High Noon

Countdown to Easter

by Brian Radcliffe

Suitable for Whole School (Sec)

Aims

To encourage students to consider the courage it takes to choose to face a challenge.

Preparation and materials

• Download an image of the poster for the film ‘High Noon. An example can be found at: https://tinyurl.com/ycytuju5
• Arrange for a student to read the Bible passage Matthew 20:17-19

Assembly

1. Display the image of the High Noon film poster.
2. High Noon is a famous Hollywood Western. US Marshall Will Kane (played by Gary Cooper) is faced with a difficult choice. Does he stay in town to face a showdown with outlaw Frank Miller, or does he run away to safety? His wife wants to take the safe option. None of his friends or townsfolk are willing to remain with him. He’ll be facing overwhelming odds on his own. What is he to do?
   I wouldn’t want to give any spoilers, so you’ll have to watch the film to see what happens!
3. The Easter story begins with a similar build up to a showdown, one revealed by Jesus himself. Invite the student to read the Bible passage Matthew 20:17-19:
   ‘Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. On the way, he took the Twelve aside and said to them, ‘We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!’
4. Jesus chose his direction of travel. He, together with his followers, was going to the city of Jerusalem. Many other people were also heading to Jerusalem because this was the time of Passover, one of the great Jewish festivals. However, Jesus had a different plan.  He knew that in Jerusalem he was going to confront the Jewish authorities, whose response to the confrontation would be severe. He knew he would be beaten and eventually condemned to death. Not a pleasant prospect, even though he had an inkling about the eventual outcome (spoiler alert – wait for Easter Sunday!). The point is that Jesus bravely chose the confrontation in Jerusalem. It was his High Noon event. Why was this important?
5. If Jesus had remained in rural areas teaching and healing, he would have done a lot of good work, but not the decisive work God had given him. The beating and the crucifixion needed to take place so the power of God could be revealed in the resurrection event that we celebrate on Easter Sunday. Christians believe that this was the moment that God turned the world upside down. The victory came only by Jesus facing the confrontation.

Time for reflection

Life rarely runs smoothly, does it? There are often challenges placed in front of us or maybe of our own choice.
Ask the question: How do you feel when faced with a challenge?

Allow time for reflection.

We probably feel nervous, inadequate, maybe even a little fearful, worried about the consequences.

Ask the question: what do you do when faced with a challenge?

Allow time for reflection.

One choice is to try to ignore it, see if it will go away. Another is to avoid it, to go in a different direction. To run away in fact. The hardest choice is to actually face the challenge just like Will Kane, just like Jesus.

So, what do we do if the challenge is imminent?
Firstly, get ourselves prepared. We find out if we need information to help us. We think about if there are questions we need to ask. We consider if there are resources available to make us more prepared.

Secondly, we consider where we might get support. This is where true friends show up. We may be surprised about who comes to our help.

Thirdly, use the consequences of not facing the challenge as motivation. Maybe we consider if we really want to end up with the consequences of inaction. We can also use the benefits of success as motivation. We can imagine what it will feel like if we come out of the other side with a smile on our faces.

Finally, this is where faith can be a big bonus. Jesus knew he was doing what his father wanted. Maybe it’s the time to practise praying.

At Easter we remember Jesus facing the greatest challenge in the history of the world. Christians believe it was the most significant event in the whole of history. Yours may be a little less so, but it matters to you. It’s time to face whatever we need to face, bravely, making sure we have thought things through and that we have support in place.

Music

‘Rise’ by Katy Perry

Extension Activity

Invite students to think of 3 challenges they’ve faced in life, personally, as a family or as a team.

Discuss how they faced up to these challenges.

What 3 tips would they give to others who faced similar challenges?