What an Inspiring Life!
Who is Jesus?
by Laurence Chilcott (revised, originally published in 2012)
Suitable for Whole School (Sec)
Aims
To consider the great works of literature, music and art that Jesus inspired.
Preparation and materials
- You will need the PowerPoint slides that accompany this assembly (What an Inspiring Life!) and the means to display them.
- Have available the following YouTube videos and the means to play them during the assembly:
- ‘Mozart - The Marriage of Figaro’, available at: https://youtu.be/8OZCyp-LcGw (4.50 minutes long)
- ‘Zadok the Priest’ by Handel, available at: https://youtu.be/MiXgOQ9_-RI (5.27 minutes long)
Assembly
- Throughout history, people have been remembered for their achievements. The names of people who lived hundreds of years ago are still familiar to us because of the great works that they left behind.
- Show Slide 1.
Artists like Leonardo da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa.
Show Slide 2.
Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh painted this picture of sunflowers.
Show Slide 3.
Pablo Picasso painted The Weeping Woman.
All three of these artists are recognized as great painters of their day. Their original works sell for millions of pounds today. It will be interesting to see whether modern artists - such as Damien Hirst, who has created various artworks including dead animals preserved in formaldehyde - are remembered as great artists in the future in the same way.
Sometimes, the work of great artists is only fully appreciated after their death. Van Gogh sold only one painting during his lifetime, but he became one of the most popular Expressionist painters. Many children will have copied his painting, Sunflowers, in schools all over the country. - Orchestras still play music by composers who lived hundreds of years ago.
One of these is Mozart, who was writing music from the age of five. As he grew older, he wrote many piano concertos and operas, including The Marriage of Figaro and Don Giovanni.
Play an extract from the YouTube video ‘Mozart - The Marriage of Figaro’ (4.50 minutes long).
Another famous composer of classical music is Handel, whose music was sung at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
Play an extract from the YouTube video ‘Zadok the Priest’ (5.27 minutes long).
Beethoven composed some of his greatest works when he was almost completely deaf, and Bach’s music was not fully appreciated until some 80 years after his death. - Show Slide 4.
Sir Christopher Wren is famous for his design of St Paul’s Cathedral in London. He is buried there, and on his grave is written, ‘If you seek his monument, look around you.’
Show Slide 5.
Another architect, Antoni Gaudí, designed the Sagrada Família, a famous cathedral in Barcelona. He worked on it throughout his life, and so complicated and elaborate was his design that the work is still going on over 90 years after his death. It had been hoped that it would be completed in 2026, a hundred years after Gaudí died, but this has now been delayed due to the pandemic. - Show Slide 6.
Classic works by authors such as Charles Dickens and William Shakespeare are still studied by schoolchildren and scholars all over the world. The writers have died, but their work lives on after them. - And what of Jesus Christ? He didn’t leave behind any pictures that he’d painted – but artists have painted more pictures and scenes from his life than of any other person.
He never composed a piece of music – but more music has been inspired by his life than by anyone else.
He never designed a building – but some of the most beautiful and inspiring buildings in the world have been built to glorify him.
More words have been written about Jesus and his teachings than about any other person – but the only writing he ever reportedly did was in the sand, before he saved a woman from a cruel punishment.
Show Slide 7. - Jesus’ ministry lasted only three years, but over 2,000 years later, he is still remembered, not for what he left behind, but for who he was and what he did. Christians believe that he was the son of God and that he came to show God’s love for the world. He died and rose again, giving hope and confidence to all who believe and trust in him.
Time for reflection
Who do you think is the greatest living person? What is it that you think makes them great?
What would you like to be remembered for?
Discuss which of today’s celebrities students think are likely to be remembered in the future.
Which children’s books do they think will be read by future generations?
Consider some of the things that Jesus said about possessions, love of others, forgiveness and humility. How do we respond to his words today?
The lives of the greats can be considered in light of their achievements and the legacy that they left for us.
Prayer
Dear God,
We thank you for people in the past who have inspired others and created great works of art and literature.
We thank you for people today who inspire us to do our best and use our talents wisely.
We especially thank you for Jesus, who is an example of perfect love and obedience.
May we, day by day, try to follow his example and remember his love for each one of us.
Amen.
Song/music
An excerpt from The Marriage of Figaro by Mozart, available at: https://youtu.be/8OZCyp-LcGw (4.50 minutes long)
Zadok the Priest by Handel, available at: https://youtu.be/MiXgOQ9_-RI (5.27 minutes long)
