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36 C P H . O R G / C U R R I C U L U M GRADE 8 TEACHER GUIDE SAMPLE 2 3 8 Lesson Extenders B I B L I C A L L I T E R A C Y Print a document for students with the accounts of the transfig- uration from the three Gospels (Matthew 17:1–13; Mark 9:2–13; Luke 9:28–36). Have students choose a highlighter or underline color for facts that appear in all three accounts, another color for facts that occur in two of the three accounts, and a third color for facts that are unique to each account. Use their obser- vations to demonstrate that the Bible is not one book but a col- lection of books. The evangelists are all unique historians who included different details to help readers understand who Jesus is. The fact that the accounts are not the same does not mean that the Bible contradicts itself. It shows that there were mul- tiple witnesses to the events it records. The Holy Spirit worked through the observations of individual human minds to bring us their testimonies. A C T I V E L E A R N I N G Label five places in your room, gym, or playground as Peter, James, John, Moses, and Elijah. Then call out the facts listed and have students go to the name they think answers the question correctly. Some facts have more than one correct answer. ● Ran ahead of King Ahab's chariot for 27 miles (Elijah; 1 Kings 18:46) ● Known as the disciple Jesus loved (John; John 13:23) ● Told Pharaoh, "Let [God's] people go" (Moses; Exodus 5:1) ● Denied Jesus three times (Peter; Luke 22:54–62) ● Prayed for the duration of a battle (Moses; Exodus 17:8–12) ● Had a dad named Zebedee (James and John; Matthew 4:21) ● Went to heaven in a whirlwind (Elijah; 2 Kings 2:11) ● Known as a pillar of the Early Church (Peter, James, and John; Galatians 2:9) ● Never entered the Promised Land (Moses; Deuteronomy 34:1–5) ● Witnessed Jesus' crucifixion (John; John 19:25–27) ● First of the apostles martyred (James; Acts 12:1–2) ● Jesus healed his mother-in-law (Peter; Luke 4:38–41) ● Received the Ten Commandments (Moses; Exodus 19–20) ● Went with Jesus to the Garden of Gethsemane (Peter, James, and John; Matthew 26:36–37) ● Ran to the tomb on Easter morning (Peter and John; John 20:2–4) ● Raised the dead son of the widow of Zarephath (Elijah; 1 Kings 17) R E L A T E Social Studies P Jesus' transfiguration is one of many important things in the Bible that happened on a mountain. Divide the class into groups to research each mountain range listed using the Bible references provided. Create a "Guide to Mountains of the Bible" either temporarily on the board or on large paper to display on a wall or bulletin board. Let each group draw and cut out a mountain, labeling it with its name, Scripture references, and a short description of what happened there. ● Mount Moriah (Genesis 22:1–14; 2 Chronicles 3:1): The sac- rifice of Isaac and the location of Solomon's Temple ● Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:16–20:21): The giving of the Ten Commandments ● Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:17–40): Where Elijah defeated the prophets of Baal ● Mount Tabor or Mount Hermon (Matthew 17:1–9): Jesus' transfiguration ● Mount of Olives (Luke 22:39–46; Acts 1:9–12): Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane and His ascension ● Mountain of Yahweh (Isaiah 2:1–5): Yahweh's final and eternal gathering of the elect of every nation to Himself L U T H E R A N D O C T R I N E The transfiguration account presents a good opportunity to review what it means that Jesus is both God and man. It means He is one person with two natures. Have students find a partner or form small groups. Instruct each pair or group to make one list of facts about Jesus that show His human nature and anoth- er list of facts that show His divine nature. Students may work from memory, use previous lessons from the Student Book, or work directly from the Gospels. Tell pairs or groups to share their lists with the class to make a master list. Examples of Jesus' human nature include His need for care by His parents, times when He slept, ate, or drank, His experience of emotions like anger, compassion, and joy; His human family and friendships, and His suffering, pain, and death. Examples of Jesus' divine nature include His power over na- ture to heal people, raise the dead, change physical laws (in the miraculous feedings) and change the weather, His work on the Sabbath, His proclamation of forgiveness to sinners, His touch- ing the unclean, His preaching with authority, His transfigura- tion, and His resurrection and ascension. The Second Article of the Apostles' Creed in Luther's Small Cate- chism with Explanation provides a possible answer for this activ- ity: "I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord" (Small Catechism, Second Article). UNIT 7 | LESSON 51 2 3 8

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