Single lesson
Judas Prays for Fallen Soldiers
2 Maccabees 12:39–45
After a battle, Judas and his companions found a hidden sin among the fallen and prayed for them with hope in the resurrection.
Before you teach
On the following day, Judas and his company came to gather the bodies of the soldiers who had fallen. They planned to bring them back with their kinsmen and lay them in their ancestors’ burial places. But under the garments of each dead man they found tokens dedicated to the idols of Jamnia. God’s law forbade the Jews to have anything to do with such things. Then it became clear to everyone why these men had fallen.
Describe the central teaching of Judas Prays for Fallen Soldiers, using two details from the reading. After a battle, Judas and his companions found a hidden sin among the fallen and prayed for them with hope in the resurrection.
Welcome: Judas Prays for Fallen Soldiers
4 minIntroduce “Judas Prays for Fallen Soldiers” and locate 2 Maccabees 12:39–45. After a battle, Judas and his companions found a hidden sin among the fallen and prayed for them with hope in the resurrection. Invite each learner to name a detail or question they will listen for.
2 Maccabees 12:39, 2 Maccabees 12:42, 2 Maccabees 12:45
Read and explain the passage
8 minOn the following day, Judas and his company came to gather the bodies of the soldiers who had fallen. They planned to bring them back with their kinsmen and lay them in their ancestors’ burial places.
Judas urged the others to keep themselves from sin. They had seen with their own eyes what had happened because of the sin of those who had died. Then he took up a collection from the men, and it came to two thousand drachmas of silver.
But he looked toward the hope held out for those who die in godliness, so he arranged an atoning sacrifice for the dead, that they might be released from their sin. What does this story show about taking sin seriously and still praying with hope?
Read the selected verses together, pausing at “Judas Prays for Fallen Soldiers”. Use the source reading below and check the explanation against the words of the passage.
2 Maccabees 12:39, 2 Maccabees 12:42, 2 Maccabees 12:40, 2 Maccabees 12:43, 2 Maccabees 12:45
Discuss the details and their meaning
6 minUse the three questions below. Begin with ““But under the garments of each dead man they found tokens dedicated to the idols of Jamnia.” Which details explain how the account reaches this point?” and allow time to find the supporting verses. After a battle, Judas and his companions found a hidden sin among the fallen and prayed for them with hope in the resurrection. Ask learners to explain which details support their answer and to identify a question they would like to explore further.
2 Maccabees 12:40, 2 Maccabees 12:44, 2 Maccabees 12:41, 2 Maccabees 12:42, 2 Maccabees 12:43, 2 Maccabees 12:45
Make and respond: Story sequence booklet
9 minWork on “Judas Prays for Fallen Soldiers: Story sequence booklet”. Follow the materials and steps below, using “Judas Prays for Fallen Soldiers” as reading headings. Each learner should include at least two accurate details and their verse references. Share one observation from the finished sheet and explain how it connects with the central teaching.
2 Maccabees 12:39, 2 Maccabees 12:42, 2 Maccabees 12:45
Closing: return to Judas Prays for Fallen Soldiers
3 minRevisit 2 Maccabees 12:39–45. Invite a learner to summarise what the group has learned about Judas Prays for Fallen Soldiers and another to support the summary with a verse. Give learners a moment to complete their response sheet. They can share a question or, if appropriate for the group, join the optional prayer.
2 Maccabees 12:39, 2 Maccabees 12:42, 2 Maccabees 12:45
Questions to explore
“But under the garments of each dead man they found tokens dedicated to the idols of Jamnia.” Which details explain how the account reaches this point?
But under the garments of each dead man they found tokens dedicated to the idols of Jamnia. God’s law forbade the Jews to have anything to do with such things. Then it became clear to everyone why these men had fallen.
2 Maccabees 12:40, 2 Maccabees 12:44, 2 Maccabees 12:41
How does this moment affect the rest of the account: “Judas urged the others to keep themselves from sin.”?
Judas urged the others to keep themselves from sin. They had seen with their own eyes what had happened because of the sin of those who had died. Then he took up a collection from the men, and it came to two thousand drachmas of silver.
2 Maccabees 12:42, 2 Maccabees 12:43, 2 Maccabees 12:45
What does this story show about taking sin seriously and still praying with hope?
But he looked toward the hope held out for those who die in godliness, so he arranged an atoning sacrifice for the dead, that they might be released from their sin.
2 Maccabees 12:45, 2 Maccabees 12:42, 2 Maccabees 12:43
Make, think or respond
Judas Prays for Fallen Soldiers: Story sequence booklet
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or pens
- coloured pencils or crayons
Try it together
- Fold a sheet into three panels or draw three columns. Label them “Beginning”, “What changes?”, “How it ends”.
- Read 2 Maccabees 12:39–45. Use “Judas Prays for Fallen Soldiers” as your reading headings and add a short quotation or detail with its verse reference to each panel.
- Talk through your notes with an adult. Add a word, drawing or short quotation that helps you remember each part.
- Retell the account using your three panels, checking the order against the passage.
The finished sheet keeps the details of Judas Prays for Fallen Soldiers connected to their Bible references and gives the group a way to explain what they noticed.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, read the selected verses aloud, prepare the three panels and let them respond with drawings or a few words. Use Judas Prays for Fallen Soldiers as the retelling prompt.
- For older children, add verse references to the response sheet and explain a connection between Judas Prays for Fallen Soldiers and the final part of the reading.
An optional closing prayer
“God, help us listen carefully as we read 2 Maccabees 12:39–45. Help us understand what we have read, ask thoughtful questions and respond with care for others. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
2 Maccabees 12
39 On the following day, when it had become necessary, Judas and his company came to take up the bodies of those who had fallen, and in company with their kinsmen to bring them back to the sepulchres of their ancestors.
40 But under the garments of each one of the dead they found consecrated tokens of the idols of Jamnia, which the law forbids the Jews to have anything to do with. It became clear to all that it was for this cause that they had fallen.
41 All therefore, blessing the ways of the Lord, the righteous Judge, who makes manifest the things that are hidden,
42 turned themselves to supplication, praying that the sin committed might be wholly blotted out. The noble Judas exhorted the multitude to keep themselves from sin, for they had seen with their own eyes what happened because of the sin of those who had fallen.
43 When he had made a collection man by man to the sum of two thousand drachmas of silver, he sent to Jerusalem to offer a sacrifice for sin, doing very well and honorably in this, in that he took thought for the resurrection.
44 For if he wasn’t expecting that those who had fallen would rise again, it would be superfluous and idle to pray for the dead.
45 But if he was looking forward to an honorable memorial of gratitude laid up for those who die in godliness, then the thought was holy and godly. Therefore he made the atoning sacrifice for those who had died, that they might be released from their sin.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.