Lesson Objectives:

1. Lesson Objectives: To know who the 5 main social groups were at the time of Jesus To understand why these groups might have been unhappy with Jesus as the Messiah

2. Starter: Look up to someone Want to please them ADMIRE Respect someone Want to be like someone

3. Task one • 1) in the back of your books describe in 2 points a person you admire. • 2) don’t say who that person is – we’ll have a guess • It can be anyone: footballer, actor, musician or even a member of your family.

4. Who do you think Admires Jesus? Who do you think Worships Jesus? What’s the difference between admiring and worshiping someone?

5. Definition you need… • Admire - the word admire means you look up to someone, respect them and maybe want to be like them. • Worship - if you worship someone you are usually willing to do anything they say without question

6. What’s a Messiah? • The Jews at the time of Jesus were waiting and hoping for the Messiah to come and free them from the Romans who had taken over their country. • There was some argument between the Jews as to what this Messiah would be like, but they all agreed he would be their leader.

7. The Pharisees • These were not priests, but ordinary men. • They though that they kept the Jewish law’s better than everyone else and kept themselves separate from other Jews.

8. The Sadducees • These were a group of rich and powerful Jews • Many of them were priests at the temple which they looked after • They collected taxes from Jewish worshippers to pay for the temple and their own living

9. The Essenes • This group were even stricter than the Pharisees and believed that the Religion had been spoiled. • They lived in small groups away from the city, to keep the laws ‘pure’.

10. The Scribes • The scribes were like lawyers • They checked the laws and judged situations • The Romans allowed them to rule on Religious matters only

11. The Zealots • These were a rebel group apposed to the Romans, they were like ancient terrorists • They refused to pay taxes and tried to begin wars, riots and revolts

12. Task two:1) Draw a spidergram in your books 2) add 2 pieces of information about each group to it. . • Pharisees • not priests • Kept the laws strictly

13. What sort of a Messiah do you think each of these groups would have wanted? • Write one sentence for each group • Include why you think they wanted a Messiah like that • Do you think they would have been pleased or disappointed with Jesus as the Messiah? • Give reasons for your answer

14. What have we learned? To know who the 5 main social groups were at the time of Jesus To understand why these groups might have been unhappy with Jesus as the Messiah