Selling Jesus Activity 3: What Jesus did and didn’t say. In ‘He never said…’ songwriter Martyn Joseph (with Tom Robinson) contrasts the sayings of Jesus with some popular and proverbial ‘wisdom’ in a cut and thrust society like ours. He never said: God helps those who help themselves Blessed are the rich Do unto others before they do it unto you Too bad buddy, the winner has to take it all. Success is the key You’ve gotta be cruel to be kind It’s a jungle out there where the weak must get left behind Archbishops should stick to theology Put your faith in the lottery – all those little balls By any means necessary My country right or wrong Send your money to me, touch the screen, you’re gonna be healed Every man’s got a price, so do you want to make a deal?

No. He said:

‘Answer the stranger’s cry for help Love your brother as you love yourself

You only need to seek and you will find. Forgive your enemy

Drop the grudge Don’t judge others and you won’t be judged

Only knock and the door will open wide’ In the classroom As an end of unit activity, after studying some of Jesus’ teaching, use the lyrics of Martyn and Tom’s song (or play the song itself) to get pupils thinking about what kind of message Jesus taught. Discuss: do the pupils agree with what Jesus said, or what he didn’t say? Why? The quote sheet on the next page asks pupils to look carefully at the meaning of Jesus’ teaching – it is not all simple, but here are some bite-sized chunks. Ask them to consider which of the ten sayings would make their town a better place, or who they can think of (from the worlds of sport, soap and celebrity?) who could use this advice. Ask pupils to choose three of the ten sayings of Jesus given above, and discuss, then write their responses and reactions to the teachings. Encourage them to be provocative or subversive: the cross is not jewellery, but a gallows, where people are killed.

Ten sayings of Jesus: what kind of wisdom?

Ask and you will receive, Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened for you.

Don’t judge other people and then you won’t be judged.

Peace is what I leave with you: it is my own peace that I give to you. Do not be worried and upset, do not be afraid.

I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will not go hungry. Whoever believes in me will never thirst.

Love your brothers and sisters as much as you love yourself.

If you forgive other people their sins, then your heavenly father will forgive you your sins.

Come to me all you who labour and are heavily loaded. I will give you rest.

Where two or three people gather in my name, I’ll be there in the middle of them.

Don’t store up riches for yourself on earth ~ store up riches in heaven, because your heart will always be where your riches are.

When you pray, go to your private room, and pray secretly to your father who is unseen. Your father will reward you!