Jesus, from the Cross to the Tomb

Jesus, from the Cross to the Tomb

Main Point: Jesus dying on the cross shows God’s love for the world.

Kids Devo:

Do you feel better when someone comforts when you’re hurting? When Jesus was hurt and bleeding, some people were mean to him. They made fun of him, punched him, and yelled at him. But Jesus had done nothing wrong. He didn’t deserve to have them treating him that way.

One of the criminals dying next to Jesus yelled at him too. He only wanted Jesus to get him off the cross. But the other criminal believed Jesus was the promised king. He said, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” Jesus promised that man, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in paradise.”

At noon, when it should have been bright outside, it became dark. Do you know who made the heavens and can control the sun? God. In the Temple, there was a thick curtain that separated people from God. The High Priest had to offer a sacrifice to God each year to cover people's sins. But when Jesus died, God tore the curtain in two. This showed that Jesus’s death on the cross opened the way for people to come near to God.

Jesus was the blood sacrifice that paid for our sins. He poured out his blood on the cross for us. Then he said loudly, "Father, into Your hands I entrust my spirit." When Jesus died, what shook people up? [an earthquake]. A soldier said, "This man was innocent!" The crowds left beating their breasts because they were so sad or sorry for what they had done.

Joseph and Nicodemus were secret followers of Jesus. They buried Jesus's body in a tomb and rolled a heavy stone in front of it. Women who loved Jesus watched where they put his body and then went away too.

This is a sad story, but wait until you see the rest of the story.
And remember kiddo, Grandma Goodie loves you but God loves you more!

Let's Pray:

Dear Jesus,

Thank you for showing us how much you love us by dying on the cross.

I am sorry that people were mean to you.

Thank you for opening the way for us to come near to God.

Please help me grow to understand what your death on the cross means for me.

Amen.

Play Ideas:

• Draw a picture of one of the scenes in this story: the three crosses on Skull Hill, 2 men carrying Jesus's body to the tomb, or the women watching.
• Put together a puzzle of one of the scenes in this story.