Using a Jacob’s Ladder Lesson for Sunday School
THE PRESENTATION AT THE TEMPLE
Jacob’s Ladder is a home-study course for children that can be adapted for use in Sunday School.
A variety of activities are included in each lesson so that parents can select activities that are best
suited to their child. When using the same material as a Sunday School lesson, you will need to
select readings and activities that you can manage in your teaching time-frame. This guide is
designed to walk you through the lesson and show you ways to make it work for a 20-25 minute
Sunday School period.
Prepare
1. Prepare for your lesson by reading the story from the Word, Luke 2:21-40, several times.
2. Read over the Parent Pages and Presentation at the Temple pages. Look through all of the
activities offered for the lesson.
3. Think of three main ideas that you would like the children to take away from the lesson.
Here are some examples:
• Joseph and Mary brought the baby Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem to offer thanks for
His birth.
• Simeon loved the Lord and was waiting to see Him before he died.
• Anna was old and loved the Lord.
• Simeon and Anna were led by the Lord to recognize Him when He was brought to the
temple as a baby.
• Anna and Simeon were very happy to find the Lord.
• We can find the Lord in His Word.
Select
4. Think about how much time you have to spend on reading and discussion during the lesson.
(5, 10 or15 minutes?)
5. Start with the reading from the Word. Decide which other paragraphs from the lesson you
will paraphrase or read. Mark the margins of the text if you would find it helpful.
6. Choose the three main ideas you are going to discuss. Write them down.
7. Choose one activity to use as a follow-up. Children usually prefer an activity they can take
home and share with their family. Seeing it at home will bring the lesson to mind also. The
Christmas Decoration or Temple Collage are both good choices for this lesson.
8. Gather activity supplies, being sure you have plenty for everyone.
9. If you have some speedy artists in your group, you may want to make copies of the page
Underline the Correct Answer to have on hand as further enrichment.
Teach
10. Enjoy using the colored illustrations as you share the story with the children. Be sure to
communicate the miracle of the Lord’s advent!
11. Playing Christmas music while the children complete the activity will add a special touch to
the lesson.
PRESENTATION AT THE TEMPLE
LESSON TWENTY-NINE
THE PARENT PAGES
Presentation at the Temple
Luke 2:21-40
Overview of the Story
Near the time of the Lord’s birth into the world just a few people remained who
were diligently waiting for Him and watching for the signs given in the prophecies.
These people believed in Him and loved Him. Our story is about Simeon and Anna
who were two such people. Their greatest hope was to see the Lord and to have His
prophecies fulfilled in their lifetimes. Because Simeon and Anna had such devotion,
the Lord was able to open their spiritual eyes to see the Divine in the Baby Jesus
when He was brought to the temple. Each of them gave thanks when they realized
who this Baby was. In Simeon’s blessing He expressed his joy by saying “his eyes
had seen” salvation.
Just as the Lord was born in the darkness of night, He came at a spiritually dark
time on earth. Because of all the traditions that had been added to the Word by
Jewish religious leaders, it was not possible for even those with good hearts and
receptive minds to understand and properly apply the Word to their lives. After the
Lord’s birth He brought new and more interior truth from heaven. This new truth
brings light to the mind so people’s eyes are open to understanding spiritual things in
a whole new way, and so making salvation possible. Anna, a widow of eighty-four
years and a prophetess, gave thanks and then spread the news to all those she could
find who were looking for redemption.
Important Ideas for Your Child
•
•
•
The Lord came on earth to save people.
The Baby Jesus is the Lord God Jesus Christ.
The Lord opened the spiritual eyes of Simeon and Anna so they could see
Him and know who He was.
From the Heavenly Doctrine
The heavenly or celestial being of love does not wish to exist for
itself but for all, thus to impart all that is its own to others. It is in this
that heavenly love essentially consists. Since the Lord is love itself,
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that is, the very essence and life of everyone’s love in heaven, He
wishes to give to the human race everything that is His, which is what
He meant when He spoke about the Son of Man coming to give His
life as a redemption for many.
Arcana Coelestia 1419
Discussion Ideas
•
•
Waiting is not easy for children or adults. However, patience is required of us
in many situations. Discuss some of the things we wait for and how this wait
time can help prepare us to receive what is desired.
You may want to talk to your child about rituals surrounding his or her birth.
Getting out pictures to share brings back precious memories. Children love to
hear about the time when they were babies.
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Presentation at the Temple
Reading from the Word: Luke 2:21-40
New Words to Understand
sacrifice—to offer something to the Lord
just—honorable and fair
devout—deeply religious, devoted
consolation—being comforted or cheered from sadness
salvation—saved from the power of the hells and evil spirits
destined—known about and determined beforehand
redemption—the rescuing of something
dedicated—set apart for a special purpose, often a religious purpose
Seeing the Lord
In our last lesson we learned about a census that was taken in the Holy Land.
The Roman ruler had decreed that all the people had to return to their family town
to be registered for this. We read the beautiful story of how the Lord was born one
dark night in the little town of Bethlehem, the city of David. Remember how the
shepherds were told of this great news. The angels appeared in the bright light over
the fields where the sheep lay. These shepherds were good, innocent people who
willingly and happily believed what the angels announced to them. They hurried to
Bethlehem and found the Baby Lord with Mary and Joseph in the stable. They told
everyone they met about this special Baby.
In order to recognize the Lord, people have to be ready to receive His teachings
and His love into their hearts. In this lesson we will learn about two old people who
knew and cherished the ancient prophecies. Both of these people had lived each day
in the hope that they would see the Lord born before they died. We will find out
what they did when their spiritual eyes were opened and they recognized the Lord.
Read the story from the Word: Luke 2:21-40
Ancient customs
Following the Jewish law, Mary and Joseph had given the Baby a name when
He was eight days old. They named Him Jesus, which means Savior, as the angel
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PRESENTATION AT THE TEMPLE
had told each of them
to do.
Having children
has always been very
important to people.
In ancient times
people of many cultures made a practice
of offering a sacrifice
to celebrate the birth
of a child. The offering was a way of saying they realized the
baby was a gift from
God and of showing
their thankfulness. In
the Jewish church
people followed the
law in Leviticus, given
many years ago
through Moses. Forty
days after the birth of
a baby boy the parents would go to the
temple in Jerusalem.
They stood in the
court of the temple
and gave the priest a
lamb and a turtledove or young pigeon, or if they were poor they brought two
pigeons. Because Mary and Joseph loved the Lord, they tried to do everything that
He taught in the laws given through Moses.
At the Temple
Try to picture the scene in your mind. When Jesus was a small baby only forty
days old, Mary and Joseph carried Him to Jerusalem “to present Him to the Lord.”
They entered the temple which was a great building made of marble and gold. It
stood on one of the hills of the city and many people came there each day to pray,
to worship and to give offerings. Perhaps others were there dedicating their newborns. Baby Jesus was dedicated for a very special purpose. He was going to help
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people. He was going to redeem or rescue them from the powers of evil that
threatened to destroy the whole human race.
Simeon
The Word tells us that just when the Baby Jesus arrived at the temple an old man
named Simeon was led to the same place “by the Spirit.” This means that the Lord
had given Simeon an inner message to come. We read in the Scripture that Simeon
was a just and devout man. He probably read and meditated on the Word of God
each day. The Lord through His Holy Spirit had told Simeon that he would see
Christ before he died. So he waited and waited.
Because he was such a good man, the Lord opened Simeon’s spiritual eyes so
that he saw immediately that this Baby was the Lord come to earth, the very One he
had been waiting and hoping for. Simeon took the Baby in his arms and blessed
God. Can you picture this old man holding the Baby upwards and giving a beautiful
prayer of thanks?
Simeon was very thankful that he had been able to see the prophecies come true
because he had an idea of what this meant. Now the whole world would change! A
new spiritual light would
come to the Gentiles. Gentiles are people who do not
know the Lord. In other
words, with the birth of this
special Child, new light or
truth from heaven would be
born on earth so that everyone could see what was good
and right. Then those who
were willing could choose
what was good and so be
saved from the evil forces of
hell that brought nothing but
falsity and sadness into
people’s lives.
Can you see how happy
this event must have made
Simeon? He was old and had
waited for so long to see this
prophecy come true. Now he
was holding the Baby Lord
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in his own hands. After giving thanks, Simeon said a blessing. Mary and Joseph
were amazed at what was happening. Simeon could now die in peace.
Anna Sees Jesus
While Mary and Joseph marveled at Simeon’s beautiful words, in came Anna.
She was a very old woman and a prophetess. She had also been devout, loving the
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Lord all her long life. Anna came to the temple every day as part of her worship.
Her spiritual eyes were also opened and she immediately knew that this Baby Simeon
was holding was the Lord promised from long ago in so many prophecies. Anna
gave thanks that she had been allowed to see Him and told everyone in Jerusalem
who longed for a king or savior to come and save them from their troubles.
Mary and Joseph Return to Bethlehem
After doing all things according to the law of the Lord, Mary and Joseph took
Jesus back to Bethlehem. They prepared to return to their home in Nazareth. But
before they left, more visitors would come to see the Lord. More of the ancient
prophecies would be fulfilled. And that is the story for the next lesson.
We Can Find the Lord in His Word
The prophecies we have been learning about tell how the Lord would be born on
earth to save people from evil. Now the stories of His birth and life are recorded in
the New Testament of the Word. We are fortunate because we can find the Lord
anytime we want to. We don’t have to wait. We can open the Word and learn about
Him and all the wonderful teachings He gave to save us from the power of evil and
lead us to our heavenly home.
Recitation
Learn the recitation by heart: Matthew 2:1-6
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the
king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He
who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and
have come to worship Him.”
When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled and all Jerusalem with
him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people
together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the
prophet:
But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers
of Judah; for out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.”
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Activities
Choose several from the following:
1) Journal: Wishes Coming True. Choose one or more of the ideas below to
write about on your journal page.
• In this story two old people had their best wishes come true. Think about
how they must have felt to witness this great event. We read what Simeon
said. Write about what you think Anna might have said when she gave
thanks. Or write your own thanks for the Lord coming to earth on
Christmas.
• People wish for different things. What do you wish for? Why do you wish
for it?
• What do you think would be some good wishes for your country or the
whole world?
2) Activity Book
• A Poem about Simeon and Anna.
• Underline the Correct Answer page.
3) Art projects
• Walnut Shell Decoration.
• Collage activity.
4) Other activities
• Is there an activity you do where you tend to become impatient, perhaps
doing homework or practicing a musical instrument? Try to do this activity
with patience in mind.
• Are you looking forward to an exciting event, such as a birthday or holiday?
What can you do to “wait patiently” for the day? Notice how you feel
about being patient.
5) Songs
“Children, Can You Truly Tell?”—Track 29
“O Holy Night”—Track 30
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Lesson 29—Presentation at the Temple
Christmas Decoration
Materials:
half walnut shell
1/4 inch wood bead
small piece of white fabric
cotton balls
6 inch piece of cord or braid
markers
glue
Directions:
1. Wrap a cotton ball with a small piece of fabric folded over as in the
diagram. Stuff it into the walnut shell.
2. Using markers, draw a face on one side of the
wood bead.
3. Glue the wood bead with the face near the fabric
fold to look like a baby covered with the head
showing.
4. Using a small line of glue, attach cord or braid
around the walnut shell, leaving enough at the top
for a hanger.
Lesson 29–Presentation in the Temple
Underline the Correct Answer
1. How old was Baby Jesus when Mary and Joseph gave Him a name? (one
day old, eight days old, two weeks old).
2. The name Jesus means (savior, thankful, king).
3. After forty days Mary and Joseph went to (Nazareth, Galilee, Jerusalem).
4. According to Jewish law, Mary and Joseph brought an offering to Lord at
the (tabernacle, temple, church).
5. Their offering was two (lambs, pigeons, goats).
6. The old man who recognized the Baby Lord was (Joshua, Micah, Simeon).
7. The old woman who waited for the Lord was (Anna, Martha, Ruth).
8. These old people were (devout, dying, lost).
Answers:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
eight days old
savior
Jerusalem
temple
pigeons
Simeon
Anna
devout
Lesson 29–Presentation at the Temple
A Name Poem
Use the letters of the names “Simeon” and “Anna” to start each line of your
poem. For example, for the letters S and I you could write: So patient, In time to
see the Lord. If you can’t think of a way to start your line with the letter, use it
somewhere else and highlight it like this: Anna Sees Jesus.
S
I
M
E
O
N
A
N
N
A