The Names of Jesus:
A Unique Holiday
Unit Study
Edited and Adapted with Permission
By Kathryn M. Martinez
November 2004
Originally Written by Karen Caroe
1998
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Acknowledgments ………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 3
Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 4
How To Use This Unit ………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 5
General Supply List …………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 6
Day 1: Alpha and Omega ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 7
Day 2: Wonderful Counselor ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 12
Day 3: The Mighty God ………………………………………………………………………………………………... 18
Day 4: The Everlasting Father ………………………………………………………………………………………… 24
Day 5: The Prince of Peace …………………………………………………………………………………………… 27
Day 6: The First Born of Every Creature ……………………………………………………………………………... 31
Day 7: Unspeakable Gift ……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 37
Day 8: Lamb of God ……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 43
Day 9: Good Shepherd ………………………………………………………………………………………………… 49
Day 10: Star …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 56
Day 11: The Christ/Anointed One/Messiah …………………………………………………………………………. 61
Day 12: Immanuel ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 66
Day 13: Holy One ………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 71
Day 14: Light of the World …………………………………………………………………………………………….. 79
Day 15: Day Spring ……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 86
Day 16: The Word ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 91
Day 17: Servant ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 98
Day 18: King ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 104
Day 19: Rose of Sharon ………………………………………………………………………………………………. 113
Day 20: Lily of the Valley ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 119
Day 21: Friend …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 122
Day 22: Savior …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 130
Day 23: Shiloh …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 136
Day 24: Ancient of Days ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 138
Other Names …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 143
Claydough Recipes ……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 146
Final Notes ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 149
Acknowlegements
This unit would not be possible without the original hard work of Karen Caroe, the author of several unit studies including A Blessed Christmas. Although I’ve expanded her daily lesson suggestions, this is in no way meant to detract from her original unit and purpose, but to compliment it. I appreciate her permission to expand on this unit.
I’d also like to acknowledge the various websites and books, many of which are cited through out this unit, that provided ideas and inspirations fore expanding each day’s activities.
And of course I’d like to thank all the help I received from individuals, including my family, my internet buddies, and those folks who took the time to help me edit and refine my writing.
INSERT A GRAPHIC THAT SAYS “HAPPY HOLIDAYS”
Please note: Each family may make the number of copies they need of each section in this unit for educational and developmental purposes; however, this unit was freely given and is not to be re-sold in any format or fashion.
Biblical verses quoted in this unit are from the New International Version (NIV); however, you can use alternate translations without impacting these unit lessons.
INTRODUCTION
I have used this unit on several occasions while it was still in Ms. Caroe’s original format for both Christmas and Easter holiday unit studies. It was a wonderful blessing for all of the family to work on. The unit is very compatible with teaching multiple ages/levels simultaneously. However, just like with the original Blessed Christmas[1] the kids wanted more activities to go along with each Name.
Just like with “Blessed Christmas”, I obtained Ms. Caroe’s permission to expand on her unit. I did this by adding additional Bible verses, discussion questions, lesson activities, recipes, service project ideas, crafts, puzzles, etc.
Do not fret over trying to complete every activity within the unit. There is no practical way to do everything for each day in a single day, particularly. You are expected to pick and chose the activities that best suit your family’s interests and age appropriateness under each Name. The unit may be used supplementary to other curriculums and resources; however, I have tried to include enough cross-curricular activities to allow it to stand-alone as well.
Above all, enjoy the unit and study the meanings behind the Names given to Jesus in the Bible and how they pertain to us today.
HOW TO USE THIS UNIT[2]
In every age and every culture names are important. Parents often struggle to select just the right name to give their child. It is more than just a label of identification. In Biblical times, a name had a significant meaning--often denoting a characteristic or something related to the history of the person or his time. Sometimes a new name was given to indicate a change of character or a major event in one's history.
Some possible pre-unit or unit-expansion activities is to look up some of the Biblical people who had their names changed. Why did they change? Did they change names on their own or did someone else give them a new name? Was their new name a good one? Did they live up to their name?
Names often run in families and keep alive family traditions. In the Bible a name and the way in which it is chosen holds significant meaning. A messenger from God tell Zachariah to call his child “John.” His close family and friends would have expected the baby to receive a more traditional name, familiar within the family. Similarly, Jesus’ name was announced by an angel before His birth. During His life He was given other names and titles by those who followed Him, to describe the man, what He did and what people believed of Him.[3]
Throughout the Old and New Testaments, it is possible to find more than 100 names and titles for Jesus Christ. Why so many names for Jesus? Perhaps it is because a name is descriptive but it is also restrictive. A name or title has a self-imposed limitation and no one single name could begin to describe or define Jesus. His glory and His greatness defy description and definition!
This Funschooling Unit is one that my family often uses as we enter into the Christmas Season. We alternate our studies each year between the Symbols of Christmas [the expanded version is better known as “Blessed Christmas[4]] and Names of Jesus. The unit is meant to begin on December first and continue each day through December twenty-fifth. It is a combination advent devotional and unit study. It is recommended that your family make a “NAMES OF JESUS” journal while doing this unit. It will be fun for the whole family and a testimony to Jesus when people visit during the holiday season. We leave ours sitting out where others can enjoy it. This unit is suitable for the entire family and activities can be added or changed to meet the needs of the very young child or the older student.
However, this unit is just as equally fit for studying at other times of the year. Easter would be a particularly advantageous time of year to implement this unit.
Additional hints for using this unit:
Feel free to re-arrange the order in which you study each Name. Also, I’ve included additional Names at the end of this unit that you may want to substitute in your study to make an adjustment for your family’s need or interest.
I have arranged this unit to make printing each individual day’s lessons as easy as possible, so you do not have to print out the entire unit at one time. Also, while the graphics are in color, it is not necessary for you to have a color printer. I chose graphics with maximum clarity in both color and black-and-white printings.
Before beginning this unit, it is beneficial to review the entire unit and pick and chose the activities that you want to do for each day. The supply list is a simply one, but you will want to make sure that you have your supplies in advance so as not to have to unexpectedly skip any activity just for want of a simple item.
Where at all possible I have included each of the following type of item for each of the first twenty-four 24 Names of Jesus: Bible verse(s), discussion question(s), lesson activities, recipe(s), service project idea, appropriate hymn or sheet music, handwriting sheet, prayer suggestions, craft(s), journal sheet, and coloring page.
Most of the names in this unit were taken from the King James Version of the Bible. Other translations may use slightly different names; however, they should not conflict. If you run into this issue, simply adjust the name, but the meaning should remain the same.
For understanding why names are important in the Bible, I suggest you use the study located at . This study disects the idea the a name not being merely a combination of sounds used to describe something or someone, but is actually the meaning of what they sounds mean.
GENERAL SUPPLY LIST:
Below is a list of general supplies that you will need to do many of the activities within this unit. Some of the activities will require additional supplies, such as the science experiments and the cooking activities. While there are some suggestions for journaling activities included within most of the days, these are not mandatory but they do offer additional learning opportunities.
1. Binder or notebook for the holiday journal
2. Construction Paper
3. Glue
4. Scissors
5. Markers, crayons, colored pencils, etc.
6. Old magazines, books, etc that can be cut up.
7. Stickers.
8. Holiday hymns, carols, and songs.
9. Hymns that use some of the names of Jesus
10.Bible
I used an online Bible for cross-referencing the various names and additional verses. At the time of publication of this unit the URL was
Another program that I’ve found useful for Bible study is which is actually a download with many uses.
Yet one more resource that you may be interested in is the free Bible curriculum for children that can be found at and which is divided into Old and New Testament stories. For example, to go along with the name “Good Shepherd” you may wish to include which covers the same subject.
DAY 1
ALPHA and OMEGA Revelation 22:13
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
As the first and last of the Greek alphabet, the Alpha and Omega represent the One in whom creation began and by whom it will one day end. Its usage as an early Christian symbol is based upon Revelation 1:8: "’I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending’, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty".
These are "red letter" words--meaning they were spoken by Jesus about Himself.
Discuss: The verse and the name. Talk about beginnings and endings.
MATH: You may wish to discuss the geometric shape of a circle. Does a circle have a beginning or an ending? Let the little ones identify as many circles as they can find. Older students may wish to explore geometry such as the formulas for the area of a circle, how to find the radius and/or diameter of a circle, and the concept of “pi” (3.14….)
LANGUAGE ARTS: Learn the Greek Symbols for Alpha and Omega. (Altnernative: Learn how to say and write whole Greek Alphabet)
JOURNAL ACTIVITY: Do your journal page. (For your journal, you could take pictures of the children making the activity below. Then take a picture of them holding it up.)
HISTORY/GEOGRAPHY: A possible discussion could be about the development of the alphabet up to the Greek and Roman alphabets and how they were used in Biblical times.
COOKING RECIPE: You may wish to make one of the homemade clays (recipes at the end of this book) and use the clay to create a “chi ro” symbol.
CRAFT: Decorate your home with a Christmas banner showing the Greek symbols Alpha and Omega. Use about a yard of felt for the background. Make a casing and insert a dowel pole or stick to hang it from. Use other colors of felt to cut out your decorations and glue them to the background.
SERVICE PROJECT IDEA: Make a “thinking of you” card. Decorate the front of it with a “chi ro” symbol (see the graphic above from day one). On the inside of the card, send a note to someone who is house bound or in the hospital letting them know that you are thinking of them and also explain about the meaning of the “chi ro” symbol.
SAMPLE PRAYER: Thank you for being the beginning and the ending and all things in between. Thank you for always being there. Help me to remember that I am never alone because you are with me always. Amen.
ALTERNATIVE BIBLE VERSE CITATIONS: Revelation 1:8, Revelation 21:6
Alpha and Omega
G E T T E F B S R V J Y B R T
Y N F P T U H I K R M R X X X
F B I H H R H T B D T F R B S
X P R N R A D I N S T V F D P
F O S Q N O I T A L E V E R W
Z Y T H G I M L A R B M N O Z
L R K E E R G E S J A W S L E
I E M S D X X E G N H Y X F L
I A I Z U L E H B A P B V P N
F E M O L S Y M B O L O H L A
I Y B Q G T E N D A A T H S Y
S J Z Z O J Q J H X O U H B A
R O J U L O Z O P B Q F G L S
K H O Y J X K Q Y J R Y Y C W
S S S K C Z W B A Z V R E S K
ALMIGHTY
ALPHA
ALPHABET
BEGINNING
END
FIRST
GOD
GREEK
JESUS
LAST
LORD
NAME
OMEGA
REVELATION
SYMBOL
TITLE
VERSE
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Revelation
22:13
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Revelation 22:13
DAY 2
Wonderful Counselor (Isaiah 9:6)
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Note: The King James Bible separates this name into 2 titles. We study them as one title here. Read and Discuss the verse and the meanings of the words. What qualities do they ascribe to Jesus? Lesson: What is a Counselor? What are some other verses in the Bible that talk about counselors? What are the character qualities of a Counselor: (Close to us--accessible, confidential--we can take our intimate matters to him, compassionate, cognizant--of our needs, capable, communication--we communicate to Christ in prayer but how does He communicate with us?)
SCIENCE EXPERIMENT: In the movie and/or book Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory there is a candy called the “everlasting gobstopper.” Basically this candy was what was commonly called a “jaw breaker”. As an experiment, have your child see how long an “everlasting gobstopper” lasts (or a piece of hard candy) in their mouth (without chewing). After the candy is gone, compare their “everlasting” with what the “Everlasting” means in this Name.
MATH: A synonym for everlasting is infinite. Using general math principles, discussed the terms finite and infinite.
LANGUAGE ARTS: Present your children with a "problem." What kind of counsel will they give. Have them write it out. Focus on what they are learning in grammar. Use adjectives, verbs, don't forget to capitalize--whatever they need to be working on at the time. Include writings in Christmas journal
WRITING: Have them write about a time when they received wise (or foolish) counsel. What happened?
JOURNAL ACTIVITY: Design a page for your journal showing Wonderful Counselor
HISTORY/GEOGRAPHY: Nothing physical is truly “everlasting.” Even if it takes a long time, the hardest surfaces of our planet still get worn away and change. You may wish to cover the concept of erosion and how it affects even large mountain ranges.
COOKING RECIPE: Use a favorite hard candy recipe and use it as the basis of the science experiment listed above.
CRAFT: You and your child may wish to begin a book of good advice. Pay particular attention to short verses from such books of the Bible such as Proverbs and the letters of Paul. Your child may wish to illustrate the book or you may wish to use those particular verses as handwriting exercises.
SERVICE PROJECT IDEA: Older children may wish to volunteer their time at a shelter or counseling center. Younger children might make arrangements to deliver a donation to a shelter or counseling center.
SAMPLE PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank you so much for all of the good advice and wise counsel that you have in the Bible. Help me to remember to read my Bible daily so that I can learn all that you want me to learn and avoid being foolish.
Wonderful Counselor
S G F A N T A S T I C W J E P O D N
U Q Q V S U O L E V R A M B Y N R Q
O W O R O T N E M A D M I R A B L E
R H P H E N O M E N A L A A E S I W
D S G T O N G U E G L N M Y G A G O
N U N N U D L A N O I T A S N E S N
O O I Y I E C I V D A E Z U I C R D
W D R N E D F F R K I K I O R T O E
G N I H S I N O T S A N N L E R L R
A E P S C T A A B E C L G U G E E F
W P S E U R R R T R N T A C G M S U
E U N U T O I U E S E I E A A E N L
S T I X P L L D C A T L V R T N U O
O S E S L E I U C T T U K I S D O Q
M P W I V B R H B I O A O M D O C C
E M A N L W E B T A B R E D I U G S
U N H E A R D O F L F A D V I S O R
T N E L L E C X E T A C O V D A Y L
1
ADMIRABLE
ADVICE
ADVISOR
ADVOCATE
AMAZING
ASTONISHING
ASTOUNDING
AWE-INSPIRING
AWESOME
BRILLIANT
COUNSEL
COUNSELOR
DIVINE
EXCELLENT
EXTRAORDINARY
FABULOUS
FANTASTIC
GUIDE
INCREDIBLE
INSTRUCTOR
MAGNIFICENT
MARVELOUS
MENTOR
MIRACULOUS
NAME
OUTSTANDING
PHENOMENAL
REMARKABLE
SENSATIONAL
STAGGERING
STUPENDOUS
SUPER
SUPERB
TEACHER
TITLE
TONGUE
TREMENDOUS
UNHEARD-OF
WISE
WONDERFUL
WONDROUS
1
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
DAY 3
The Mighty God[5] (Isaiah 9:6)
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Discuss: The name and it's meaning(s) . You may also wish to point out that because of God’s exceptional strength he is not overwhelmed by our problems, in fact he is always powerful enough to overcome them.
SCIENCE EXPERIMENT/CRAFT: In ancient Egypt, bricks were made by the Israelites to be used in building the “mighty” pyramids and statues. On the next page you will find an experiment on brick-making where your children make their own bricks and then test them for “hardness.”
MATH: Study weights and measures with the younger child. The older child may be interested in physics and mathematical formulas used in testing for “strength.”
LANGUAGE ARTS: Look up "mighty." What does it mean? How does it pertain to Jesus? Use the words for a vocabulary activity. (fortress, bulwark, etc.) Look up more verses with the word "mighty."
JOURNAL ACTIVITY: Find pictures that show "mighty." The great Redwood Trees. The bright sun. A high Mountain. A weight lifter. Christ is mightier than all of those. Cut out the pictures to put on page for journal
HISTORY/GEOGRAPHY: You may wish to study “mighty” warriors in history … Alexander the Great, Napoleon, Genghis Khan, Charlemagne, etc. Compare the “mightiness” or “greatness” of the historical figure(s) with the mightiness and greatness of Jesus.