Today’s lesson looked at how Jesus loved the “outcasts” of the society at that time, and how he encourages us to also love the outcasts of our modern society. In biblical times outcasts were people excluded from mainstream religious, economic, and social life for various reasons. Outcasts included…
- The sick and “unclean”: People with chronic skin diseases (often translated as “leprosy”) were prevented from entering towns. People with physical disabilities or bodily discharges were barred from entering the temple.
- Occupational outcasts: Tax collectors were despised because they were seen as traitors who collaborated with the Roman Empire and who often extorted money from their own people. Shepherds were also viewed with deep suspicion and were frequently barred from formal religious life due to a reputation for dishonesty. I did not know this before preparing the lesson. It is therefore especially significant that Jesus’ birth was first announced to shepherds.
- Social and vulnerable classes: Widows and orphans lacked legal protection, economic independence, and social standing in a patriarchal society.
- Foreigners: Non-Jews or foreigners living in Israel (like the Samaritans) were marginalized and socially avoided.
- “Sinners” and moral outcasts: Prostitutes, the uneducated, and anyone whose lifestyle violated the strict legalism of the religious elite were branded as outcasts.
Jesus openly interacted with all these groups of people (which really annoyed the religious leaders).
The lesson asked the children to name all the people they do not like. They were then asked to understand that Jesus loves each of these mean, stinky and bad people just as much as he loves us. Our challenge is also to love those people as much as Jesus loves them.
Short videos highlighting showing how Jesus healed diseases and included all “outcasts” were used. Here they are. You can watch them again with your children.
This full length movie (The detective) was not used in the lesson but I recommend it to adults. It is about a priest who tracks down a thief, not to arrest him but to bring him to repentance. It is on You Tube so it is frequently interrupted by adverts, which is annoying, but please be patient and just click to skip through the adverts. The movie is very thought provoking.