Curriculum Unit

On
Jesus

By
Mr. Marlon De La Torre, MA, Med.

Copyright ©2011 Marlon De La Torre

 Curriculum Unit
On Jesus

Introduction:
The main catechetical audience for this curriculum unit on Jesus will be adults within a typical
adult education setting at either a Parish or Diocesan catechetical setting. This curriculum unit
will be taught over a three session format.

Catechetical Goal:

The emphasis of this curriculum unit and the subsequent sessions involved (3) will be to provide
an overarching understanding of who Jesus Christ is. Adults tend to seek a more intimate union
with Christ but at times are unsure which direction to take with our Savior. For most Adults,
Jesus Christ is viewed as the Son of God, the second person of the Blessed Trinity and the person
who died for our sins on the Cross. Unfortunately, many do not reflect on the purpose of
Christ’s Incarnation, why the Word of God took human form, why Jesus proclaimed himself to
be the Son of God, why that unless we partake of his body and blood in the Holy Eucharist we
do not have a life with Christ and, why He came to establish a kingdom on earth thus leading to
his Crucifixion, Resurrection and Ascension into Heaven. This unit will try to draw on these key
points in a three session format.

Method:
The First Catechetical Session will hopefully inspire the adult audience to know and understand
the mission of Jesus Christ as not only the Son of God but the Word made flesh (Incarnation).
The audience shall be exposed to all appropriate scripture texts related to Jesus as the Son of
God, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity and the four reasons the Son of God assumes a
human nature.

The Second Catechetical Session will draw upon Jesus’ establishment of the kingdom of God
through his Redemption. It is the Redemption that offers humanity the Hope that rests on the
sinful nature of man being absorbed by Christ via the Crucifixion. From here the hope is that the
adult audience will be receptive to the value of entering and proclaiming the Kingdom of God
through an understanding of His passion, death, resurrection
The Third Catechetical Session will seek to expand the adults understanding that Jesus will
come again after his Ascension into Heaven. Our preparation is essential in preparing the
Coming of our Lord again.

Other elements to be used for the audience shall include appropriate sacred music such as
Handel’s Messiah; the Creed by Rich Mullins; Gregorian Chant.

The Use of Sacred Art shall include but is not limited to: Da Vinci’s The Last Supper; The
Resurrection by Coypel; The Annunciation by Blessed Fra Angelico; etc.

The use of Sacred Space shall consist of a beautiful adorned table with white linen and the
liturgical colors of the season. Elements on the sacred space shall include but is not limited to:
A crucifix, bible, altar candle, roses, a crown of thorns if available of the etc.
 First Catechetical Unit

Jesus Christ

Premise:
The purpose of this first catechetical session is to draw on the nature and mission of man
who is to center everything on Jesus Christ. All men and women are called to enter into a
relationship with Jesus Christ. The Christian faith rests primarily on proclaiming Jesus Christ and
fostering a continual call of conversion to others. There are four key elements that dispose to the
reason Son of God assumes a human nature.

Scriptural Driving Force:

Eph 3:8; 1 Jn 1:1-4; Acts 4:12; Jn 7:16; Phil 3:8-11; Lk 1:31; Mt 1:21; Acts 10:38; Jn 3:18; Acts
2:21; Jas 2:7; Heb 9:5, 7; Rom 3:25; 2 Cor 5:19; Jn 12:28; Mt 11:27; Mt 3:17; Mt 17:5;

Essentials:

I. The Salvation of Humanity CCC 431-433

God brought into humanity the one who is to redeem all humanity. CCC
431

1. 1. The name of Jesus signifies the very name of God and the presence of
God through His son Jesus Christ. The name of Christ is also at the heart
of Christian prayer. CCC 432-434, 2666

2. The Word of Christ means Messiah which also means anointed. This is the
proper name of Jesus. He is the perfectly chosen being to redeem
humanity. CCC 436

II. The Only Son of God CCC 441-445

Jesus is the Son of God as revealed at His Baptism. CCC 444

1. Jesus calls himself the only son of God. CCC 444; Jn 3:18

2. Truly this man is the son of God. Mk 15:39

3. Jesus is Lord in the order of creation as the second person of the Blessed
Trinity. Lord is the appropriate title given to Jesus as we direct all the
power, honor and glory to Jesus Christ as is also directed to the Father first
and foremost. CCC 446-450
III. The reason for the Incarnation CCC 456-460

Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary as the only begotten son of God. CCC
456

1. Why did the Word become flesh?

 The word became flesh in order to save us

by reconciling us with God who loved us and sent his only son
to save us from our sins. CCC 457; 1 Jn 4:10
 The Word became flesh so that thus we
might know God’s love: CCC 458; Jn 3:16
 The Word became flesh to be our model of
holiness: He is the way, the truth and the light. CCC 459; Jn
14:6
 The Word became flesh to make us
“partakers of the divine nature.” CCC 460

The Incarnation expresses the core tenet of the Catholic faith where the Son of God
assumes a human nature in order to accomplish our salvation in it. CCC 461
 Second Catechetical Unit

Jesus

Premise:
In this Second Catechetical Session, the emphasis shall be placed on Christ’s Redemption
outlining specifically Jesus’ Passion, Death, Resurrection and Ascension making up the four
elements of the Paschal mystery. The adults being instructed will hopefully cherish the truth,
beauty and goodness of the Paschal Mystery and the importance of faithfully living out the gift
of the Paschal Mystery.

Scriptural Driving Force:

Lk 2:21; Mt 2:1; 4-6; Jn 4:22; Lk 2:22-39; Jn1:11; Lk 3:23; Acts 1:22; Mk 1:12-13; Mt 8:11; Lk
4:18; Mk 4:33-34; Heb 9:26; Mt 20:19;

Essentials

Passion:

I. Jesus’ baptism proclaims the first offering of himself to humanity. It inaugurates his
mission as God’s suffering servant. CCC 535-537; Jn 1:29

In Baptism Jesus is anticipating his bloody death and is preparing to

fulfill all righteousness. CCC 536; Mt 3:15

II. For all humanity, a foretaste of the Kingdom of God is revealed by the
Transfiguration of Christ to Peter, James and John. Jesus reveals to us that he must
go to Jerusalem to suffer for all humanity. CCC 554-556; Mt 16:21

III. From the very beginning of His public ministry, there was a plot to destroyHim. CCC
574

Jesus professes the Law of God at the Sermon on the Mount to all
humanity. CCC 577
 1. Jesus did not come to abolish the law.

2. He came to fulfill the Law of God through his own suffering and death.

3. Jesus is the only on who keep the law of God nestled in the Ten
Commandments and further revealed in the beatitudes in perfect form.

4. Jesus revealed to all of Israel that: CCC 580-590

 He is the perfect fulfillment of the Law

as the Son of God.
 In Jesus the Law is no in his heart and
not on tablets.
 He abides by the law by taking on the
transgressions of those who failed to keep the Law.
 Jesus revealed that the Temple is the
Holy Place of Worship a privileged place to encounter
God.
 Jesus scandalized the Pharisees by eating
with sinners, prostitutes and the unwanted.

Death:

I. Jesus suffers a violent Redemptive death according to God’s plan. CCC 599-605

Jesus dies as revealed in Sacred Scripture. CCC 601; Isa 53:11-13

1. Jesus’ death marks His redemptive act for all humanity. Man’s sin is now
embraced by Jesus Christ who knew no sin and came to bring
righteousness to all men. CCC 603; Rom 8:32

2. Jesus, the Son of God came down from Heaven to offer himself for the
sins of the whole world to the Father in Heaven. CCC 606

Jesus’ journey to the Cross begins at:

 The Last Supper where Jesus offers

himself to the Apostles as the true sacrifice for all humanity in
the form of bread and wine. He offers the supreme sacrifice of
his own body and blood resulting in the institution of the Holy
Eucharist which serves as the one and true memorial of his
sacrifice. CCC 610-611
  It continues at Gethsemane where Christ
accepts the cup of the New Covenant from his Father’s hand to
bore our sins. CCC 612
 He is obedient as the Paschal Sacrifice
who accomplishes the redemption of man.
CCC 613-615
 The final culmination is Jesus’ sacrifice
and death on the Cross. CCC 616-618
 He is buried and entombed assuming the
death for all humanity. The plan for salvation is fulfilled
through the death of Christ and his descent into Hell. CCC 624-
628

In death Jesus descends to the depths of those parts of the earth that are
not above the Heavens.

1. The abode of the dead (Hell) ort Sheol in Hebrew refers to those who have
been deprived the vision of God. Jesus descended into Hell to free the just
who had gone before Him. CCC 633

2. Jesus’ descent into Hell provides us with several key points:

 It brings the Gospel message of salvation

to complete fulfillment.
 The dead will hear the voice of the Son
of God and live.
 The just who had gone before Jesus are
freed.

Resurrection:
I. Jesus rises from the dead on the Third Day to fulfill Salvation History for all
humanity. CCC 638

The resurrection as the crowning jewel of our faith in that Jesus Christ
the Son of God fulfills his mission for the salvation of humanity.

1. It is the central core of our faith as was handed down by the first Christian
community that included the Apostles themselves.

2. The Resurrection is an actual event sustained by the active living Sacred

Tradition of the Church as revealed by St. Paul to the Corinthians. CCC
639; 1 Cor 15:3-4

What are some of the fruits of Christ’s risen humanity?

 1. The empty tomb - was the first indication of Christ’s resurrection.

2. Mary Magdalene and the holy woman who came back to finish anointing
Christ’s were the first to encounter the risen Lord. CCC 641

3. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ:

 Establishes a direct contact with his

disciples when he shares a meal with them and invites them to
recognize who he is as the same Christ who had been tortured
and crucified. CCC 645
 Was not a return to earthly life but a
return to a life beyond space or time? CCC 646
 Is a transcendent event. CCC 647
 Is an object of faith where God
intercedes on our behalf through his only begotten Son.

The meaning of the Resurrection. CCC 651-655

1. It is the fulfillment of the promise of both the Old and Jesus himself
during his earthly life. CCC 652

2. The Resurrection confirms the divinity of Christ.

3. The Resurrection reveals that he is truly the Son of God the second person
of the Blessed Trinity. CCC 653

4. The final meaning of Christ’s Resurrection is the principle and source of

our future resurrection. CCC 655

The Paschal Mystery has two aspects. CCC 654

One: By His death Christ liberates us from sin.

Two: By His Resurrection, he opens for us the way to a new life in

grace.
 Third Catechetical Unit

Jesus
Premise:

The main thrust of the third catechetical lesson is to draw upon the Ascension of Our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ. In his Ascension, Jesus truly fulfills his role in humanity by leaving us with
the anticipation of His return. Christ fully participates in our humanity by his nature as the
Second Person of the Blessed Trinity.

Scriptural Driving Force:

Eph 1:20-22; Rom 14:9; 1 Cor 15::24; 1 Jn 2:18; 1 Pet 4:7; Lk 21:27; My 25:21; 2 Thess 2:7; 1
Cor 16:22; 2 Pet 3:11-12; Acts 1:6-7; Mk 13:33-37; 1 Tim 4:1

Essentials:

Ascension:
I. Christ’s Ascension signifies his participation in humanity and God’s power and
authority as the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. CCC 668

The Ascension signifies that Jesus Christ is Lord and head of the Church
which his body of which we are members of through our Baptism. CCC
668-669; Eph 1:20-22;

1. The Ascension helps us to understand that: CCC 670-672

 Jesus will come again and that we are at the

final hour of his coming for the salvation of all humanity.
Jn 5:27-29
 We will be anticipating his return as Lord
and King.
 We are all called to continually prepare
ourselves for the coming of Christ again through the Church
especially through the Sacrament and of preeminence,
reception of the Holy Eucharist. CCC 671
 We are still in age where sin and the
deception of the Devil are prevalent and our call is to turn
away from sin and turn to the grace present in the Church
and her sacraments.
 Christ came not to judge the world but to
save it and give life to it.