- What happens after this story?
- List of all Bible stories and themes on this website.
Way to Introduce the Story:
Collect “cross” items: jewellery, cards, bible covers, magazine pictures, artwork, newspaper ads, telephone yellow pages, etc. Look through these with the children and ask where they have seen crosses. The cross is “used” for decoration so much that it has often lost its meaning. Encourage them to think about the “real cross” throughout the lesson. Discuss this again at the end of the lesson. Ask them if they will think of the true meaning of the cross when they see these items next.
Jesus was the Son of God. He was always kind and always chose to do right. But even though Jesus was good there were people who hated him. They did not like it when he said he was the King of the Jews. Some people hated Jesus so much that they found a way to have him put on trial and sentenced to die on a cross.
After his trial the soldiers made fun of Jesus. They put a soldier’s robe on him and put a staff in his hand to make him look like a king. They twisted thorny plants together to make a fake crown and stuck the crown on Jesus’ head. Then they kicked him and spat on him and hit him on the head over and over with the staff. The soldiers bowed down in front of Jesus and made fun of him by saying, “Hail, the King of the Jews.”
Jesus is the King! Jesus could have called all of the angels in heaven to come and help him. He could have called down fire to burn up the soldiers. He could have even just disappeared. But Jesus did not do any of those things because he knew that the only way to save everyone from sin was to die on the cross.
The soldiers put a big piece of wood from the cross on Jesus’ back and made him carry it. When Jesus got too tired the soldiers grabbed a man named Simon out of the crowd and made him carry Jesus’ cross.
The soldiers took Jesus to a place called “The Skull” (in other languages this is Calvary or Golgotha). The soldiers took off Jesus’ clothes and cast lots (sort of like dice) to see who got to keep them. They nailed big nails through Jesus’ wrists and heels to put him on the cross. Jesus must have really wanted stop everything then! Maybe he thought about all of his apostles and friends. Since he knew the future maybe he thought about all of us who had not been born yet. He must have really loved us to suffer like that!
Jesus was crucified in between two criminals who had done very bad things. One of the criminals made fun of Jesus but the second criminal told the first to be quiet and said, “You and I did bad things and we deserve to die. This man has not done anything wrong.” The criminal thought that maybe Jesus really was the King of the Jews. He asked Jesus to remember him in his kingdom.
Jesus said to the criminal, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43)
Jesus’ mother, Mary stood near the cross along with John, the apostle. Jesus looked at them and said, “Dear woman, here is your son.” To John he said, “Here is your mother.” After that day Mary lived at John’s house so he could take care of her. (John 19: 26-27)
God had sent his son to die for the sins of the world. Even though it hurt very much Jesus decided to obey God. Still, when he was feeling very lonely, he called out to God, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” That means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46)
The soldiers and rulers still made fun of Jesus. Instead of getting angry, do you know what Jesus did? He prayed for them. He prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)
Jesus knew it was time to die. He only asked for one thing. He looked down from the cross and said, “I am thirsty.” (John 19:28) Someone soaked a sponge with wine vinegar and used a plant stalk to lift it up to Jesus.
Even though it was the middle of the day the sky began to get dark. Darkness came over the whole land from noon until three in the afternoon. God had not forgotten Jesus!
Jesus prayed to God, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” (Luke 23:46) 