The Death of Christ

Good Friday is what we call the day Jesus died on the cross in our place. You may be wondering how the day of Jesus’ death could possibly be a good day? It certainly involved more suffering than we could ever comprehend, but, as we’ll see, Jesus’ death was the decisive moment in the rescue plan that had been promised long ago.

 After travelling into Jerusalem, Jesus challenged the religious leaders of the day in a way that made it clear He was the Savior sent from God to save people from sin. This irritated some of the religious leaders, who thought they had figured out their own way to please God. Jesus was betrayed, arrested, beaten, subjected to a mockery of a trial, and then sentenced to death. As Jesus hung dying on the cross, He cried out in agony to God and then breathed His last. His death made a way for any who would believe in Him to be reconciled to God. Some of those who were watching His agony realized He really was the Son of God, but many people continued to mock and reject Him.

Connect with Kids

• Did Jesus deserve the punishment He received on the cross? (No, He never sinned and did not deserve to die. We deserve that death, but Jesus stepped in and took it in our place.)
• Was Jesus taken to the cross against His will? (No, He sacrificed Himself willingly. It was for this purpose that He came; see John 10:18.)
• What was so special about the curtain in the temple being torn in two? (The curtain represented the fact that our sin separated us from God. The curtain being torn meant that Jesus’ death opened the way into God’s presence.)

Further Reflection

Imagine the abandonment Jesus felt when He cried out on the cross, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” How does it make you feel to know that it was your sin that brought that anguish upon Him? Though the thought of Jesus’ anguish may cause you sorrow, how does it feel to know He endured such agony with joy—joy in the fact that His work would reconcile you forever to the Father (see Hebrews 12:2)?

Prayer Point

Praise God for sending His Son to die in your place, willingly taking the punishment you deserve upon Himself. Thank Jesus for providing salvation in this way.