The Crucifixion

The Crucifixion

Wednesday, March 13th & Sunday, March 17th

Key Passages: Luke 23:26-56, Mark 15:37-38

Basic Truth: Jesus chose to die as our substitute

Memory Verse: "This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4:9-10

Think about it: 

The word “substitute” to us often carries the thought of a less valuable or inferior replacement for something or someone we would prefer to have.   But when Jesus chose to shed His blood and to die for our sins, a whole new and amazing meaning came into being.   God the Son agreed to be abandoned by God the Father and shed His blood in our place.  That the Creator of the universe would choose to pay the penalty for us sin-stained creatures leaves us gasping, “How can it be that the King of Glory would die for me?”

“"Where, O death, is your victory?  Where, O death, is your sting?"  The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God!  He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  (1 Corinthians 15:55-57)

This lesson holds up Jesus as God’s Way – the ONLY Way – to be reconciled to God.  Pray for the Holy Spirit to work in the hearts of your students this week.  

Ask it:

All Levels

Q: What is an atoning sacrifice?

A: A payment that is accepted by God and satisfies His wrath over sin. Jesus is the ONLY atoning sacrifice!

Grade 1-2

Q: Why did God the Father forsake, or turn away from Jesus?

A: All of our sin was put on Jesus. Our sin separated Jesus from God the Father. Because He loves us, Jesus took the punishment that we deserved.

Q: How much does Jesus love us?

A: Enough to take the punishment for our sins...enough to die in our place!

Q: Why can Jesus take our sin, but nobody else can?

A: Jesus can take our sin because He had NO sin. Nobody else could cover our sin because they have their own sin, they aren't perfect like Jesus is. 

Grade 3-4

Q: How does Jesus' death show God's justice?

A: God said that sin would be punished by death. Because Jesus agreed to take the sins of the world, He endured the just punishment that all sinners deserve. 

Q: What do we deserve because we are sinners?

A: We deserve punishment, death and God's wrath, we have no right to be with God or to be loved by God. But Jesus came to save us from this! (Ephesians 5:6)

Q: What happened when Jesus died and what did it show the people (and us!)?

A: The thick temple curtain was torn in half; the earth shook so hard the rocks were split. It shows that Jesus was the Son of God! (Matthew 27: 51, 54)

Grade 5-6

Q: How was Jesus' death a great victory?

A: His death accomplished the purpose for which He was born-- to offer Himself as a sacrifice, sufficient to redeem sinful mankind. Jesus showed His sovereign control as everything happened just the way it was planned. 

Q: Why do we needed to be redeemed and what does that mean?

A: We need to be redeemed because we have all sinned against God. Redeem means to pay a price to buy back and set free. Jesus paid the greatest price of all!
Q: How would someone be redeemed before Jesus came? 
A: They would offer an animal sacrifice to cover their sin. The person who had sinned would bring the required animal to the tabernacle. They would put their hands on the head of the animal to signify that their sin was being taken by the animal. The animal was then killed in the place of the sinner. 

Family Activities:

1) Play Monopoly, Sorry, or another game that has a penalty. Parents, when someone "deserves" the penalty, offer to take the penalty for them.

2) Talk about "stunt men". Why would an actor be glad to have a substitute?