Good Friday

Friday

Teaching Cookie: Cross

READ Matthew 27:32-54

Recommended Translation for Preschool & Children- NIrV

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Jesus was nailed to a cross and crucified on Golgatha, which means the Place of the Skull. The crowds mocked Him. The soldiers tormented Him. They even gambled to see who would get His clothes after He died. The skies turned dark for three hours until Jesus cried, “Father! Into your hands I commit my spirit!” and then He died. Many who had followed Jesus in the days before became afraid and ran away. And those who stayed to watch, cried as they watched Him suffer.

To have it end like this must not have felt right to the disciples. Think about it - this Man they had followed for 3 years - the One who they had seen with their own eyes perform so many miracles and heal so many people - would no longer be with them. Can you imagine what must have been going through their minds during all of this?

Just a few days ahead of them would be what we know as Easter Sunday, but on Friday they couldn’t know that. They didn’t know that Jesus was about to come back from the grave. They didn’t understand that He had to take on all this pain, and defeat death to pay the price for their sins. To pay the price for OUR sins. All they knew is that a Man they greatly loved had suffered a terrible and painful death for no obvious reason.

Have you ever stopped to think what might have happened if Jesus HADN’T died on the cross that day? What would become of us? We are sinners, and we know that sin separates us from God. Without Jesus’ death and resurrection, we would be forever separated from the One Who created us. Everything Jesus endured that day was for US. He paid the price for our sins with His own sweat, blood, and tears, so that we could have eternal life. What an amazing gift of love and sacrifice.

ASK

• Tell me in your own words what you think happened on Good Friday?

• Why do you think He suffered like that?

• What do you think Jesus asks us to do in return for what He did?

• What do you think would happen to us if Jesus had not chosen to do that for us?

PRAY

“Thank you, God, for sending Jesus. And thank you, Jesus, for obeying Your Father. Your love for Him is what let You allow others to nail you to a cross – and Your love for me is what kept You there. Help me to obey and love like You. Amen.”