At Jerusalem’s Gate
By Nikki Grimes
Illustrated By: David
Frampton
Discussion Questions:
- Why is Jesus called “the true Lamb of God?” To what
Jewish holy day does this allude?
- Why were the Pharisees and Sadducees threatened by
Jesus?
- How do we, as Jesus commands, “Serve one another?” What
can this mean in our everyday lives?
- What is a sacrament? What are other examples in the
Christian faith? Why are they important?
- If Jesus could question God’s will in the Garden of
Gethsemane then can we? Is faith lessened or strengthened by questioning? Why?
- What do you think of the author’s question: Was it
Judas’ destiny to betray Jesus or simply a choice?
- Have you ever been haunted by a dream as Pilot’s wife
was? Did you change your behavior based off a dream?
- Why was the beating of Jesus not enough to satisfy?
- Could you pray “Father, forgive them for they know not
what they do” in the face of your own suffering?
- Had you heard of Simon, Father of Rufus before? What did
you learn?
- Why did most of the disciples scatter once Jesus was
arrested? Who stayed with him? Could you have stayed?
- What can we learn from the story of the Highwayman?
- Do you think Malchus was forever changed by Jesus’ act
of mercy?
- Do you think Mary’s faith was tested watching her son
suffer?
- Why do you think Mary Magdalene did not at first
recognize Jesus?
- What would you have said to Jesus had he appeared to
you?
Projects:
Make a timeline of the events from Jerusalem’s Gate to the
Resurrection. Make illustrations to go with the timeline, and then display it in
the hallway for others to see.
Get extra Styrofoam meat trays from the grocery store and
then use a very sharp pencil to scribe a scene from the text. Then press the
tray onto an ink pad or wash it with paint, then press to white paper. These can
be used to illustrate the timeline, or as a project itself.
Create a cross out of masonry nails (blunt edged) and tie
together with thin gauge wire also found at many hardware stores. Make a loop at
the top to string black thread through and wear as a necklace (or red ribbon, to
signify Jesus’ suffering) or mount on a piece of hearth shaped wood that has
been painted and with black marker carefully letter: Because of Him, I Am
Forgiven.
Discover new hymns based on Easter at this site:
http://www.lnwbooks.com/products/topics/easterTheme.htm
Read the lyrics and discuss or write a short journal about
them. Try your hand at your own narrative poetry or hymn based upon the life of
Jesus.
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