Note for teachers using this lesson plan
This lesson focuses on the temptation of Jesus, building on previous knowledge of His baptism. Ensure students have access to Bibles to read the passages directly. Guide discussions to help students understand the nature of temptation, Jesus’ victory, and how they can apply these lessons to their own lives to resist evil. By the end, students should be able to identify the temptations Jesus faced and articulate the moral lessons from His responses.
Class: JSS 2
Term: First Term
Week: 10
Age: 13 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Christian Religion Studies
Previous Lesson: The Baptism of Jesus
Topic: The baptism and temptation of Jesus part 2
Subject Matter: The temptation of Jesus Matthew: 4:1-11, Mark1:12-13, Luke4:1-13
Specific Objectives
By the end of the lesson, pupils/students should be able to:
Cognitive Domain
- State the three temptations Jesus faced in the wilderness.
- Identify Jesus’ responses to each temptation.
- Explain the significance of Jesus’ victory over temptation.
Affective Domain
- Appreciate Jesus’ unwavering faith and obedience to God.
- Desire to resist temptation in their daily lives.
Psychomotor Domain
- Read the Bible passages related to Jesus’ temptation.
Social Domain
- Discuss the importance of using scripture to overcome temptation.
Reference Materials
The following resources were used in planning this lesson:
- 2025 Revised 9 Years Basic Education Curriculum
- Relevant State Unified Scheme of Work
- Christian Religious Studies for Junior Secondary Schools Book 2
- The Holy Bible (Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, Luke 4:1-13)
- The HeadTeacher Scheme of work
Instructional Materials
The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:
- Bible storybook showing the picture of the temptation of Jesus.
- The Holy Bible.
Rationale for the Lesson
Understanding the temptation of Jesus is crucial for students to grasp the nature of evil and the power of God’s Word in overcoming it. This lesson provides a foundational example of resisting sin, encouraging students to apply biblical principles to their own challenges. It reinforces faith and moral resilience in the face of worldly pressures.
Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge
Students have prior knowledge of Jesus’ baptism and basic stories from the Bible.
Lesson Content/Board Summary
The Temptation of Jesus Part 2
Bible Reading
- Matthew 4:1-11
- Mark 1:12-13
- Luke 4:1-13
Memory Verse
James 4:7: “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
The Temptation of Jesus
After His baptism, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where He fasted for forty days and forty nights. During this time, He was tempted by the devil three times.
- First Temptation: Turning Stones into Bread
The devil challenged Jesus to turn stones into bread to satisfy His hunger. Jesus responded by quoting Deuteronomy 8:3, saying, “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
- Second Temptation: Jumping from the Temple
The devil took Jesus to the highest point of the temple in Jerusalem and urged Him to jump off, quoting Psalm 91:11-12, implying angels would save Him. Jesus replied by quoting Deuteronomy 6:16, stating, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”
- Third Temptation: Worshipping Satan for Worldly Power
The devil showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and offered them to Him if He would bow down and worship him. Jesus sternly rebuked the devil, quoting Deuteronomy 6:13, saying, “Worship the Lord your God, and serve only Him.”
Lessons from Jesus’ Temptation
- Jesus’ victory shows that we can overcome temptation by relying on God’s Word and the power of the Holy Spirit.
- Fasting and prayer strengthen our spiritual resistance to evil.
- We must not use God’s power for selfish desires or to test Him.
- True worship belongs to God alone, and we should not seek worldly power or glory at the expense of our faith.
- The devil is real and actively tries to tempt believers, but he can be resisted.
Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques
Discussion, Explanation, Guided Practice, Question and Answer, Bible Reading
Instructional Procedures
Step 1: Introduction
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Recalling/Engagement
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher welcomes the students and asks them to recall what they learned about Jesus’ baptism in the previous lesson. The teacher then introduces the topic of Jesus’ temptation as the next significant event after His baptism.
Pupils’ Activity: Students respond to questions about Jesus’ baptism and listen attentively to the introduction of the new topic.
Learning Point: Connection to previous lesson
Step 2: Context of the Temptation
Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Narration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the context of Jesus’ temptation, including His forty-day fast in the wilderness and the role of the Holy Spirit in leading Him there. The teacher also explains who the tempter (the devil) is.
Pupils’ Activity: Students listen and ask questions for clarification.
Learning Point: Background to temptation
Step 3: Bible Reading
Time: 8 minutes
Teaching Skill: Guided Reading
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides students to open their Bibles to Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, and Luke 4:1-13. The teacher asks a few students to read the passages aloud, ensuring clear pronunciation.
Pupils’ Activity: Students locate the Bible passages and take turns reading them aloud.
Learning Point: Scriptural source reading
Step 4: The First Temptation and Response
Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Discussion/Analysis
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads a discussion on the first temptation (turning stones into bread) and Jesus’ response. The teacher explains the meaning of Jesus’ reply from Deuteronomy 8:3 and its relevance.
Pupils’ Activity: Students participate in the discussion, explaining the temptation and Jesus’ answer in their own words.
Learning Point: First temptation understood
Step 5: The Second Temptation and Response
Time: 6 minutes
Teaching Skill: Discussion/Analysis
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher discusses the second temptation (jumping from the temple) and Jesus’ response. The teacher highlights why testing God is wrong, referencing Deuteronomy 6:16.
Pupils’ Activity: Students discuss the second temptation and Jesus’ biblical counter-argument.
Learning Point: Second temptation understood
Step 6: The Third Temptation and Moral Lessons
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Application
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the third temptation (worshipping Satan for worldly power) and Jesus’ firm rejection, quoting Deuteronomy 6:13. The teacher then guides students to identify moral lessons from all three temptations.
Pupils’ Activity: Students identify and share moral lessons learned from Jesus’ victory over the devil.
Learning Point: Moral lessons derived
Step 7: Evaluation/Review
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:
- Mention the three temptations Jesus faced.
- How did Jesus respond to the devil’s offer of worldly power?
- What is one important lesson you learned from Jesus’ temptation?
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.
Learning Point: Temptation and responses assessed
Step 8: Note-Taking
Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Guided Writing
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides pupils/students to copy the essential Board Summary notes on the temptations and Jesus’ responses into their notebooks.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils/students copy the notes carefully into their notebooks.
Learning Point: Key facts recorded
Step 9: Conclusion
Time: 3 minutes
Teaching Skill: Summarization
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher briefly summarizes the main points of the lesson, emphasizing Jesus’ perfect example of resisting temptation through faith and scripture. The teacher encourages students to follow Jesus’ example in their own lives.
Pupils’ Activity: Students listen and reflect on the lesson’s conclusion.
Learning Point: Lesson reinforced
Continuous Assessment/Further Study
Type: Homework
Instruction: Answer the following questions in your notebook:
- Describe in your own words the three temptations Jesus faced.
- How can you apply Jesus’ method of resisting temptation in your daily life? Give two examples.
- Memorize James 4:7.
Lesson Keywords
- Temptation – An enticement to do something wrong or forbidden.
- Devil – The chief evil spirit; Satan.
- Scripture – The sacred writings of Christianity (the Bible).
- Resist – To withstand the action or effect of.
- Wilderness – An uncultivated, uninhabited, and inhospitable region.
Differentiation
Support for weaker learners: Provide simplified Bible storybooks with pictures. Pair them with stronger learners during reading and discussion. Focus on identifying just the main points of each temptation and Jesus’ response.
Extension for faster learners: Encourage them to research other biblical figures who faced and overcame temptation. Ask them to write a short reflection on how Jesus’ temptation differs from human temptation.
Suggested Lesson Videos
For further understanding, search on YouTube for:
The Temptation of Jesus for JSS 2
Teacher Guide for Using This Lesson Plan
Before the lesson, ensure you have multiple copies of the Holy Bible or a Bible storybook with clear illustrations of Jesus’ temptation. Familiarize yourself with Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, and Luke 4:1-13. Begin by linking the lesson to Jesus’ baptism to provide continuity. Encourage active participation during the Bible reading and discussions. Guide students to analyze each temptation and Jesus’ specific scriptural response, emphasizing the power of God’s Word. Allow students to copy the Board Summary notes after the main teaching points have been discussed and understood. Pay attention to students’ understanding of the moral lessons and their ability to apply them. Provide extra support for students struggling to grasp the concepts and challenge faster learners with deeper questions or research tasks.
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