YEA Lesson Library
Jesus Goes to Heaven
About This Lesson
This lesson teaches that Jesus sat down at the right hand of the Father in heaven after His resurrection. He intercedes for us when we repent of our sins.
Scriptures
Mark 16:19
Luke 24:44-53
Acts 1:6-11
Romans 5:1-3
Hebrews 4:14-16
Hebrews 7:23-27
1 Timothy 2:3-6
Hebrews 12:2
Words to Know
INTERCEDE - to come between two people to try to resolve the conflict
MERCY - kindness and forgiveness when a penalty is due
INTERCESSOR - someone who intercedes for another
REPENT - to feel sorry for your actions and to make a change
SYMPATHIZE - to understand and share the feelings of someone else
CONFIDENCE - free from fear of disapproval or failure
The Lesson
Stacy’s little brother, Matt, had broken the huge living room window of a neighbor’s house with a foul ball. Yep, Matt was going to be in big trouble, Stacy thought regretfully. Stacy often thought that Matt was a pest, but she really liked her little brother. She really hated to see him get into trouble.
Stacy decided to see what she could do to help ease the situation with her parents. She walked into the kitchen and started setting the table for dinner. Her mom asked how her day at school had been and Stacy told her about the big pep rally. It didn’t take long before her mother was excited about the next game. Stacy knew this was the best time to tell her mom about Matt breaking the picture window. Stacy’s mother didn’t like what she was hearing, but she understood what had happened. Matt ended up getting grounded. He had to promise to turn over his allowance until he had paid for the picture window. Matt felt that he had gotten off pretty lightly – everything considered. That’s why he knocked on Stacy’s bedroom door later that evening. He wanted to thank her for interceding with his parents for him. She was really the best sister a guy could have!
Have you ever wondered what happened to Jesus after He was resurrected from the tomb? What does He do now? Did you wonder whether His work with us was finished after He died for those who believe in Him? We will talk about what His job is now in a minute. First, let’s look at what happened after Jesus was seen by so many people.
“He said to them, ‘This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.’ Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, ‘This is what is written: That Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:44-49). Jesus spent more time teaching His disciples, opening their minds to understand what was written in the Bible, and getting them ready for what He wanted them to do next.
Acts 1:8 records that Jesus told them, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” We’ll talk more about this in Lesson Ten.
What did Christ do after He had said all of these things to His disciples? “After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight” (Acts 1:9). Was Jesus just somewhere up in the clouds? You know from your memory verse, Mark 16:19, that Jesus is seated at the right hand of God. “After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God.”
What is Jesus doing now? One thing that Jesus is doing is interceding for us with the Father. It’s kind of like the story of Stacy and Matt. Stacy loves and understands her little brother. She doesn’t want him to get into big trouble. Jesus is like our Older Brother who loves us and doesn’t want us to get into trouble either. Jesus saves us from getting into trouble because He died for us. Now He sits beside our Father in heaven and, “He is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them” (Hebrews 7:25).
Do you understand how important it is to have Jesus interceding for us? Without Jesus we would be in really big trouble. Everybody sins, and the penalty for sin is death. Jesus’ death pays the penalty for our sins, but it is not automatic. We must go before God to say we’re sorry for what we’ve done, and that we never intend to do it again. That means we repent. When we do repent, Jesus is there to understand and to intercede. He knows what it means to be human. Because he knows, Jesus can sit beside God the Father to intercede for us when we repent for having done something wrong. Praise God that we can “approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16)!
Student Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the incredible gift of Your Son, Jesus, who lives to intercede for us when we repent before you!
In His name we pray.
Amen.
Daily Devotions
Sunday - Luke 24:44-53
Monday - Acts 1:6-11
Tuesday - Hebrews 12:2
Wednesday - Romans 5:1-3
Thursday - Hebrews 4:14-16
Friday - Hebrews 7:23-27
Saturday - 1 Timothy 2:3-6
Objectives
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
1. Relate what happened to Jesus after His resurrection.
2. Explain part of what Jesus does now.
3. Relate the importance of having an Intercessor to intercede on our behalf when we go before the throne of grace.
Topics & Themes
Forgiveness
Fulfillment of Prophecy
Holy Spirit
Jesus, Ascension of
Jesus, in Heaven
Jesus, Intercessor
Jesus, Older Brother
Jesus, Savior
Repentance
Witnesses
Materials Needed
Bible, student’s and teacher books, attendance and memory verse charts, stars, pencils, role play cards, chalk board and chalk or poster paper and markers, songbook, CD/cassette tape and music player.
Preparation
Some of these vocabulary words can be difficult ones to understand, especially the nuances of meaning. To aid the students, write the words in sentences on the chalk board before the class begins. Be sure to underline the vocabulary word in each sentence. Then to start class, have a volunteer read one sentence. Ask for a definition of the vocabulary word. Once the definition has been thoroughly discussed, ask for a volunteer to create a sentence using the word. Ask for three sentences for each word. This is an effective way to ensure the students are understanding the meaning of the word and its usage.
Create a set of role play cards for use in the activity. Some possible situations: 1) Daughter talking to Mother about a window broken by sibling; 2) Three friends: one friend trying to patch up a misunderstanding between other two; 3) Family discussion of where to eat dinner: one family member intercedes with pertinent information that changes the decision; 4) Two friends arguing about whether to play baseball or basketball – third friend intercedes to soothe tempers and achieve consensus.
How to Teach This Lesson
REAL LIFE APPLICATION - Ask the students to share an example of when someone inter- ceded for them. Have them share how differently things turned out than they might have. (You may wish to have one ready to share to get them started.)
AFTER THE RESURRECTION - Ask, “What did Jesus do after He was resurrected?” Turn to Luke 24:44 and ask for a volunteer to read through verse 49. Talk about Jesus teaching His disciples. Show them that He spent 40 days working with them, before Pentecost (Acts 1:3).
PREPARING THE DISCIPLES FOR THEIR MISSION - Ask: “Why do you think Jesus had to spend time after His resurrection teaching His disciples?” It was necessary to prepare them for what they needed to do next. Ask the students to remember this point; they will talk about that more in Lesson Ten.
TAKEN UP INTO HEAVEN – Ask: “What does the Bible say happened to Jesus after He had spent this extra time teaching His disciples?” Read Acts 1:8. Ask: “Did He just disappear into the clouds until it is time for Him to come back and set up His kingdom on the earth?” Then check memory verse memorization; ask them to recite Mark 16:19.
AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD - Ask: “What does Jesus do, seated at the right hand of God?” Remind the students of the story of Matt and Stacy and what it means to intercede for someone. Discuss the fact that Jesus came to earth, lived as a human, and was tempted in every way that we are tempted. He knows what it means to be human and to have weaknesses, but He never sinned (Hebrews 4:15). Therefore, He understands us and is able to go to the Father on our behalf. That means we can boldly go before the throne of grace when we repentantly ask for forgiveness, knowing that we will find mercy and grace. (Hebrews 4:16) Furthermore, Christ ever lives to make intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25). It may take a lot of discussion and application of what has happened to the students in their own lives to understand the concept of intercession. It’s worth taking time to help them understand.
Review Questions
1. What did Jesus do after He was resurrected from the tomb?
2. Where did Jesus go when He ascended into heaven?
3. What is part of Jesus role today for each of us?
4. What does it mean to intercede for someone?
5. How important is it to have an intercessor?
Teacher-Directed Activity
Using the set of role play cards (possibilities outlined in Preparation section), have the students work through several situations where three people are involved, one of them must take the role of intercessor. Once they’ve worked through the situation, discuss with them the importance of having an intercessor. Ask them what would have happened in each case, if an intercessor had not been part of the situation. They may wish to replay a couple of the situations without the intercessor.
If time, allow the students to create their own role plays to present to the rest of the class. Be sure to include an intercessor for each.
Discuss with the students Jesus’ role as intercessor. Why is He in a unique position to intercede for us with the Father? (He sympathizes with our weaknesses, He sits at the right hand of God, He ever lives.) Ask them what the end result will be of Jesus intercession for us. (He is able to save completely those who come through Him to God.)
REACH Activity
Word Study: Dexios (dex-ee-os’)
The phrase “right hand” from Mark 16:19 is the Greek word dexios, and means the right side or hand. “A person of high rank who puts anyone on his right hand gives him equal honor with himself and recognizes him as of equal dignity.” Mark is telling us that God the Father put Jesus on His right hand.
There are two points to catch here: 1) God the Father is giving His Son equal honor and dignity. They are both part of the God family. 2) Mark knows this! Mark knows that God the Father has seated Jesus at His right hand.
Now, go back and read Psalm 110:1 in this context. Write your conclusions in your Bible notebook and share what you have found with your family.
Did You Know?
Acts 1:9 says, “. . . he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.” This would have been incredible to see for the disciples—especially since the meaning of the words indicates that Jesus was taken up on God’s shekinah glory—His visible presence! What an awesome sight! (Source: NIV Archaeological Study Bible, p. 1767.)
Music Notes: Love Divine, All Loves Excelling
“Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” on page 17 of the CEM Hymnal is another of the 6500 hymns written by Charles Wesley (1707-1788), who is called the “sweet bard of Methodism.” This hymn was written in 1747. Charles Wesley used the hymn, as hymns were typically teaching tools, to teach concepts concerning God’s love, sanctification, conversion, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and dwelling with Christ in His kingdom. (Source: Amazing Grace, Osbeck, K., p. 45.)
Read through the words of the hymn and the Scriptures provided below. Write in your Bible notebook support for saying that God the Father and Jesus Christ’s love surpasses (is greater than) all other loves.
To whom is this hymn addressed? (Jesus Christ.) Discuss love divine, all loves excelling. Why would Christians consider Jesus Christ to excel all loves?
Verse One: Jesus Christ came to earth, dwells within us, gives us salvation (1 John 4:9; John 3:16, 15:5, 1:14).
Verse Two: When Jesus went to heaven, God sent the Holy Spirit to live in those who believe and are baptized so they can have the power to gain eternal life (John 1:12, 14:15-16; Acts 1:8).
Verse Three: Jesus will deliver us from sin and will return to gather His people. If we are part of that group, we will praise and serve God always (John 14:18; Matthew 28:20).
Verse Four: God will finish the work He has begun in each of us to make us spotless before His throne. It is then we become children, or sons of God (Philippians 1:6; Ephesians 1:13-14; Colossians 1:28; 1 John 3:1).
Journal Jot
Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection was sandwiched between events which powerfully honored Him! Divide a piece of paper (in your Bible notebook) in half. In one column, write all of the ways Jesus was honored as Messiah and King during the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. Go back and look at Lesson 1 in your YEA book, if you need to. On the other side of the paper, write how God the Father glorified the Son as He was raised from the dead and taken up to heaven.
Back to the Bible
Another word for “fulfilled” is completed. When you read Luke 24:44 with the word completed substituted for fulfilled, you may get a clearer picture of what Jesus was saying to the disciples: Everything must be completed. . . Jesus, the only begotten Son of God, was sent to be a living sacrifice for us; to die for our sins, so that we wouldn’t have to.
From YEA Lesson 9 you read that Jesus went to heaven. Jesus Christ stayed on earth for about 33 years until His job in the flesh was completed. He came as a baby, grew up and lived as an earthly man, though He was the Son of God. He taught and healed and performed miracles. Yet His job in the flesh was not completed until He died for our sins. After His resurrection He was taken from the sight of the disciples and a cloud hid Him from their eyes. Jesus now sits at the right hand of the Father interceding for us when we pray. Remember to pray and thank God for His son who intercedes for us, and for completing His work in the flesh.
Just Toolin’ Around
Use a Bible dictionary to find these words: repent, mercy, and grace. Write the meaning of each one in your Bible notebook. Under each meaning explain how that word relates to YEA Lesson 9.
What does the phrase “throne of grace” mean to you after learning the meanings of the words mercy and grace? The phrase is found in Hebrews 4:16.
Stretch It Out
Write a prayer in your Bible notebook asking Jesus to help you stand firm against sin. Ask Jesus to lead you away from temptation and to give you a repentant heart when you sin. Add this event to your timeline.
Questions?
Remember to write any questions you have in your Bible notebook. That way you will remember to ask your parents, teacher, or minister.
Song
“Praise Him, Praise Him” is on page 76 in Kids Classics Collection.
Closing Prayer
Lead the students to thank God for making Jesus Christ our Savior and Intercessor.
Printable Pages
