Here’s a short exercise your students might complete upon entering your classroom or at the end of a lesson. Have the students look up each passage and complete the following items related to Jesus’ disciples.
- Matthew 10:1–15. List the Apostles. Name three things Jesus instructed the Apostles to do.
- Luke 8:1–3. Name three women followers of Jesus.
- Luke 10:38–42. What was Martha complaining about? What did Jesus tell her?
- John 3:1–21. What did Nicodemus not understand about Jesus’ teaching?
- John 20:11–18. Why did Jesus tell Mary Magdalene not to hold onto him?
- Luke 19:1–10. Why was Zacchaeus despised by so many? What was the sign that he became a true disciple of Jesus?
Answers
- The Apostles are Simon called Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James, Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot. Jesus instructs them to go to the “lost sheep of the house of Israel,” proclaim the kingdom of Heaven, cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons, and take very little.
- Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Susanna
- She complained that her sister did not help her serve the guests. Jesus told her not to worry, but to sit and listen to him like her sister Mary.
- Nicodemus did not understand the meaning of being born again.
- Jesus had not yet ascended to his Father
- Zacchaeus was despised because he was a wealthy tax collector, but he proved his loyalty as a disciple by giving half of his possessions to the poor and promising not to steal from anyone.