Arnold House School

Year 8 Revision Notes: The Later Life of John The Baptist

King Herod was ruling at the time

He had a brother called Philip who was married to a woman named Herodias

Herod married his brother's wife which was forbidden in the Jewish law

John berated them both for their actions and Herodias was furious!

Herodias began to really hate John and he was thrown into prison

Herodias had a daughter called Salome and on the evening of the
King's birthday, she danced for him.

He was so captivated by her that he promised her anything she desired

Herodias saw her chance and after colluding with Salome, she told her to ask for the head of John the Baptist!

Herod did not want this, but could not lose face with his guests - a promise was a promise!

The guards went to the dungeons and executed John.

His head was brought into the part on a plate was paraded for all to
see!

After his death, John's friends and followers came and buried his body in Samaria.

Jesus was told of his cousin's death and responded by saying "John was a lamp that burned and gave light and you chose, for a time, to enjoy his light"

The next bit is rather juicy but NOT Biblical!

It is said that after John's death, Herodias kept his severed head and used to jab at his tongue with a dagger! She had hated what he said about her sinful ways and the tongue, of course, can do both much good and much harm!

Contemporary Issues - Years 7 and 8

Boys should research the following:-

The life and death of Bishop Oscar Romero

The work of Dame Cecily Saunders, founder of the Hospice movement

The message of Nelson Mandela

The life and work of Mother Theresa of Calcutta

Year 8 Revision Notes: John The Baptist

John was from a tribe called Levi

His father was called Zechariah and was a priest in the temple

His Mother, Elizabeth, was a descendant of Aaron

John and Jesus were related through their maternal line

John was born about 6 months before Jesus

As a grown man, John lived in the area of Qumran

He must have looked very bizarre, dressed , we are told in camel's skins

His diet consisted of locusts and wild honey!

He had a popular ministry and baptized many in the River Jordan

He called them to repent of their sins and be "washed clean"

He was known as "John the Baptizer"

The word baptize comes from the Greek word meaning "to dip" or "to
dunk"

His most well-known baptism was the baptism of Jesus himself where God is said to have affirmed Jesus by saying "This is my beloved son, in whom I am well-pleased" The dove also alighted on Jesus' head. The dove is a symbol of the Holy Spirit.

John became so popular that folk wondered if HE was the promised Messiah

He told people that he had "Come to prepare the way for one who is greater than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to untie"

"He must become greater and I must become less" he also said.

Year 8 Contemporary Issues - Euthanasia or Hospice?

You may like to look at the following website about the Hospice
movement and Dame Cecily Saunders, the founder.

www.request.org.uk/issues/topics/euthanasia/euthanasia09.htm

Year 7 Contemporary Issues - The First Murder Cain and Abel

I have found a good site for further research on the Derek Bentley
case. You may like to look at the following:-

www.richard.clark32.btinternet.co.uk/bentley.html

Years 7 and 8 Contemporary Issues - The Near Sacrifice of Isaac - Obedience and Faith

Abraham followed God's call to up sticks and move "to the land I will show you" Genesis 12. He left Haran and took his wife Sarai (later known as Sarah) and his nephew Lot and set out for Canaan. He was OBEDIENT to God. Later we learn of further obedience, when, in order to test Abraham's faith, God asked him to sacrifice his son Isaac.
So what about obedience and faith today? Would we be as obedient as Abraham? Read the following real life scenario.A Church of England Priest, was very friendly with another Priest who worked in the East End of London. He was popular, well-loved by all and had a reputation for his amazing work with deprived children. He was exceptionally happy living and working in this part of London.
One day the priest visited his friend. He told him he was there to say goodbye as he was having to leave London and move to Birmingham, because his Bishop had told him to. This was very hard for him, but he obeyed. So, like Abraham, he moved from one part of the country to
another leaving all his friends, his home and all his security behind him.
Question? Would you be as obedient if you were asked to do the same?
What difficulties might you encounter?

Faith, but in what?
Following a recent survey, 76% of people in the UK claim to believe in God, but only a small percentage actually go regularly to a place of worship. It is said that faith these days is more materialistic than spiritual. Read the following passage about a famous film star called River Phoenix, who committed suicide at the age of 23.
River Phoenix was found dead on Sunset Boulevard in USA in 1993. He had taken an overdose of drugs. He had everything in life that he desired, but it didn't seem to bring him happiness or peace of mind.
What pressures do you think he may have felt which caused him to take his own life? Do you think that money and faith in materialism is all we need in life?

CE Revision

Common Entrance Candidates - I suggest you revise the following topics

Old Testament - The Creation Stories, (P  The Creation) and (J, the
Fall)
Cain and Abel - The first Murder
The Near Sacrifice of Isaac
The 10 Commandments
David and Jonathan
David and Bathsheba
Nathan's Parable
The wisdom of Solomon
Elijah and the Prophets of Baal
The Prophet Amos

New Testament
Jesus of Nazareth
The temptations in the wilderness
Jesus and the Outcasts, Zacchaeus, Levi
The Rich young man
The paralysed man and the healing of the crippled woman on the Sabbath
At Caesarea Philippi - " Who do people say thatI am?"
The Request of james and John
The Sermon on the Plain
The Parable of the Good Samaritan - "Who is my neighbour?"
The Lost/Prodigal son
The sermon on the plain
The events of Holy week -Last Supper,Agony in the Garden/arrest,
trial, crucifixion (Good Friday) and Ressurection (Easter day)
The Early Church - Peter, How the first Christians lived, The Day of
Pentecost (Coming of the Holy Spirit Acts 2) The Conversion of Saul
(Paul) of Tarsus on the road to Damascus
Paul's teaching on Love - 1Corinthians 13