Lesson 28
Show Appreciation for What Jehovah and Jesus Did for You
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.
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.
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: 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.”
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.
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.”
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 4.8-10: 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.
Discuss these questions:
Why is Jesus’ sacrifice a special gift?
How do you feel about what Jehovah and Jesus did for you?
How can we show our appreciation for what Jehovah and Jesus did for us?
Read 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.
Read 1 John 4.11: Beloved ones, if this is how God loved us, then we are also under obligation to love one another.
Read 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,
After reading each scripture, discuss this question:
Based on that scripture, what can we do to show our gratitude?
4. Imitate Jesus
Another way to show our appreciation is by imitating Jesus.
Read 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.
Discuss this question:
In what ways could you follow Jesus’ steps closely?
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: So when the hour came, he reclined at the table along with the apostles.
Read Luke 22.19, 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.
Then discuss these questions:
What happened at the Lord’s Evening Meal?
What do the bread and the wine represent?
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. Then discuss the question that follows.
AD))) Video Title: Remember Jesus’ Death (with Audio Description and Transcript) (Duration: 1:42).
What happens at the Memorial?
SOME PEOPLE SAY: “All you have to do to be saved is believe in Jesus.”
How could you use to show that more is needed?
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?
Lesson completed on:
Goal
Attend the next Memorial of Christ’s death. Ask your Bible teacher when it will be, and mark the date on your calendar.
Other: Memorizing Bible scriptures is vital for blind individuals to defend the truth using the Bible, build faith, provide comfort during difficult times, and keep God’s principles firm in heart and mind.
From lesson 28, memorize 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,
EXPLORE
1. What does Christ’s death motivate us to do?
He Used His Body to Honor Jehovah (9:28) Open explore 1 in new page
2. Learn more about faith and how we can exercise it.
“Exercise Your Faith in Jehovah’s Promises” (The Watchtower, October 2016) Open explore 2 in new page
3. 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) Open explore 3 in new page
4. 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) Open explore 4 in new page
[End of lesson 28.]