Lesson video

Hello, my name is Mr. Womack, and I am really excited to be working with you today.

I've just got one of those feelings that we're going to do a fantastic job.

So let's get started, shall we? Today's lesson is called Jerusalem: a place of Christian pilgrimage, and it comes from the unit pilgrimage: why might some people visit Jerusalem, Karbala or Makkah? By the end of today's lesson, you'll be able to explain why Jerusalem is a sacred place for many Christians.

Here are the key words that we're going to be using in the learning today.

We're going to practice saying them now.

I'm going to say one, and then you are going to say one.

So let's start with the first one, crucifixion.

Crucifixion: a Roman method of execution.

Resurrection.

Resurrection: the Christian belief that Jesus came back to life after He died on the cross.

Forgiveness.

Forgiveness: this means letting go of resentment and anger.

Denomination.

Denomination: the term for a branch of Christianity.

Keep your eyes peeled because we'll be referring back to these keywords throughout the learning today.

Here is the lesson outline.

In the first part of the lesson, we're going to look at: what happened to Jesus in Jerusalem? And in the second part we'll look at: why do Christians visit Jerusalem today? We're going to start with: what happened to Jesus in Jerusalem? Here is Laura.

Laura explains how we use social science in religious education.

Laura says, "Social scientists are interested in how people live.

They consider how context such as where they live or when they lived affects this.

We can better understand people's worldviews by looking at photographs or analyzing data.

We can survey or interview people to find out more about their worldview." In this lesson, we will be using photographs and interviews to help us to understand why some Christians go on pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

This is a map of the world drawn in 1581.

What do you notice? How does it look different to the way we would draw it today? You might want to pause the video now whilst you inspect that image more deeply and consider those questions.

Well, the continents are not drawn in the way we know they look now.

Jerusalem, as you can see, has been placed at the center of the world.

For Christians at that time, Jerusalem was the most important place in the world.

Jerusalem has been a place of pilgrimage for many centuries.

Christians still go on pilgrimage to the city of Jerusalem today.

There are many sites in the city that are connected to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

So let's take a moment to check our understanding.

Which two of the following statements are true about Jerusalem? Will you choose: a, early Christian maps showed Jerusalem as the center of the world; b, Christians have been making pilgrimages to Jerusalem for centuries; or c, Jerusalem is no longer important to Christians today? You're going to want to pause the video now whilst you consider which two are the right answers.

The right answers are: a, early Christian maps showed Jerusalem as the center of the world; and b, Christians have been making pilgrimages to Jerusalem for centuries.

Really well done if you got that one right.

Here is Danielle.

Danielle is a Roman Catholic Christian.

She's making a pilgrimage to Jerusalem with her family.

Danielle says, "We can't wait to get to Jerusalem.

We are hoping to arrive in Holy Week so we can take part in remembering the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus." Here's David.

David is an Anglican Christian.

He is also planning to go on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

David says, "All my life I've heard about the story of Jesus' crucifixion and how He was raised back to life.

We learn about it in my church, and so it's going to be important for me to see where it happened." So let's check our understanding with a true or false question.

Only Roman Catholic Christians go on pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

You're going to want to pause the video now whilst do you think, is the answer true or false, and why? The answer is false.

Christians from many different denominations visit Jerusalem, including Roman Catholic Christians, such as Danielle, and Anglican Christians, such as David.

Really well done if you got that answer right.

Christians believe that Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection took place in Jerusalem.

Christians go on pilgrimage to Jerusalem so they can visit the places that are connected to these important events in the life of Jesus.

So it'd be a good time now to remember and reflect on the stories of what happened to Jesus in Jerusalem.

In the Bible, all four gospels record the story of Jesus' crucifixion, death and resurrection.

Christians remember these events each year during Holy Week, the days leading up to Easter Sunday.

Many Christians who go on pilgrimage try to visit Jerusalem at this time to visit the sites connected to the story.

Jesus traveled up to Jerusalem on what is now known as Palm Sunday.

The city was the center of the Jewish world with the imposing temple at its center.

At this time, it was occupied by the Romans.

On the Thursday evening, Jesus celebrated the Jewish Passover with His disciples.

At the meal, Jesus told them that the bread and wine represented His body and blood, which would be given for them.

The disciples didn't fully understand what He meant, but Jesus was referring to His forthcoming betrayal and death.

One of the disciples, Judas Iscariot, left the meal early as he had planned to betray Jesus.

After the meal finished, Jesus and the disciples went to the Garden of Gethsemane on the edge of the city.

Jesus prayed, but His disciples fell asleep as it was nighttime.

As Jesus was speaking, a mob of armed men from the religious authorities approached.

Judas had told them where to find Jesus, and now showed them who he was by greeting him with a kiss.

They took Jesus away and brought Him to the chief priests and other authorities who questioned Him and accused Him of blasphemy or claiming to be God.

They decided to send Him to the Roman Governor Pontius Pilate for trial.

The Garden of Gethsemane still exists as you can see in this photograph.

It still contains olive trees that grow in the heat of Jerusalem.

Many Christians will visit to remember the time Jesus spent in prayer.

Early on Friday morning, the religious leaders tied Jesus up and took Him to the Roman Governor Pontius Pilate.

Pilate didn't want to deal with religious matters, but wanted to avoid unrest.

Instead of questioning Jesus about blasphemy, he asked Him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" Jesus did not answer this question.

So eventually Pilate ordered his soldiers to beat Jesus and to crucify Him.

The soldiers led Jesus off to be crucified at a hill just outside the city called Calvary.

They made Jesus carry His heavy cross through the streets of Jerusalem.

Today, this route is known as the Via Dolorosa or Way of Suffering.

It leads through the narrow busy streets of the Old City with cobbles polished by centuries of pilgrim's feet.

There are inscriptions along the way marking where Jesus walked.

Many Christians walked this way and remember Jesus being led to crucifixion.

So let's take a moment to check our understanding with a quick question.

What might pilgrims do on the Via Dolorosa? Will you choose: a, pilgrims can walk the route Jesus took carrying His cross; b, pilgrims can visit the garden where Jesus was betrayed; or c, pilgrims can see a statue of Pontius Pilate? You're going to want to pause the video now whilst you choose the right answer.

The right answer is: a, pilgrims can walk the route Jesus took carrying His cross.

Really well done if you got that one right.

So back to the story of what happened to Jesus in Jerusalem.

When they reached the place called Calvary, the soldiers nailed Jesus to a cross and gambled for His clothes.

About midday, Jesus called out, "My God, why have you deserted me?" And shortly afterwards, He died.

Jesus' body was taken down from the cross.

A local Jewish leader, Joseph asked Pilate for Jesus' body and laid Him in a tomb nearby.

Because it was the eve of Shavuot, the Jewish holy day, there was no time to prepare the body, but it was wrapped in cloth and the tomb was sealed.

After the Sabbath had finished very early on the Sunday morning, some women came back to prepare the body properly for burial.

There was surprised to see that the tomb was open and there was no sign of the body.

An angel told them that Jesus was raised from the dead and that they should go and tell the disciples.

The gospel writers record a number of occasions over the following weeks where Jesus appeared to His disciples, even though He seemed different to them, Christians believed Jesus had been raised to life, and this is called the resurrection.

The Church of the Holy Sepulcher was built in the fourth century on the site where it is believed that Jesus was crucified and also buried.

It's the holiest site in Christianity.

The church is shared between different denominations and contains an altar with stones believed to be the site of where the crucifixion happened.

Many Christians of all denominations and nationalities visit to make a pilgrimage to this place.

So let's check our understanding with a quick true or false question.

Many Christians consider the Church a the Holy Sepulcher to be the holiest site in Jerusalem.

You're going to want to pause the video now whilst do you think, is the answer true or false, and why? The answer is true.

The Church of the Holy Sepulcher contains what many Christians believe to be the site of Jesus' crucifixion and burial.

Really well done if you got that answer right.

It's time for a task now.

Izzy is explaining why Jerusalem is important to many Christians.

She says, "Christians have been visiting Jerusalem for centuries.

They believe that Jesus was crucified and raised back to life there.

Christians can walk along the Via Dolorosa to remember how Jesus walked with His cross.

The Via Dolorosa is the most important Christian site because it is the only one." Ah, well, three of Izzy's sentences are correct.

Identify the correct sentences and then explain why the remaining sentences incorrect.

You going to want to pause the video now once you complete this task, and I look forward to seeing what you put.

I wonder what you said.

Maybe you put something like this.

The correct sentences are: Christians have been visiting Jerusalem for centuries; they believe that Jesus was crucified and raised back to life there; and Christians can walk along the Via Dolorosa to remember how Jesus walked with His cross.

This sentence is incorrect.

The Via Dolorosa is the most important Christian site because it is the only one.

This statement is incorrect because Christians also visit sites such as the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and the Garden of Gethsemane to help them remember important events in Jesus' life.

Really well done for putting lots of effort in to complete that task.

That means that we've completed the first part of our learning today, looking at what happened to Jesus in Jerusalem.

We are now going to move on to look at: why do Christians visit Jerusalem today? Here is David.

David explains his experience of pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

David says, "When we arrived, we queued to get into the Old City of Jerusalem.

I queued with people from many different nationalities and Christian denominations.

It was amazing to be with different Christians from all around the world.

We might have some differences, but we all have the same purpose, to walk where Jesus walked." Here's Danielle.

Danielle explains why she went on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

Danielle says, "As a Roman Catholic, it is important for me to pray at the holy sites where Jesus lived.

I believe this will bring me closer to God." So let's check our understanding with another true or false question.

Only Christians from the UK go on pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

Is the answer true or false? You're going to want to pause the video now whilst you consider if the answer is true or false and why.

The answer is false.

Christians from all over the world visit Jerusalem to go on pilgrimage and see important places linked to the life of Jesus.

Really well done if you got that one right.

Here's David again.

David says, "In the Garden of Gethsemane, I thought about Jesus' betrayal and also of all the conflict there has been in the city since then.

I prayed for forgiveness for times when I've let other people down." Danielle says, "Via Dolorosa is the route along which Jesus carried His cross.

It is Latin for the Way of Suffering.

I felt thoughtful when I realized that I was walking in the actual footsteps of Jesus." Priests lead the pilgrims in prayers at different points or stations on the route around Jerusalem.

David says, "We read stories about the life of Jesus from the Bible whenever we stopped.

It was powerful to be surrounded by Christians from so many different denominations." Let's take a moment to check our understanding with a quick question.

How did David and Danielle feel when visiting the sites in Jerusalem? Will you choose: a, thoughtful; b, noisy; c, prayerful; or d, confused? You're going to want to pause the video now whilst you select the right answers.

The correct answers were: a, thoughtful; and c, prayerful.

Well done if you selected the right answers.

Here is a picture of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

What do you see? What do you notice? You might want to pause the video now whilst you inspect the image in more detail.

I wonder what you might have spotted.

Maybe you saw the gold decoration.

Maybe you saw an image of Jesus on the cross.

Maybe you saw the original stone of Calvary protected by glass.

I wonder what else you saw.

The picture shows the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

It is believed to be the site of Jesus' tomb and resurrection.

Do you think this place has always looked like this? Danielle explains her experience of visiting the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

Danielle says, "The shrine was very busy and noisy with Christians from different denominations holding services and saying prayers at the same time." Danielle reflected on the Church of the Holy Sepulcher Danielle says, "Although it's very noisy, I'm glad to see many different Christians gathered at the place where Jesus had died for the forgiveness of our sins.

It has made my faith much more personal and real." So let's take a moment to check our understanding with a quick question.

What impact did visiting the Church of the Holy Sepulcher have on Danielle? Choose two statements.

Will you choose: a, she found it too noisy and couldn't enjoy it; b, it made her faith more personal and real; or c, she was glad to see different Christians gathered together.

Again remember, you need to choose two statements for this one.

You're going to want to pause the video now whilst you select the right answers.

The right answers are: b, it made her faith more personal and real; and c, she was glad to see different Christians gathered together.

Really well done if you got that one right.

Ah, it's David again.

The pilgrimage to Jerusalem had an impact on David's life when he returned home.

David says, "In Jerusalem, I prayed for peace and justice in the world.

I made a promise to God that I would volunteer in my local community when I got back." The pilgrimage to Jerusalem also had an impact on Danielle's life when she returned home.

Danielle says, "It was amazing to walk in the footsteps of Jesus and see Christians of all denominations walking the Via Dolorosa.

I think next year I will join in the Walk of Witness on Good Friday with the people from all the churches in my community." So let's check our understanding with a quick true or false question.

True or false? A pilgrimage to Jerusalem might have an impact on Christians when they return home.

You going to want to pause the video now whilst do you think, is the answer true or false, and why? The answer is true.

David said he was going to do some voluntary work and Danielle was going to join a walk of witness with Christians of all denominations.

Really well done if you got that answer right.

It's time for a task now.

Choose either David or Danielle.

Describe how they felt about their visit to Jerusalem.

Try to include one reason why they went on pilgrimage, one feeling or emotion they had while they were there and one thing they chose to do as a result of their pilgrimage.

You're going to want to pause the video now whilst you complete this task, and I look forward to seeing what you put.

Well done for completing that task.

I wonder what you said.

Maybe you said: David wanted to visit Jerusalem to see the places he had heard about in church.

He felt sad about conflict in the world, so he prayed for peace and justice and forgiveness for things he had done wrong.

He promised a volunteer in his local community when he got back.

If you chose Danielle, you might have written: Danielle wanted to visit Jerusalem to remember the story of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.

She was amazed at all the people from different denominations all praying and meditating.

She planned to go on the Walk of Witness on Good Friday with Christians from other churches in the area.

Really well done for putting in lots of effort to complete that task.

Well, that concludes the lesson for today.

So let's summarize what we've learned together.

We found out that Christians have been making pilgrimages to Jerusalem for many centuries.

Jerusalem is a holy place for Christians of all denominations.

Christians may make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem to visit places associated with Jesus' life, death, and resurrection.

Christians remember Jerusalem as the site of Jesus' crucifixion.

And finally, some Christians pray and ask for forgiveness as they visit holy sites around the city.

What a fantastic job you've done with this lesson and it's been a real joy to work alongside you.

I look forward to working with you again soon, but bye for now.