawing for each section. Read the section again if necessary.

(Drawing 1) A Pharisee, a leader of the people, came to see Jesus one night. His name was Nicodemus.  

(Drawing 2) “Rabbi," Nicodemus said, "we know that you are a teacher who comes from God; for no one can teach and do the miracles you do without the approval and presence of God."

(Drawing 2)  "So why are you here?"  Jesus didn't actually ask Nicodemus that. But it was obvious to Jesus that Nicodemus came with some big questions on his heart.  He wanted to know why HE couldn't see Jesus' Kingdom, and why Jesus didn't appear to be very powerful like the Messiah he was expecting.

(Drawing 3) Jesus knew what was in Nicodemus' heart. He knew that Nicodemus wanted to see the Kingdom Jesus was teaching about, but couldn't. So Jesus said, “You're right. Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.”

(Drawing 4)  Nicodemus looked puzzled and said, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?”

(Drawing 5)  Jesus undoubtedly smiled, then answered, “What I mean is that no one can see or understand the kingdom of God without first having their eyes opened by God's water and Spirit.  That's what you're missing, Nicodemus, eyes opened by God.

(Drawing 6)  Nicodemus was still confused. Wasn't he a religious leader who knew all the scriptures? How could he still be blind?

(Drawing 7) Jesus said, "You need to be changed by God's Spirit, Nicodemus. And the Spirit cannot be commanded to appear. It blows like the wind -where it chooses. Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?”  Jesus answered him, “How can you, a teacher of Israel, still be confused by this? To see God and his Kingdom, you need to ask the Holy Spirit to give you God sight –from above."

After finishing, read the actual translation while you look at the drawings. 

Making the God's Eyes

 Explain that today's project will create what's called a "God's Eye" to remind us that we need to see the world as God sees it from above — with love, mercy, and compassion.

Share your selection of yarn and discuss what colors might express the story we've just studied. For example, red yarn could represent "spirit we need to see the world as God sees it –to see his Kingdom."

Choose yarn and demonstrate how to tie it onto a stick and begin "weaving" a God's Eye. 

Then let students begin making their own God's Eye. (The start is usually the most challenging part, so be hands-on and have extra help.)

Share some of the insights found here and below in the lesson.

Some people see the God's Eye as a reminder of God's watchfulness, but today, we're using it as a symbol of the kind of "SIGHT" that we need to see the Kingdom — God's sight, God's perspective, which comes when we are carried by his spirit to see the world and its needs the way God sees it, "from above." This is why Jesus tells us we need to be "born from above" — to see as God sees, and respond as God responds.

Our God's Eye reminds us that we need God's spirit to blow through us like a holy wind. Without God's help, we cannot see (understand, participate in) the Kingdom any more than Nicodemus could.

How will our God's Eye prepare us to receive the insight-bringing Spirit of God?  It's a reminder to be ready, to expect God, to look as God looks upon the world –with mercy and love. That's how you "see" the Kingdom, when you see and treat the world as Jesus does.

See the instructional video and tips below


Instructional Video

There are many ways to make a God's Eye. The following method is suggested for Sunday School, as it demonstrates a quick way to fasten the two sticks to each other, and a simple way to tie-on and tie-off different colors. As the video notes, natural wood sticks look much better than popsicle or craft sticks. We suggest you tie the sticks together in advance of the lesson to save time. 

Adaptations and Tips

  • In addition to pre-tieing the stick, to save time and make the meaning more obvious, you could pre-tie white yarn to form an "eye" at the center of the God's Eye. 
  • Thick yarn is easier for smaller hands to work with and makes the God's Eye more quickly. 
  • The hardest part for younger children will be tieing the yarn on and tieing it off. 
  • The God's Eye will look more impressive the more yarn you apply, and the more carefully you follow the weaving pattern.
  • Plan on about 15 minutes per God's Eye. Longer if you add more colors or make them larger.
  • Remember to add a loop and tie off for hanging.
  • We recommend you have a CROCHET HOOK to help tie and tuck yarn. 
  • If you will add beads on strings to it, you will need a very thin crochet hook that fits through the bead openings to pull the yarn through.


Sharing 

If you have extra time, make God's Eyes to share with members of your congregation.

Let everyone share their God's Eye and explain their choice of yarn. The important thing here is to reinforce the central theme of the lesson and scripture. Some children may think "God looking at them" is kind of creepy. Talk about that...that he's looking at them with unconditional love, and wants to lift us up to see his Kingdom from his point of view  -to give us "God Vision"  — to see the world God loves, and respond in love.


Things you could share while making the God's Eyes

Some of the following are for the teachers or older kids. Use as time and discretion allow. It will help if the one doing the teaching is not also the only one leading the creative process.

blindman

Nicodemus was by all accounts a very righteous and good person. But he suffered from "spiritual blindness."

Nicodemus wanted to see the Messiah and the arrival of God's Kingdom on earth, but couldn't see it standing right in front of him. Jesus said that only the Spirit could give him such sight.

GodEye1The dark night in which he approached Jesus serves as the metaphor for what he lacked.

As described in the Bible Background for this lesson set, Jesus told Nicodemus that he must be "born from above" to see and enter the Kingdom. Nicodemus mistook what Jesus said, saying, "How can a man be born again?" Gently correcting him, Jesus added that Nicodemus needed to be born of "water and spirit," and then shortened it to "spirit." Jesus is telling Nicodemus that what he seeks can only be given by God. It can't be learned or earned. 

Can you name a Gospel story about Jesus that had water in it?
Here are a few: Water baptism, Water into wine, Make you a fisherman of men, Living Water -Woman at the Well, Peter rescued from the water, Jesus washing the disciples' feet.

Can you name an Old Testament story that had water in it?  (Give them hints) The story of Creation when the spirit hovered over the face of the deep (ocean), Noah's Ark, Parting of Red Sea, Water from the Rock of Horeb, Elijah bringing water and rain down on Mt Carmel.

How is the Spirit of God moving in our church?  Helping us see and respond to the needs of God's world?

How does our "God's Eye" craft remind us of what we are supposing to be looking for? 

How does our God's Eye craft remind us that we need "God Vision," or "God sight" to see the Kingdom?   What is God's Perspective, Point of View on the World and what it needs?

History of the "God's Eye" Craft

You have probably made a "God's Eye" if you grew up going to Sunday School or Church Camp. It's a satisfying craft that expresses an important idea and can result in a life-long keepsake. Sadly, many children today have never made a God's Eye, or the teacher they made it with didn't connect the craft to scripture, or tell them what it meant. Fortunately, we have a terrific lesson in which the making of God's Eyes makes perfect sense!

Christians are not the only ones to utilize the metaphorical connection between eyesight and "spiritual-sight." Both are fundamental human experiences. Most languages and cultures throughout history have celebrated "sight" and spiritual sight in word, art, and religion.

eyeofhorusThe depiction of a "god's eye" has been around almost as long as human beings themselves. In addition to referencing spiritual sight, they have often been used as symbols of "watching" and "protecting" –the idea being that the gods were watching over human events, and could ward off evil. 

The Hebrews undoubtedly encountered eye-art in Egypt where it was known as the "Eye of Horus." Horus (and later, "Ra") was the chief god. Generally, the Eye of Horus was a symbol of power and health, but it could also be a prayer of protection or badge of faith.  This idea is found in several psalms, including the 33rd, "the eye of the LORD is upon ...upon those that wait for his mercy."   A "God's Eye" craft reminds us of God's care and watchfulness.

bindiGreeks and Romans (Christians and non-Christians) borrowed the Eye of Horus symbol and its meaning, transforming it and spreading it across Europe and the Middle East. "God's Eye" art is known from England to India. The "bindi" or red dot is seen on the forehead between the eyes of Buddhist or Hindu worshippers is very similar in concept. It literally represents a third "spiritual eye."  Though Jesus didn't know of the "bindi, red dot" tradition, he certainly spoke of the same need for sight to Nicodemus.  How does our God's Eye look like a "bindi" — a reminder that we are called to have spiritual insights.

OjosDeDios"God's Eyes" religious crafts are also found among the native peoples of Central America and the US southwest. When Roman Catholic missionaries saw them, they called them "Ojos de Dios" –Eyes of God and incorporated them into local Christian practices and decoration. 

What will your God's Eye remind you of? 

In modern Western Civilization, the idea of a "God's Eye" morphed into an idea know as, "the eye of providence." In fact, it is used as a symbol of the all-seeing God on the back of US dollar bills and on the seal of the USA! (This version of the God's Eye comes from the Masonic tradition. Masons were a Christian trade guild.)

eyeofprovidence"God's Eye" as a craft became popular in churches during the 1960s and 70s, in part, due to a renewed interest in Native American peoples and their art. 

seeing-jesus"Eye" in the Bible

The Hebrew word for "eye" is "AYIN." Sounds familiar, doesn't it!  It is found in dozens of verses, many of which use "eye" to describe the quality of a person, or to metaphorically refer to their life and well-being. In addition to meaning "eye," AYIN is also used in scripture to say "look," "gleam," "sight," "spiritual sight," "thought," and many other figurative uses. You cannot read "eye" in scripture (or "sight" or "blind") without asking whether the writer is speaking literally or figuratively, and in most cases, BOTH!   This is a great tip to teach our students.

Jesus-GlassesIn the New Testament, and especially on the lips of Jesus, "eyes" and "seeing" often means "knowing" or "understanding." And "blind" or "blindness" often refers to a spiritual condition.

"Do you have eyes, and fail to see?" Mark 8:18  

"Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit." Mt 15:14

"Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, and he vanished from their sight." Jn 24:31  

"Seeing" and "being born" are theological synonyms to words like "understand," "know,"  and "enter." 

"No one can UNDERSTAND the Kingdom of God
without being born from above."

Jesus speaks to Nicodemus with the same figurative meaning which the Bible often uses for words like "eye" and "see." So, instead of "seeing" the Kingdom as John 3 translates, try substituting the word "know," or "understand" in it's place:

“Very truly, I tell you, no one can KNOW the kingdom of God without being born from above.”

“Very truly, I tell you, no one can UNDERSTAND the kingdom of God without being born from above.”

In this sense, our "God's Eye" craft can also be a symbol of OUR UNDERSTANDING of what Jesus was saying to Nicodemus that night.  It can be a reminder that we desire to "SEE" the Kingdom of God and participate in it, and need God's help to gain that life-changing vision from above.


More ways the Bible uses "eye" and "eyes" to express insights:

  • The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. Ps 19:8
  • The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good. Proverbs 15:3
  • Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings. Ps 17:8
  • The eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love. Psalm 33:18
  • "The eye is the lamp of your body; when your eye is clear, your whole body also is full of light; but when it is bad, your body also is full of darkness." Luke 11:34
  • But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. Matthew 6:23
  • I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened. Ephesians 1:18

 


Written by the Rotation.org Writing Team
Copyright 2017, Rotation.org Inc.

Attachments

Images (11)
  • blindman
  • GodEye1
  • eyeofprovidence
  • GodEye2
  • eyeofhorus
  • sticks
  • seeing-jesus
  • OjosDeDios
  • bindi
  • Jesus-Glasses
  • seeing-jesus
Last edited by Amy Crane
Original Post
Rotation.org Inc. is a volunteer-run, 100% member supported, 501(c)3 non-profit Sunday School lesson ministry. You are welcome to borrow and adapt content for non-commercial teaching purposes --as long as both the site and author are referenced. Rotation.org Inc reserves the right to manage, move, condense, delete, and otherwise improve all content posted to the site. Read our Terms of Service. Get a free Registered Membership or become a Supporting Member for full access to all site resources.
Rotation.org is rated 5 stars on Google based on 51 reviews. Serving a global community including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, S. Africa, and more!
×
×
×
×
×