Assembly Objective:
- How should we respond when others betray us? This assembly (particularly suitable for Easter) explores the Bible’s account of the betrayal of Jesus and God’s plan to put things right.
Film:
- Doctor Who: Dark Water, the episode is available on the DVD Doctor Who the Complete Eighth Series (BBC DVD 2014, certificate 12). Click here to buy the DVD online.
Bible:
- Acts 2:22-23, 36-38 (New Living Translation)
Supporting Values Education:
- The value of Individual Liberty affirms each person’s right to self-determination, but the values of Democracy, Respect and Tolerance call us to live as part of a community. This assembly encourages pupils to consider how we can respond to those who use their individual liberty against the common good.
OPENING ACTIVITY
Prisoner’s Dilemma (game)
You will need to print out two sets of Share or Steal cards for this activity.
- This activity will probably cost you some money. Only do it if you are happy to be out of pocket by up to £5.
- Ask for two volunteers. Explain that they each have the chance to win some free money from you. You are going to offer them different amounts of cash, and at each stage they have the choice of sharing or stealing the money. Their decisions will be made simultaneously, and in ignorance of what the other player will decide each time. If both players agree to share the money, it will be divided evenly. If one player decides to share and the other to steal, the stealer gets all the money. If both players decide to steal, nobody gets anything (and you get to keep your money!) Players make their choices by selecting either the ‘Share’ card or the ‘Steal’ card, and holding it up when you ask both players to reveal their choices.
- Make sure that neither player can see what the other has done before making their own choice, and that the audience is not in a position to call out and tell players what their counterpart has done. It’s up to you whether you are happy for the audience to shout out advice – it will add to the atmosphere, but might make it harder to settle the students down for the rest of the assembly, or for any subsequent lessons.
- Play up to five rounds of the game (don’t tell the volunteers that you are going to play five rounds, although you could tell them once they have got to the final round). If either or both players chooses to steal at any point, that round becomes the final round – the game only continues as long as both players choose to share.
- In the first round, offer the players 10p (or 5p each if they choose to share).
- In the second round, offer the players 50p (or 25p each if they choose to share).
- In the third round, offer the players £1 (or 50p each if they choose to share).
- In the fourth round, offer the players £2 (or £1 each if they choose to share).
- In the fifth and final round, offer the players £5 (or £2.50 each if they choose to share).
- If one or both of your volunteers chooses to steal straight away, you could get some more volunteers and try again, or move straight on to the debriefing.
- After playing the game to a conclusion at least once, ask the players why they made the choices that they did. If both players consistently chose to share, congratulate them and ask why they decided to trust their opponent not to steal the money. If either or both chose to steal, ask them why they didn’t want to share. If any players successfully stole their partner’s share of the money, ask the empty-handed player how it felt to be betrayed by their partner. Ask them if they would trust the other player again if they had another chance to play the game.
- Explain that in today’s assembly you are going to be thinking more about betrayal and about how people respond to it.
Scorpion’s Tale (something to think about)
- Tell the students the story of the scorpion and the frog:
- There was once a scorpion who wanted to cross a wide, powerful river. He knew that he had no way of getting across on his own, so he asked a frog to carry him on his back.
- ‘No way!’ said the frog. ‘You’re a scorpion – if I let you onto my back you’ll just poison me with your sting and I’ll be dead.’
- ‘Don’t be silly,’ replied the scorpion. If I sting you, you’ll sink beneath the water and I’ll drown. We would both be dead. Why would I do something that led to my own death?’
- This convinced the frog, so they set off on their journey across the river. Half way across, the scorpion plunged its sting deep into the frog’s back. With its dying breath the frog turned its head and gasped a single word: ‘Why?’
- The scorpion shrugged. ‘What can I say? I’m a scorpion. It’s my nature – there’s no fighting that.’ And with that, the pair of them sank beneath the river to their watery graves.
- Explain that the scorpion couldn’t help itself but to betray the frog’s trust. In today’s assembly you are going to be thinking more about the consequences of betrayal.
FILM CLIP
- Play the clip from Doctor Who: Dark Water (BBC DVD 2014, certificate 12).
- Start time: 0.10.11 (in chapter 3 of the DVD)
- End time: 0.14.24
- Clip length: 4 minutes and 13 seconds
- The clip starts with Clara saying, ‘One last chance’. The clip ends with the Doctor saying, ‘It’s like they inflate’.
- The clip shows Clara attempting to destroy the last key to the Doctor’s Tardis in an attempt to force him to change time to save the life of her boyfriend. After her attempt fails, she expects the Doctor to be angry with her, but he surprises her by agreeing to try to help despite her betrayal of him. When she asks why, he replies, ‘Do you think that I care for you so little that betraying me would make a difference?’
TALK
Download the Easter Doctor Who Dark Water PowerPoint with this presentation.
- [PowerPoint slide 1]
- Betrayal. It’s a horrible word, full of jagged emotions. It suggests receiving the worst treatment from someone who you expected to be loyal, to stand by you.
- [PowerPoint slide 2]
- At the end of the 2013-2014 football season, Frank Lampard left Chelsea Football Club after thirteen years in which he won eleven major trophies including three league titles and one European Champions League. During that time Lampard scored 211 goals in all competitions, establishing himself as Chelsea’s all-time record goal scorer. He agreed to join American side New York City, a new team who would be entering the American Major Soccer League in January 2015, and in the meantime signed a short-term contract with Chelsea’s main English rivals Manchester City.
- The reaction from Chelsea fans was mixed. Some chose to remember the years of service Lampard had given Chelsea and wish him well, while others reacted angrily to the news that he had joined their rivals. One Chelsea fan tweeted this:
- Tweets from Chelsea fans in response to the news that Lampard had signed for Manchester City:
- [click] ‘I bought the matches in preparation for burning my Lampard shirt, but was waiting for the confirmation.’
- Another was more measured, but the last four words of his tweet reveal the depth of feeling about Lampard’s decision:
- [click] ‘Lampard was my all time favourite player. Have 6 kits with his name on. I’ll remain classy and wish him well, but legends don’t do this.’
- [PowerPoint slide 3]
- Lampard subsequently extended his contract with Manchester City, staying on to the end of the 2014-2015 season rather than joining New York City as planned in January. This prompted fresh outrage from some Chelsea fans, particularly as Manchester City were due to play Chelsea at the end of the month. Lampard was brought on as a 77th minute substitute against Chelsea, to a mixture of cheers and jeers from Chelsea fans. One fan was pictured with a home-made banner that read, [click] ‘Lampard, you are not a legend any more. You are a traitor to Chelsea FC and Chelsea fans.’ Rightly or wrongly, when people feel let down, it can be very, very hard to forgive and forget.
- We’re going to watch a clip from an episode of Doctor Who. Earlier on in the episode, Clara’s boyfriend Danny was killed, and she is understandably devastated. In her grief, she comes up with a plan to force the Doctor to meddle with time to save Danny’s life. She tricks the Doctor into taking the Tardis into a volcano, then one by one destroys the Doctor’s Tardis keys by throwing them into the lava until he agrees. When we join the action, there is only one last key remaining. If that goes into the lava, the Doctor will never be able to use his Tardis again.
- Play the clip from Doctor Who: Dark Water:
- Start time: 0.10.11 (in chapter 3 of the DVD)
- End time: 0.14.24
- Clip length: 4 minutes and 13 seconds
- The clip starts with Clara saying, ‘One last chance’. The clip ends with the Doctor saying, ‘It’s like they inflate’.
- If you are unable to play the clip, say, ‘The Doctor calls Clara’s bluff and she destroys the key. But then the Doctor reveals that he knew what Clara was trying to do and had made sure that she wasn’t really in a position to take the Tardis away from him. However, he points out that she has completely and utterly betrayed him. Despite this, he agrees to help her. Clara is shocked and asks why. The Doctor replies, “Do you think that I care for you so little that betraying me would make a difference?” ’
- [PowerPoint slide 4]
- Clara is clearly astonished by the Doctor’s attitude. After what she had tried to do, she expected him to be angry, and she clearly felt that she deserved that anger. She had betrayed him, and she couldn’t blame him when she thought he wanted nothing more to do with her. But instead, the Doctor still wanted to help her, in spite of what she had done. He explained it like this:
- [click] ‘Do you think that I care for you so little that betraying me would make a difference?’
- Because of the relationship the Doctor and Clara had, the Doctor wasn’t willing to just abandon her, even if she had let him down badly. Even her betrayal couldn’t change his commitment to their friendship.
- [PowerPoint slide 5]
- Jesus’ followers knew what it was to let Jesus down. Almost all of them abandoned Jesus when he was arrested. Nevertheless, just a short time after his death, the Apostle Peter stood up in the middle of Jerusalem and spoke to a packed crowd. Here is part of what the Bible tells us he said:
- ‘People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed.’ Act 2: 22-23 New Living Translation.
- Jesus’ followers knew what it was to let Jesus down. Almost all of them abandoned Jesus when he was arrested. Nevertheless, just a short time after his death, the Apostle Peter stood up in the middle of Jerusalem and spoke to a packed crowd. Here is part of what the Bible tells us he said:
- [PowerPoint slide 6]
- With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him.
- So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!’ Acts 2:23, 36 New Living Translation.
- Peter points out to the crowd, who would mostly have been respectable God-fearing Israelites, that they had turned against God’s chosen Messiah. For the people of Israel, this was a big deal. For generations they had been waiting for God’s Messiah to come and deliver them from their enemies, for God to settle the score against the people who opposed him. Peter was telling them that by killing Jesus, they had lined up alongside the enemies of God. Just like Peter and the other disciples, the people had betrayed God and let him down. The Bible goes on to tell us how they reacted:
- [PowerPoint slide 7]
- Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what should we do?’ Peter replied, ‘Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.’ Acts 2:37-38, New Living Translation.
- [PowerPoint slide 8]
- Fortunately for the people of Israel, God wasn’t finished with them. Despite their rebellion against him, despite their actions in killing Jesus, God had a plan to put things right between his people and himself. Easter is when God says to humanity, [click] ‘Do you think that I care for you so little that betraying me would make a difference?’.
- God’s amazing love wasn’t just for the people of Israel 2,000 years ago. Christians believe that because of Jesus’ death on the cross, everybody has the opportunity to get themselves right with God, to become his friends rather than his enemies.
Headings and Bullets
Download the Easter Doctor Who Dark Water PowerPoint with this presentation.
- [PowerPoint slide 1]
- Betrayal:
- A horrible word.
- Suggests receiving the worst treatment from someone you expected better from.
- Betrayal:
- [PowerPoint slide 2]
- Frank Lampard left Chelsea FC in 2014.
- 11 trophies in 13 years.
- Scored 211 goals – a club record.
- Agreed to join New York City in America.
- Then signed a short-term contract with Chelsea’s main domestic rivals Manchester City.
- Mixed reaction from Chelsea fans:
- Some wished Lampard well.
- Others reacted angrily.
- [click] Tweet: I bought the matches in preparation for burning my Lampard shirt, but was waiting for the confirmation.
- [click] Tweet: Lampard was my all time favourite player. Have 6 kits with his name on. I’ll remain classy and wish him well, but legends don’t do this.
- Frank Lampard left Chelsea FC in 2014.
- [PowerPoint slide 3]
- Lampard extended contract with Manchester City to end of 2014-15 season, delaying his arrival in New York.
- Fresh outrage from some Chelsea fans.
- End of January Lampard played for Manchester City against Chelsea.
- One fan’s banner: ‘Lampard, you are not a legend any more. You are a traitor to Chelsea FC and Chelsea fans.’
- Rightly or wrongly, when people feel let down, it’s hard to forgive and forget.
- Introduce clip from Doctor Who:
- Previously, Clara’s boyfriend Danny has been killed.
- Clara tries to force the Doctor to meddle with time to save Danny.
- Threatens to destroy all the keys to the Tardis until the Doctor agrees.
- We join the action with just one key remaining.
- Play the clip from Doctor Who: Dark Water
- Start time: 0.10.11 (in chapter 3 of the DVD)
- End time: 0.14.24
- Clip length: 4 minutes and 13 seconds
- The clip starts with Clara saying, ‘One last chance’. The clip ends with the Doctor saying, ‘It’s like they inflate’.
- Lampard extended contract with Manchester City to end of 2014-15 season, delaying his arrival in New York.
- [PowerPoint slide 4]
- Clara astonished
- She expected the Doctor to be angry.
- She felt she deserved that anger.
- The Doctor still wanted to help despite her betrayal.
- [click] ‘Do you think that I care for you so little that betraying me would make a difference?’
- The Doctor wasn’t willing to abandon their relationship.
- Even her betrayal couldn’t change his commitment to their friendship.
- Clara astonished
- [PowerPoint slide 5]
- Jesus’ followers knew what it was to let Jesus down.
- Most abandoned him when he was arrested.
- But a short time after his death, Peter stood in a packed Jerusalem and spoke to a crowd.
- ‘People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed.’ Act 2: 22-23, New Living Translation.
- Jesus’ followers knew what it was to let Jesus down.
- [PowerPoint slide 6]
- ‘With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him. So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!’ Acts 2:23, 36, New Living Translation.
- The crowd:
- Largely God-fearing Israelites.
- Waiting for the Messiah to deliver them from God’s enemies.
- Peter points out that by killing Jesus, they have lined up alongside God’s enemies.
- Like Peter and the other disciples, they have betrayed God and let him down.
- [PowerPoint slide 7]
- Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what should we do?’ Peter replied, ‘Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.’ Acts 2:37-38, New Living Translation.
- [PowerPoint slide 8]
- Fortunately, God wasn’t finished with his people.
- Despite their rebellion, God had a plan to put things right.
- [click] Easter is when God says, ‘Do you think that I care for you so little that betraying me would make a difference?’
- God’s love wasn’t just for the people of Israel 2,000 years ago.
- Christians believe Jesus’ death on the cross means everybody can get right with God, becoming his friends rather than his enemies.
- Fortunately, God wasn’t finished with his people.
Photo copyright for Easter Doctor Who Dark Water PowerPoint: Slide 1 and 8 iStockphoto.com / Slide 2 Ultraslansi / Slide 3 Chelsea Debs / Slide 4 BBC / Slides 5-7 Sweet Publishing/FreeBibleimages.org
RESPOND
Prayer
- Dear God, thank you for your amazing response to human betrayal. Thank you that you love us so much that you don’t meet our rejection of you with what we deserve, but with unending love and forgiveness. Amen.
Reflection
- How hard do you find it to forgive people who hurt you and let you down? Has anyone ever forgiven you for something terrible that you did? How did it feel when you realised that you weren’t getting what you deserved?
YOU WILL NEED:
- Doctor Who: Dark Water, the episode is available on the DVD Doctor Who the Complete Eighth Series (BBC DVD 2014, certificate 12). Click here to buy the DVD online.
- Easter Doctor Who Dark Water PowerPoint.
- Share or Steal cards for the opening activity Prisoner’s Dilemma game.
Ethos Education 