Comeback: An Easter Devotional for Kids Намуна

Arguing with Jesus

By the Calvary Kids Team

Once Jesus got to Jerusalem, He was teaching and talking to all sorts of people. But one group of people, the Bible calls them the religious leaders or Pharisees, really did not like Him. Maybe it was because He flipped over their tables in the temple when they were taking advantage of the people or when He called them out for their bad behavior in front of everyone . . . just a thought. But these religious leaders didn’t just get annoyed by Jesus, they were threatened and embarrassed and overpowered by Him! All this led to the religious leaders trying to find a way to get rid of Jesus. Like, get rid of in a bad guy kind of way . . . A/K/A they wanted to kill Him! 

Read the Bible passage today to see an example of this. Then come back for a couple of questions.

Mark 11: 18 (NIRV)

"The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard about this. They began looking for a way to kill Jesus. They were afraid of him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching."

Mark 12:13-17, 34 (NIRV)

"Later the religious leaders sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus. They wanted to trap him with his own words. They came to him and said, 'Teacher, we know that you are a man of honor. You don’t let other people tell you what to do or say. You don’t care how important they are. But you teach the way of God truthfully. Is it right to pay the royal tax to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn’t we?' But Jesus knew what they were trying to do. So he asked, 'Why are you trying to trap me? Bring me a silver coin. Let me look at it.' They brought the coin. He asked them, 'Whose picture is this? And whose words?' 'Caesar’s,' they replied. Then Jesus said to them, 'Give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar. And give back to God what belongs to God.' They were amazed at him . . . From then on, no one dared to ask Jesus any more questions."

1. Has someone ever embarrassed you in public? How did it make you feel?
2. If the religious leaders were Jewish, and Jesus was also Jewish, why were they so mad at Him? (Think about the fame and authority they had that Jesus was taking away.)
3. If Jesus knew people were trying to kill Him, why didn’t He run away from Jerusalem?

Jesus was on a mission when he came to Jerusalem. Tomorrow we are going to talk about a dinner Jesus had right before Easter, and why it was so important.

Dear God, thank You that Jesus didn’t run away from Jerusalem or the people trying to kill Him. You are stronger than the strongest thing on earth, even death! Help me to believe in You more and more this week. Amen.