Class: Junior Secondary School 2 (JSS 2 / JS2)
Term: 3rd Term
Week: 3
Age: 13 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Christian Religion Studies
Curriculum Theme: Christian Religion Studies
Previous Lesson: The Last Supper: Significance of the Last Supper Matthew 26.
Topic: THE BETRAYAL AND ARREST OF JESUS CHRIST
Subject Matter: Mark 14: 43-52, Matthew 26: 47-56

Specific Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

Cognitive Domain:

Identify Judas Iscariot as the disciple who betrayed Jesus.
Explain the events leading to Jesus’ arrest.
State the biblical passages that narrate the betrayal and arrest of Jesus.

Affective Domain:

Appreciate Jesus’ willingness to submit to God’s will.
Show empathy for Jesus’ suffering during His betrayal and arrest.
Recognise the consequences of disloyalty and betrayal.

Psychomotor Domain:

Narrate the story of Jesus’ betrayal and arrest in their own words.
Locate the relevant Bible passages in their Bibles.

Discuss the lessons on loyalty and obedience from the story.
Apply the teachings of Jesus regarding forgiveness and non-violence.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

9 Years Basic Education Curriculum for Christian Religious Studies, JSS 2.
State Unified Scheme of Work for Christian Religious Studies, JSS 2.
Christian Religious Studies for Junior Secondary Schools Book 2.
The Holy Bible (New International Version/King James Version).

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

A Holy Bible.
Pictures or charts depicting the betrayal and arrest of Jesus.
Whiteboard and markers.

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps pupils understand a significant event in the life of Jesus, which is His betrayal and arrest. It enables them to learn about loyalty, the consequences of sin, and Jesus’ submission to God’s plan for salvation.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils have prior knowledge of Jesus’ ministry, His disciples, and the events leading up to the Last Supper.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

THE BETRAYAL AND ARREST OF JESUS CHRIST

Introduction to the Betrayal

The betrayal and arrest of Jesus Christ mark a pivotal moment in the Christian faith, leading to His crucifixion and resurrection. Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus’ twelve disciples, played a key role in this event by handing Jesus over to the chief priests and elders.

Judas’ Betrayal

Judas Iscariot, motivated by thirty pieces of silver, agreed to betray Jesus. He led a large crowd, armed with swords and clubs, sent by the chief priests and elders, to the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus was praying. Judas identified Jesus to the crowd with a kiss, a prearranged sign.

The Arrest of Jesus

As soon as Judas kissed Jesus, the men seized Jesus and arrested Him. One of Jesus’ disciples, Simon Peter, drew his sword and cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant. However, Jesus rebuked him and touched the servant’s ear, healing him. Jesus questioned why they came to arrest Him with swords and clubs as if He were a robber, when He taught daily in the temple. He explained that these events were happening to fulfill the Scriptures.

Disciples Flee

After Jesus was arrested, all His disciples deserted Him and fled, fulfilling the prophecy. Even a young man who was following Jesus, wearing only a linen garment, was seized, but he slipped out of their hands and ran away naked.

Memory Verse

Matthew 26:56b: “Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.”

Bible Reading

Mark 14:43-52
Matthew 26:47-56

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Lecture, Demonstration, Question and Answer, Visual Aids, Narration

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Set Induction
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils, reviews the previous lesson on the Last Supper, and introduces the new topic, “The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus Christ,” by asking who remembers what happened after the Last Supper.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to questions and listen attentively to the introduction of the new topic.
Learning Point: Pupils connect the new lesson to their previous knowledge.

Step 2: Judas’ Betrayal

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Narration/Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher narrates the story of Judas Iscariot’s betrayal of Jesus, explaining how he led the crowd to Gethsemane and used a kiss as a sign to identify Jesus (Mark 14:43-45, Matthew 26:47-49).
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the narration and may ask questions for clarification.
Learning Point: Pupils understand Judas’ role in the betrayal.

Step 3: The Arrest of Jesus

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Narration/Illustration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher continues the narration, describing how Jesus was arrested, Peter’s attempt to defend Jesus by cutting off the servant’s ear, and Jesus’ calm response and rebuke (Mark 14:46-49, Matthew 26:50-54). The teacher may use pictures to illustrate the scene.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the pictures and follow the story, noting Jesus’ reaction.
Learning Point: Pupils learn about the actual arrest and Jesus’ peaceful submission.

Step 4: Disciples Flee

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains that after Jesus’ arrest, all His disciples deserted Him and fled, fulfilling prophecies (Mark 14:50-52, Matthew 26:56).
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and understand the reaction of the disciples.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the immediate consequence of the arrest on Jesus’ followers.

Step 5: Lesson from the Betrayal

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Discussion/Questioning
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads a brief discussion on the lessons pupils can learn from the betrayal and arrest of Jesus, focusing on loyalty, obedience to God’s will, and the consequences of sin.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils contribute to the discussion by sharing their thoughts and lessons learned.
Learning Point: Pupils reflect on the moral and spiritual implications of the events.

Step 6: Memory Verse and Bible Reading

Time: 3 minutes
Teaching Skill: Recitation/Directive
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher writes the memory verse (Matthew 26:56b) on the board and directs pupils to read the relevant Bible passages (Mark 14:43-52, Matthew 26:47-56) from their Bibles.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils copy the memory verse and read the Bible passages.
Learning Point: Pupils reinforce their understanding through direct engagement with the scripture.

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

Who betrayed Jesus Christ?
How did Judas identify Jesus to the crowd?
What did one of Jesus’ disciples do when Jesus was being arrested?
What happened to the disciples after Jesus was arrested?

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.
Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 2 minutes
Teaching Skill: Summarization/Assignment
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the key points of the lesson and gives pupils an assignment to find out what happened to Jesus after His arrest.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the summary and copy the assignment.
Learning Point: Pupils consolidate their learning and prepare for the next lesson.

Lesson Keywords

Betrayal – The act of being disloyal or unfaithful to someone.
Arrest – To seize someone by legal authority and take them into custody.
Judas Iscariot – The disciple who betrayed Jesus.
Gethsemane – The garden where Jesus was praying before His arrest.
Disciples – The followers of Jesus.

Differentiation

For pupils who grasp concepts quickly, the teacher will encourage them to lead discussions on the moral implications of betrayal. For pupils needing more support, the teacher will provide simplified summaries and visual aids, allowing them to retell the story in short sentences.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Teachers should emphasize the significance of Jesus’ voluntary submission to God’s will even in the face of betrayal and suffering. Encourage pupils to reflect on the importance of loyalty and the consequences of disloyalty in their daily lives. Ensure pupils understand that these events were part of God’s plan for salvation, not just a tragic human act.