Lesson 28 Show Appreciation for What Jehovah and Jesus Did for You
[Image:] People passing a plate of unleavened bread during the Lord’s Evening Meal.
[Press play to hear the MP3 of the Lesson]
How do you feel when a friend gives you a beautiful gift? Likely, it makes you very happy and you want to show your friend that you appreciate the gift. Jehovah and Jesus gave us the greatest gift we could ever receive. What is it, and how can we show that we are grateful for it?
1. What is one way to show appreciation for what God and Christ did for us?
The Bible promises that “everyone exercising faith in [Jesus]” can live forever. (John 3:16)
[Quotation] John 3:16: “For God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life. [End Quotation]
What does it mean to exercise faith? It means more than just believing in Jesus. We also need to show our faith by the choices we make and the things we do. (James 2:17)
[Quotation] James 2:17: So, too, faith by itself, without works, is dead. [End Quotation]
When we show our faith by what we do and what we say, we strengthen our friendship with Jesus and his Father, Jehovah. Read John 14:21.
[Read scripture] John 14:21: Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. In turn, whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and will clearly show myself to him.” [End of Read scripture]
2. What special event helps us to show our gratitude for what Jehovah and Jesus did?
The evening before he died, Jesus told his followers about another way to show gratitude for his sacrifice. He introduced a special observance that the Bible calls “the Lord’s Evening Meal,” also known as the Memorial of Christ’s death. (1 Corinthians 11:20)
[Quotation] 1 Corinthians 11:20: When you come together in one place, it is not really to eat the Lord’s Evening Meal. [End Quotation]
Jesus instituted it so that his apostles, and all true Christians after them, would remember that he gave his life for us. Regarding this observance, Jesus commanded: “Keep doing this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19)
[Quotation] Luke 22:19: Also, he took a loaf, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to them, saying: “This means my body, which is to be given in your behalf. Keep doing this in remembrance of me.” [End Quotation]
When you attend the Memorial, you show that you are grateful for the great love that Jehovah and Jesus have for us.
Dig Deeper
Examine further ways to show appreciation for the great love shown by Jehovah and Jesus. Consider the importance of the Memorial of Christ’s death.
3. Gratitude moves us to action
Imagine that someone saved you from drowning. Would you simply forget about what that person did for you? Or would you look for ways to show him that you are grateful for what he did?
We owe our lives to Jehovah. Read 1 John 4:8 through 10, and then discuss these questions:
Why is Jesus’ sacrifice a special gift?
How do you feel about what Jehovah and Jesus did for you?
[Read scripture] 1 John 4:8 through 10: Whoever does not love has not come to know God, because God is love. By this the love of God was revealed in our case, that God sent his only-begotten Son into the world so that we might gain life through him. The love is in this respect, not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a propitiatory sacrifice for our sins. [End of Read scripture]
How can we show our appreciation for what Jehovah and Jesus did for us? Read 2 Corinthians 5:15 and 1 John 4:11 and 5:3. After reading each scripture, discuss this question:
Based on that scripture, what can we do to show our gratitude?
[Read scripture] 2 Corinthians 5:15: And he died for all so that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for him who died for them and was raised up. [End of Read scripture]
[Read scripture] 1 John 4:11: Beloved ones, if this is how God loved us, then we are also under obligation to love one another. [End of Read scripture]
[Read scripture] 1 John 5:3: For this is what the love of God means, that we observe his commandments; and yet his commandments are not burdensome, [End of Read scripture]
4. Imitate Jesus
Another way to show our appreciation is by imitating Jesus. Read 1 Peter 2:21, and then discuss the question that follows:
[Read scripture] 1 Peter 2:21: In fact, to this course you were called, because even Christ suffered for you, leaving a model for you to follow his steps closely. [End of Read scripture]
In what ways could you follow Jesus’ steps closely?
[Image:] Jesus reading God’s Word from a scroll. [Image:] Jesus speaking to a Samaritan woman at a well. [Image:] Jesus healing a sick man. Caption: Jesus loved God’s Word, preached the good news, and helped others
5. Observe the Memorial of Christ’s death
To see what happened during the first observance of the Lord’s Evening Meal, read Luke 22:14 and 19 and 20. Then discuss the questions that follows:
[Read scripture] Luke 22:14: So when the hour came, he reclined at the table along with the apostles. [End of Read scripture]
[Read scripture] Luke 22:19 and 20: Also, he took a loaf, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to them, saying: “This means my body, which is to be given in your behalf. Keep doing this in remembrance of me.” Also, he did the same with the cup after they had the evening meal, saying: “This cup means the new covenant by virtue of my blood, which is to be poured out in your behalf. [End of Read scripture]
What happened at the Lord’s Evening Meal?
What do the bread and the wine represent? See verses 19 and 20.
Jesus intended for his disciples to observe the Lord’s Evening Meal once a year on the anniversary of his death. Thus, Jehovah’s Witnesses meet together yearly to remember Christ’s death in the way that he commanded. To learn about this important meeting, play the video Remember Jesus’ Death (1:41). Then discuss the question that follows.
[Click for Transcript]|[Remember Jesus Death]
Presenter: Imagine a world filled with peace,
[A waterfall in a lush rainforest]
free of suffering,
[Children run on along a shoreline]
an abundance of food for all,
[Friends around a bounteous table]
and life in perfect health.
[As waves roll onto a beach, a young couple strolls hand in hand]
But how can this beautiful future be possible? Because of what Jesus did for us.
[Onlookers watch Jesus drag his torture stake]
He came to earth for a purpose.
[Soldiers sink the stake into the ground]
He gave his life for those he loved. The night before he died, Jesus asked that we commemorate his sacrifice.
[Jesus at the Lord’s evening meal]
He said: Keep doing this in remembrance of me.
[Text: Luke 22:19, New World Translation]
On the anniversary of his death, people around the world will gather to remember him.
[Scenes of the memorial worldwide]
Jehovah’s Witnesses invite you and your family to attend the Memorial of Jesus’ death.
[An audience holds Bibles]
At that meeting, you will find out why his sacrifice was so important and how his promises affect you.
[They pass unleavened bread]
To learn more on what the Bible says on this, and many other topics go to JW.org.
[A Bible opens and computer icons pop up then transforms into the JW icon.
(Logo inside a White box. Black capital letter JW.ORG. Produced by Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc. Wallkill, New York, U.S.A. Copyright 2016 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania) [Click to close]
What happens at the Memorial?
[Image:] Wine being passed during the Lord’s Evening Meal. [Image:] A plate of unleavened bread and a glass of wine. Caption: The bread and the wine are emblems. The bread represents Jesus’ perfect human body that he sacrificed for us. The wine represents his blood
[Box]
Some People Say: “All you have to do to be saved is believe in Jesus.”
How could you use John 3:16 and James 2:17 to show that more is needed?
[Read scripture] John 3:16: “For God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life. [End of Read scripture]
[Read scripture] James 2:17: So, too, faith by itself, without works, is dead. [End of Read scripture] [End of box]
Summary
We show appreciation for what Jesus did for us by exercising faith in him and by attending the Memorial of his death.
Review
What does it mean to exercise faith in Jesus?
How would you like to show your appreciation for what Jehovah and Jesus did for you?
Why is it so important to attend the Memorial of Christ’s death?
Goal
Attend the next Memorial of Christ’s death. Ask your Bible teacher when it will be, and mark the date on your calendar. Set Other Goals
Explore
What does Christ’s death motivate us to do? He Used His Body to Honor Jehovah (9:28)
[Click for transcript]|[Coming soon] [Click to close]
Learn more about faith and how we can exercise it. “Exercise Your Faith in Jehovah’s Promises” (The Watchtower, October 2016)
[Click for article]|[Coming soon] [Click to close]
In the story “I Feel Clean, Alive, and Whole,” see the effect that learning about Christ’s sacrifice had on one woman’s life. “The Bible Changes Lives” (The Watchtower, August 1, 2011)
[Click for article]|[Coming soon] [Click to close]
Consider why few partake at the Memorial. “Why Do Jehovah’s Witnesses Observe the Lord’s Supper Differently From the Way Other Religions Do?” (Web article)
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