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New
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Year 8

Jesus of the Gospels

I can describe how Jesus is portrayed in the Gospels and how each Gospel emphasises different characteristics of Jesus.

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New
New
Year 8

Jesus of the Gospels

I can describe how Jesus is portrayed in the Gospels and how each Gospel emphasises different characteristics of Jesus.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The Gospels are found in the New Testament and tell the story of Jesus and the New covenant.
  2. The Gospels are named after the authors that they are attributed to.
  3. The Gospels contain beliefs central to Christianity, but each places emphasis on different qualities of Jesus.
  4. The Gospels portray Jesus as the Messiah and suffering servant prophesied in the Old Testament.
  5. The Gospels portray Jesus as the saviour and the Son of God.

Keywords

  • Emphasise - to give importance or value to something

  • Messiah - 'anointed one'; chosen by God to bring a new age of peace

  • Old Testament - the first part of the Bible containing law, history, prophecy, and the wisdom of the people of Israel

  • Saviour - in Christianity, this refers to Jesus saving humanity from sin and its consequences

  • The Gospels - four Biblical narratives found in the New Testament that cover the life, death and resurrection of Jesus

Common misconception

The Gospels present exactly the same stories about Jesus, just in slightly different ways.

Whilst there are many similarities across the Gospel books, there are also many differences. Some of the Gospels contain stories that others do not. For example, Jesus' birth is only recorded in Matthew and Luke, not in all four of the Gospels.


To help you plan your year 8 religious education lesson on: Jesus of the Gospels, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

You may wish to remind students of some of the stories and miracles of Jesus mentioned in this lesson.
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Adult supervision recommended

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Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which keyword refers to a person who studies religion, including religious texts and religious beliefs?
Correct answer: theologian
historian
anthropologist
Q2.
Stories of Jesus' life, death and resurrection are found in the Testament.
Correct Answer: New, new
Q3.
The writings of St __________ are the earliest known Christian writings about Jesus.
Peter
Patrick
Correct answer: Paul
Philip
Q4.
The doctrine of the Trinity is the belief in the Father, the and the Holy Spirit.
Correct Answer: son, Son
Q5.
Which keyword means 'anointed one' and refers to a person who will bring peace?
Mosaic
Monism
Monotheist
Correct answer: Messiah
Q6.
Which group within Judaism regard Jesus as the person whom the prophecies predicted would bring peace?
Orthodox Jews
Reform Jews
Correct answer: Messianic Jews

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the keywords to the correct definitions.
Correct Answer:emphasise,to give importance or value to something
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to give importance or value to something

Correct Answer:Messiah,‘anointed one’; chosen by God to bring a new age of peace
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‘anointed one’; chosen by God to bring a new age of peace

Correct Answer:Old Testament,the 1st part of the Bible containing law, history, prophecy and wisdom
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the 1st part of the Bible containing law, history, prophecy and wisdom

Correct Answer:saviour,in Christianity, this refers to Jesus saving humanity from sin
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in Christianity, this refers to Jesus saving humanity from sin

Correct Answer:the Gospels,four books found in the New Testament that cover the life of Jesus
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four books found in the New Testament that cover the life of Jesus

Q2.
Where in the Bible are the Gospels found?
Correct Answer: New Testament , The New Testament , new testament
Q3.
What do the Gospels tell the story of?
Jesus and the Old covenant
Correct answer: Jesus and the New covenant
John and the New covenant
Q4.
Which of the following is not the name of one of the four Gospels?
Matthew
John
Correct answer: Jesus
Luke
Q5.
Which Gospels emphasise Jesus as the fulfilment of Old Testament prophecy?
Correct answer: Matthew
Correct answer: Mark
Luke
John
Q6.
Which Gospels place emphasis on Jesus as the saviour and the Son of God?
Matthew
Mark
Correct answer: Luke
Correct answer: John