The Walk to Emmaus

Art Workshop

Summary of Lesson Activity:
Draw and color images from the Emmaus story using oil pastels. Turn their picture into a puzzle as a way to show how we need to know and be familiar with all pieces of the puzzle in order to recognize/better see the Resurrected Jesus.

About the Medium
Made from pigment, oil, and wax binder, Oil Pastels feel smooth and buttery to use, giving them a wonderful tactile sense of immediacy and intimacy with your drawing that encourages artistic expression, meaning, and memory formation. Artists first sketch and then apply color, often layering various shades and colors, and smudging and blending the oil pastels to create a unique impressionist look about a key moment and emotion in the story that they want to share. Learn more about this technique.

Scripture Reference:
Luke 24:13-33

Workshop Objectives:
Read about the themes to focus on, here.

Materials List:

• zipper bags (snack-sized is fine)
• oil-based pastels (or crayons)
• colored pencils
• cardstock #110 weight (preferably the 11 x 17 size – but it is expensive)
• the pattern to use on the cardstock (optional) - see downloadable file attached at the end of this lesson
• scissors
• rulers
• smocks

Before the Start of Class:

Decide how to prepare the cardstock. (optional) Use the printout at the end of the lesson to...

• Make copies on the cardstock of the puzzle pattern - page two of the attached file. (For students who want to draw their own picture, but want to cut out the more traditional puzzle piece shape)
• Make copies on the cardstock of the provided collage from the story - page one of the attached file. (For students who will cut their picture into easier puzzle piece shapes)
• Make copies of the collage on one side and the puzzle pattern on the other side of the cardstock. (For students wanting the traditional puzzle piece shape and wanting to color the provided picture).

It is recommended that you use a copier to make the pictures on the print out large enough to fill an 11 x 17 sized-sheet as it allows for more coloring space.

Lesson Plan:

Opening:

Shepherd Asks: “Question of the Day.” (Refer to suggested Questions of the Day.)

Introduce yourself:
Hi, my name is ____ and I want you call me  (tell the students how they may address you).

Pray: Short and simple is perfect. For example:  

God, thank you for this day and for each other.  We need your help.  Help us to learn about you this day.  Amen.

Tell

• In the story from our last session, we read about Jesus’ Trial and how he was found guilty (even though he was innocent) and was crucified.
• That story happened on a Friday. The story we’re going to read now happens on the Sunday after that Friday.
• In the story, we find out that even though Jesus died, he didn’t stay that way. God resurrected him from the dead!
• That’s what Resurrection means: To bring back from the dead.
• There’s another important word that gets used in the story that I want to make sure we know what it means. The word “recognize” means to know what or whom you are seeing. For example, “I didn’t recognize my dog in the dark hallway until I turned on the light.” • Let’s see what happens in the story…

Dig:

Read
Luke 24:13-33 NRSV

Ask (answers are in parentheses)

• In the very beginning of the story, what are the two disciples talking about? (about all that had happened to Jesus)
• While the two disciples are talking about Jesus, who shows up and joins them? (Jesus)
• Do the disciples know the man who joins them is Jesus? (No)
• What does Jesus talk to the two disciples about? (uses scripture to talk about who the Messiah is and what the Messiah is to do)
• After they ask Jesus to stay for the night and they are having dinner, what does Jesus do that causes the disciples to recognize Jesus? (he takes, blesses, breaks and gives the bread – this is something he did in the feeding of the thousands story and the story we call the last supper)
• Once the disciples know Jesus is with them, what does Jesus do? (disappears)
• Are the disciples concerned that Jesus disappeared? (not at all)
• What do they do once they recognize Jesus? (go back to Jerusalem to tell the original 12 disciples [minus Judas] what happened)

Tell

• Let’s look at how the two disciples get to the point of being able to recognize the Resurrected Jesus.
• First, they talk about the stories of Jesus. Second, when Jesus joins them, they talk about scripture (what we would call bible stories or faith stories). Finally, they sit down to eat together and before they eat, Jesus prays a blessing for the meal and that’s when the disciples recognize Jesus.
• So one thing this story tells us is that recognizing the Resurrected Jesus is like putting pieces of a puzzle together.
• The three pieces of the puzzle are:

1. To know and talk about the Jesus stories,
2. To know and talk about other stories from the Bible and
3. To pray and be together.

To help us remember these three pieces of how to recognize Resurrected Jesus, we’re going to make a puzzle today that has these three things (and more) in it.

Explain Puzzle Creation - Step 1

• The first thing we’re going to do is take a sheet of cardstock. You can take either a blank sheet, or you can take the sheet that is printed with pictures relating to the story.
• Using these oil-based pastels (or regular crayons), either color-in the printed picture or draw your own picture.
• If you draw your own picture of the story, include Jesus, the breaking of bread, prayer, and studying the Bible. Also, feel free to use colored pencils to sketch.
• The oil-based pastels offer a more vibrant, brighter color than crayons. But they will also stain your clothes. So we’re going to wear smocks today. Let’s put those on before we do anything else.

Do Step 1
Explain Puzzle Creation - Step 2

• Now that you are done drawing/coloring in your picture, take your scissors and trim your picture so that there’s not a lot of blank paper surrounding the picture.
• Now turn your paper over, so that your drawing is face-down.
• What you’re going to do is make a puzzle-like pattern to cut your picture into.
• You can make it very simple by using a ruler and drawing a grid on the back of your picture – do at least 5 rows and 5 columns.
• Or you can make it pretty complex and make a pattern like this handout, here (see below)
• Just remember, the pattern you draw, you’ll then be cutting as well.
• Before you start cutting, if you want, number the corners of your puzzle to make it a little easier to piece together.
• Now take your scissors and cut your picture up, following the lines on the back that you just drew.

Do Step 2

Explain Puzzle Creation - Step 3

• Once you’re done cutting, scramble your pieces into a pile.
• Now put your puzzle together. Once you succeed, feel free to trade with a friend.
• When class is done, put your puzzle in a ziplock bag to take home with you.

Do Step 3

Reflection:

• In the story that we just read, the Walk to Emmaus, the disciples do not recognize Resurrected Jesus until a number of pieces are put into place.
• The same is true with our puzzles that we just made. Others who are doing our puzzle won’t recognize what it is until the pieces of the puzzle are put into place.
• The more familiar we are with the pieces of the puzzle, the easier it is for us to see the overall picture.
• The same was true for the disciples to be able to recognize Resurrected Jesus. They had to be familiar with the stories about Jesus, other faith stories and with each other to be
  able to recognize Jesus.
• And once they did recognize Jesus, they went back to Jerusalem to help the other disciples do the same things they themselves had done: Pray, be together and talk about stories of Jesus and scripture.
• When we do the same things, just like the disciples, we’ll be able to better recognize Resurrected Jesus.
• And that’s the good news for today!

To view the other lessons in this lesson set (located on rotation.org) click HERE.

If you like these lessons, visit www.rfour.org/curriculum.html for more free Rotation Sunday School lesson sets.

A lesson written by member Nathanael Vissia. Updated by the Rotation.org Content Team
Printed from https://www.rotation.org

Jesus/Cross puzzles....

Teaching Points:

• Some see Jesus, some do not.
• Some need help, some refuse help.
• Some see and believe, others see and ignore.
• How do you see? What helps you see? More importantly, how do you respond?

(1) Seemingly random pieces form a puzzle of the name Jesus

Each student make their own version to go home and share with others.

Can be made out of paper, wood, cardboard, etc.

(2) Make your own puzzle

You can buy blank puzzles of varying degrees of difficulty/# of pieces from amazon and craft websites.

Students draw on puzzle their scene of Jesus on the Road to Emmaus with the disciples.

For discussion after done, discuss and perhaps LABEL the backs of puzzle pieces with things that you need to see and believe and follow Jesus:

   scripture, worship, service, humility, obedience, kindness, forgiveness, giving, etc etc.

This leads you to discuss what pieces might be missing from someone's belief or ability to follow.

Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus

Kids make giant footprints out of contact paper.

Key ideas are written on the footprints.

Before applying them to the floor outside the classroom, they first study the story and come up with a variety of things people believe and do when they realize Jesus is alive and wants them to follow him. (Think of these as the things Jesus told them as they were walking down the road together.)

Some of the things on the footprints in the photo:

• Step here if you have told Jesus he is your Savior
• Step here if you love others
• Step here is you know God has forgiven your sins
• Step here if you know someone you need to forgive
• Step here to promise to read your Bible more
• Step here is you have said a prayer today
• Step here is you love stories about Jesus
• Step here is you're ready to put Jesus first
• Step here if you are unselfish and ready to help others

Brainstorm many things to put on the footprints and then decide which ones should end up on the footprints. by writing them on the footprints in black permanent marker. Then remove the backing of the footprint and it is stuck to the floor to create a path of footprints down the hall that students can jump to from one to the next. They can advance to the next footprint by first reading what's on it, and then deciding whether they have already done that, or need and want to do that, then they can jump.

Tip: Don't put the footprints too close together!  Make kids leap from one to the next. (There's a metaphor there too.)

Tip: It takes about a dozen footprint in the hallway to make this fun to travel.

Tip: Label this area "Walk With Jesus" or "Emmaus Walk"

Tip: Add short scripture verses to the wall next to each footprint and make it a prayer walk.

"Where Can You See Jesus Today" Wall and Ceiling Signs

One of the things I wanted to add to the footprints walk project (but didn't think of at the time) was to put signs on the walls and ceilings of "Where You Can See Jesus Today." For older kids, this is an important topic, and Jesus actually had quite a bit to say about it.  Since the answer includes a sense of hiding in plain sight, I might make the signs slightly hidden or with flaps that you had to lift.  Here's the key scripture and some thoughts about what can go on the signs.

Matthew 25:35-36, 40  (NIV)
35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

Each of these basic needs also has a spiritual definition as well.

• People hunger for righteousness and you offer righteousness/justice. You offer to stand with them.
  
• People thirst for living water and you share the Good News.
  
• People hear Christ knocking on their door and you help open it for them.
• Even the "clothing" Jesus speaks of can have a spiritual meaning. The Prodigal Son was reclothed/forgiven, for example.

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

The "least" can be those with basic needs, the poor, but it can also mean those who are humble, unselfish (last),  the poor in spirit. those who serve.  When you DO for those, you are doing it because you see Jesus in them.

The  Road to Emmaus story teaches that we BEGIN to "see Jesus" when...

• we study and discuss the scriptures and our heart begins to burn with understanding
• we have our eyes OPENED by engaging in simple acts of remembrance such as communion, and other things we do to worship/remember/honor him

Here are some interesting "hidden in plain sight"  Jesus graphics that kids could create , or could be used for the "Emmaus signs" mentioned above.  The idea is that the art is both a great discussion starter about how we "see" Jesus today, feel his presence, know he is with us, let ourselves by guided by, hear his voice, etc. The art is also a great go-home reminder that can spark discussion at home.

One of the interesting things about "seeing Jesus" spelled in these graphics is that it isn't apparent to everyone at first, and often, it needs pointed out or explained or colored/traced by someone to finally "see" Jesus.

Another interesting things about these optical Jesus drawings is that once you see them, you can't "unsee" them, though you can decide they aren't important. Believing in Jesus is the same way.  Lots of people saw Jesus with their own eyes and didn't follow him. Why is that?

Btw...there are at least two "Where's Jesus?" books that imitate the once popular "Where's Waldo?" books. Here's an image from one of them.  One is called "Finding Jesus" and has modern scenes like rock concerts and supermarkets.

Click to enlarge