Rotation.org Writing Team
Jesus and Nicodemus: How to See the Kingdom
Video Workshop
Summary of Activities
Students will open the lesson with a fun "Baby Nick" warm-up activity, then read the scripture and watch an animated version of the story titled, "A Nighttime Visitor." This free video does a great job of retelling the story of Nicodemus in very kid-friendly language. See the video clip below.
Optionally: Older students and classes with extra time can also view a scene from the Chronicles of Narnia movie about what happens when people don't see what you see, and don't believe.
Scripture
John 3:1-10, 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
- Read the Bible Background and scripture.
- Preview the two movie clips. "A Nighttime Visitor" (see below) and Chronicles of Narnia (2005, Disney).
- Decide how you will view "Nighttime Visitor" video (via an online connection or by downloading and playing on a DVD player or computer. Read download help from rotation.org.
- Decide how much of the Narnia clip you will show. Prepare and practice with your DVD player and the Narnia movie so you know how to quickly get to the 11th minute where Lucy enters the wardrobe, and know when and how to fast-forward to get to the 24th minute scene where Lucy returns.
- Set up your equipment to view the videos.
- Get a "Baby Nick," baby doll in a diaper.
- Whiteboard or Paper, and appropriate markers.
- Bible (younger children use an illustrated Bible).
About Baby Nick
The "Baby Nick" activity comes from Neil, a member of our Team. He writes the following:
I love teaching concepts with props, and dolls especially make the kids giggle when I make them move and talk. In the Baby Nick game, we not only make answering fun, we're creating a visual "meme" about this "born again" business. Notice how the lesson also uses Baby Nick to visually represent the idea of "above" and the idea that spiritual growth takes time, just like a baby takes time to learn and grow. Have fun and make that baby talk!
Lesson Plan
Opening with "Baby Nick"
Welcome your students and explain how today's lesson will unfold.
Pull out your baby doll in a diaper, tell your students the following, then toss the baby doll to a student to start a round of responses. When a student responds, have them toss Baby Nick back to you. As they come up with responses, write them on the board.
Question 1: Today's Bible lesson is about the idea of being "born again."* And to help us, I'd like to introduce you to my baby-friend "Nick." When I toss Baby Nick to you, you have to say something about either "something a Baby has to learn how to do OR what it's like to be a baby." For example, if you threw Baby Nick to me, I might say, "Baby Nick will have to learn how to crawl." When you've given your answer, toss Baby Nick back to me and I'll toss it to another student.
Possible Responses:
- Baby Nick can't see well for the first few weeks of life.
- Baby Nick will have to learn how to hold things.
- Baby Nick will fall down a lot as he tries to learn how to walk.
- Baby Nick will start out drinking milk, but will learn how to chew food.
- Baby Nick needs to learn how to talk, walk, take care of himself.
- Baby Nick will have to learn right from wrong.
Question 2: Now take Baby Nick and ask THIS NEXT question by tossing Nick to your students: How does a baby learn and grow?
Possible Responses:
- With help from parents, siblings.
- By trying new things.
- By watching others.
- By trial and error.
- By going to school.
Say: Today we are going to learn the story of an old and very religious man who thought Jesus was telling him that he must become a baby! to enter the Kingdom of God! We'll first read it in our Bibles, then see it in an animated video.
*The lesson will transform the idea of "born again" to its proper translation, "born from above."
The Story of the "Nighttime Visitor"
Note: You'll first read the passage from your Bibles, then view the animated short Bible video. Without a doubt, the scripture is a bit "thick," but the video does a very good job of re-stating the scripture in a kid-friendly way. After watching the clip, you'll introduce the idea of "born from above" using Baby Nick again. Both will help make Jesus' words more clear.
Read John 3:1-10 from your classroom Bible. For younger children, use an illustrated Bible.
Ask: Did Jesus really say you must be born again like a baby to be part of his Kingdom?
(The answer is no. That is what Nicodemus thought he heard Jesus saying, but Jesus was speaking "figuratively" not "literally." In fact, the words Jesus said mean "born from above, from the top" and not "born again" as Nicodemus thought he heard. The darkness of the night also represents the confusion Nicodemus had about how he could be part of God's Kingdom, and know Jesus was the King.)
Ask: What is the "above" or "top" that Jesus is referring to? As you ask this question, hold Baby Nick up in the air looking down from above. (It's God. He's talking about being born from God, from God's spirit and point of view. See the Bible Background for the discussion about the literal meaning of the phrase we often translate as born "again." It's a location, not a time.)
Say: Jesus is talking about being made new from God above! A spiritual birth, not actually going back inside your mommy's womb and coming out again.
Say: This video will help explain this even more...
Read Rotation.org's "How to" article about downloading this video for use offline. An excerpt of the script for "The Nighttime Visitor" is found at the end of this lesson.
Reflection with Baby Nick
In these reflection questions, you'll again use Baby Nick as a focal point and visual reminder and refer back to some of the things the kids shared during the opening about "being a baby." We haven't included all of them here, just some. Flesh out these concepts as you have time and students have understanding.
Say: We're very lucky Jesus didn't want us to become babies again, but we can still learn a lot from babies like Baby Nick about how we can learn and grow to see Jesus and be part of his Kingdom.
Hold Baby Nick up in the air looking down and ask, "where do we need to be born from?" (above, from God).
Observe that Jesus said this new birth comes from God.
Hold Baby Nick in a crawling position and ask, "when we're being born from God and growing by God's spirit, does it mean we all have super-walking-faith? Or do we have to learn how to roll over, crawl, and toddle first?
Observe that all Christians are constantly learning how to walk with Jesus. We're all babies of different ages. Sometimes we need help. Being "spiritually born from above" doesn't mean you know everything and are perfect. It means God has begun opening your eyes to his Word, needs and place in his Kingdom.
Hold Baby Nick and ask, what things help us grow up in God's spirit? (Bible, church, prayer, parents, friends, Sunday School, serving others. etc)
Hold Baby Nick in your arms, cover his eyes, and ask, how can each of us see that Jesus is our King and wants us to be part of his Kingdom of love and healing?
Chronicles of Narnia Video Clip
“It is winter in Narnia,” said Mr. Tumnus, “and has been forever so long…. always winter, but never Christmas.” These words capture the heart of Nicodemus' yearning and ours. Jesus where are you, and where is your Kingdom? Why does it feel like winter? Like the dark? And so Jesus says to Nicodemus, "To see and enter it, you must be born from above." This is what happens to Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy —they experience an awakening that all Narnia has been longing for, the arrival of the Children of Eve, Nicodemus and us included, in the Kingdom of Aslan.
Ask: How many of you have seen the Chronicles of Narnia movie? Give them this brief summary then start the clip:
The Chronicles of Narnia are Christian stories (allegories) written by C.S. Lewis, one of the 20th Centuries most famous Christian writers. He wrote them for his grandchildren.
"Chronicles" means "stories." Narnia is his name for the special land ruled by a fierce Lion named Aslan. Does anybody remember the secret about Aslan? Yes! He's Jesus.
This movie has another secret. If the ruler of Narnia is Jesus, then what is Narnia? Yes, it is Aslan's Kingdom –the Kingdom of Jesus.
Today's movie clip covers the opening chapter of the first book about Narnia, called, "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe." A Wardrobe is a closet. The setting is an English castle during World War II where two brothers and two sisters have gone to live. LUCY, the youngest child, accidentally goes into the Wardrobe and discovers the land of Narnia. Let's see how it happens and what happens when she does...
View the following sections of the Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (2005) movie:
- DVD Chapters (all times approximate).
- To view Chapter 3 to Chapter 8 opening - viewing time approx 30 mins.
If short on time, skipping these sections will reduce viewing time to approx. 18 mins.
DVD Chapter Breakdown
Chapter 3 - The Wardrobe
(Timing 11:20 ~ Min. 7:07)
Lucy sees and enters the Wardrobe. Notice its "tree of life" carving. Lucy enters Narnia and sees a lamp post. What does it represent? (guiding light, safety) Lucy meets Tumnus, a faun, and one of the Chronicles' re-occurring sweet characters.Chapter 4 - Mr. Tumnus' House
(Timing 18:24 ~ Min. 6:11)
Tumnus is caught between good and evil. It is Lucy's belief that stirs his better nature. He famously says, Narnia is “always winter but never Christmas." Watch for Aslan in the fire!
Chapter 5 - Just Your Imagination (Timing 24:35 ~ Min. 5:07)
Lucy returns to the house where her brothers and sister dismiss her beliefs. The Wardrobe doesn't take them to Narnia. Those who begin a spiritual journey are often met with similar disbelieving friends and family. Neither Narnia, nor the Kingdom are apparent to those unwilling to believe.29:15 Edmund follows Lucy back into the Wardrobe and into Narnia.
Chapter 6 - Hail the Queen (Timing 29:42 ~ Min. 5:14)
Edmund looks for Lucy, but meets the White Witch instead. Edmund unknowingly betrays Tumnus, and through his own greed and selfishness agrees to betray his siblings. Why don't you think Edmund saw/heard through the White Witches lies?
34:16 Lucy and Edmund meet up. Lucy is thrilled Edmund has seen Narnia.
Chapter 7 - Peter, Wake Up! (Timing 34:56 ~ Min. 4:74)
But when they return to wake up Peter, Edmund denies going into Narnia. Many Christians are like this. They retreat from belief for fear of being ridiculed.36:00 Professor Kirke, the homeowner, is told by Peter and Susan Lucy's tale about a forest inside the wardrobe. He surprises them both by asking, "Why wouldn't they believe Lucy, who's always been truthful?" What might block people who trust you in everything else, not trust you about God - Jesus?.
38:00 Kids knock a cricket ball through the window of the Wardrobe room.
Chapter 8 - The World of Narnia (Timing 39.30 ~ show approx. first minute)
To avoid condemnation from the housekeeper, they hide in the wardrobe and emerge in Narnia. =end
Follow-up Questions:
1. Why didn't Peter, Susan, and Edmund believe Lucy when she first reported seeing Narnia?
Follow-up: Does everyone believe what we say about Jesus? (no)
2. What changed their minds and allowed them to see Narnia?
Observe: In fact, they didn't do anything to "deserve" entrance into the Kingdom of Narnia. Narnia seems to have opened itself TO THEM. This is similar to what Jesus said to Nicodemus, that he can't see or enter the Kingdom unless he is born from above — from God, from God's doing.
3. Once in the Kingdom of Narnia, what's going to happen to Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy?
Observe: We don't have time to watch the whole thing, but they are going to be crowned the "Prince and princesses of Narnia" and battle evil –serving alongside Aslan. When we are "born from above" that's what we do, we battle evil, and serve Jesus." That's what it means to "see" and "enter" the Kingdom (John 3: 3, 5)
4. They become new people with new powers. Will it be easy? No. Being born from above can be challenging and take time.
5. Did you notice the LAMP POST in Narnia? It signifies "light" ...which is the kind of light Jesus talked about, and Nicodemus needed on that dark night when he approached Jesus. In Narnia, the winter serves to represent the darkness too.
We don't have time for the parts about the "witch" and Aslan, but if you'd like to borrow this movie and show it at home, that can be arranged!
Adaptations
Younger children and those short on time: Skip the Narnia clip.
For older children/teens: Skip the Baby Nick activities and after reading and discussing the Bible story, use the Narnia clip.
Over three lessons or two fellowship times: The entire movie is approximately 2 hrs and 13 minutes. Begin the Narnia movie at its beginning and run to the 40 minute mark where all the children enter Narnia for the first time. Show the remaining 90 minutes of the movie over the next two lesson times or one fellowship time.
Notes on Nicodemus
Nicodemus suffered from spiritual blindness. By all accounts he was a very righteous and good person. He wanted to know if Jesus was the Messiah and if his Kingdom had come—and couldn't see it standing right in front of him. The dark night in which he approached Jesus serves as the metaphor for what he lacked –the light of God. This theme of "seeing/not seeing" is also found in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (Narnia). The Narnia video clip used in this lesson raises this issue, first with the children not believing Lucy, and secondly, with the arrival of Aslan who's identity is not fully understood, but is revealed.
As described in the Bible Background for this lesson set, Jesus told him 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." Jesus is talking about a spiritual birth that only comes from above, from God as a gift. That's how you "see" who Jesus is, and "enter" (take part in) his Kingdom—by seeing with new eyes blessed with a new perspective—one that sees and comes from God's point of view. This spiritual birth leads us from dark to light, blindness to sight, doubt to faith. Seeing from God's point of view lets us see Jesus as more than just a great teacher, we see Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
Excerpt from the Video, "The Nighttime Visitor"
...When he found Jesus, Nicodemus said, “Teacher, we know You came from God! Your miracles tell everybody that You are from Him!” Jesus smiled in the darkness. He knew that Nicodemus really wanted to believe in Him. But Nicodemus was an important Pharisee, and he was having a hard time believing that Jesus could really be God’s Son.
So Jesus looked steadily at him and said, “Nicodemus, miracles are not the most important thing! Unless you are born again, you will not see God’s kingdom.” “Born again? What does that mean? How can I go back inside of my mother? I’m a grown man!” Nicodemus exclaimed.
“You’re right, my friend,” Jesus replied. “But I’m not talking about being born physically. I’m talking about being born spiritually. Truthfully, Nicodemus, unless you are reborn by God’s Holy Spirit, you can’t be part of God’s kingdom.”
“I’m not sure I understand,” Nicodemus said thoughtfully.
“Think about the wind for a moment,” Jesus replied. “You can’t see the wind itself, but you can see what happens when the wind blows. You can see the treetops sway and hear the rustling of the leaves. When the Holy Spirit comes into a person’s life, it’s like that. You can’t see the time when a person’s life is changed, but you see what happens in their life because their heart—their mind—is new and clean.”
It was quiet while Nicodemus thought about what Jesus was saying.
(Copyright Gracelink.net)
Notes About the Chronicles of Narnia (2005 movie)
If you have the opportunity, view and discuss the entire movie with your older children. Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy go through a transformation of spirit, just like the kind Jesus was pointing Nicodemus to. Their eyes were opened to the "deep magic" as Aslan calls it, and to their important roles in the Kingdom as the "Sons of Adam and Daughters of Eve."
Allegory, by its nature, can be spiritually awakening and the Chronicles of Narnia were that for me in my early teens. The stories are also a powerful message about forgiveness and God's ultimate triumph over evil. This is what Nicodemus came seeking too, and Jesus invites him into Narnia –if he will only allow himself to be borne through the wardrobe. ~ Neil, WT writer.
Notes about "Other" Nicodemus videos
Jesus of Nazareth
A sympathetic Nicodemus delivers more of a "warning" to Jesus to be careful. Inexplicably, the scene happens in broad daylight. Jesus looks dreamily off into the sky as he recites the rest of the verses (v 6-21, including "for God so loved the world.") YouTube clip.
Life of Christ
This full-length free movie gets the "night" and intimacy of the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus. Unfortunately, it's heavy English accent and KJV, making it a bit tough for younger children. Produced by the Mormon Church and otherwise well-done and ecumenical. Here's a YouTube clip of just the Nicodemus story.
Gospel of John (Visual Bible)
Nicely produced movie. The 4 minute clip on YouTube begins with Jesus and Nicodemus talking at night, then the narrator takes over at verse 16 and we see scenes of Jesus and his disciples going to Jerusalem. The end of the passage is heavy on judgment, which is not what Jesus and Nicodemus were talking about. See the Bible Background for explanation and why this part of the chapter diverges from Nicodemus' story.
Written by the Rotation.org Writing Team with Neil MacQueen
Copyright 2017, Rotation.org Inc.
