Dark Day

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Matthew 27:45-54

TO CHEW ON: “Surely he was the Son of God!” Matthew 27:54

After Pilate’s soldiers were through with Jesus, they put His own clothes on Him again. Then they made Him carry the cross on which He would be nailed. It was about 9 o’clock in the morning when the soldiers and criminals got to Golgotha hill. They lay Jesus on the cross, nailed Him to it, then raised the cross to stand upright.

"The Erection of the Cross" by Gustave Dore, 1865

What happened over the next hours is not pleasant to read. The soldiers who watched cast lots (like drawing straws) to see who would get Jesus’ clothes.

"And sitting down they kept watch over Him there." by James Tissot

People taunted and teased Him. Jesus asked John to look after His mother. He told a thief beside Him that He could be forgiven. At noon everything got as dark as night.

"The Darkness at the Crucifixion" by Gustave Dore, 1865

This lasted for three hours. Around 3 o’clock Jesus cried, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

He asked for something to drink. They held up a sponge dipped in vinegar.

"I am thirsty" by James Tissot

"It is finished!" Jesus cried out. Then He died.

"The Earthquake" by James Tissot

Chaos. In the darkness, people heard the temple curtain rip from top to bottom. There was an earthquake. People came out of tombs.

Why did the darkness, the curtain ripping and the earthquake happen? Were they all coincidence? Or did the person who wrote this make it up? Or was Jesus really the Son of God - and God was telling us through nature what an important thing had just happened? I think it is the last one; what do you think?

That day everything changed - for every person past, present and future. That day Jesus paid the penalty that God demands for sin, with His life. If you and I accept that He did this for us, God accepts us as forgiven. We can be friends with Him.

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, Son of God, thank You for dying on the cross and taking the punishment I deserve. Amen.

 
MORE: It Was Predicted
Jesus’ death fulfilled many Old Testament prophecies - another proof He was no ordinary man. Match each prediction with the place it is found in the Bible:

_____ 1. They would cast lots for Jesus’ clothes
_____ 2. None of Jesus’ bones would be broken.
_____ 3. Jesus would be pierced.
_____ 4. Jesus would be given vinegar to drink.
_____ 5. Jesus would be a laughingstock and people would stare at Him.

A. Psalm 69:21
B. Psalm 22:18
C. Psalm 34:20
D. Psalm 22:17
E. Psalm 22:16

ANSWERS

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 Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Silent

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Mark 15:1-5; 15-20

TO CHEW ON: "So again Pilate asked him, 'Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.' 

But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed." Mark 15:4,5

Judas led the soldiers into Gethsemane. He walked up to Jesus, called out “Teacher!” and gave Jesus a kiss. It looked like a meeting of good friends. But it wasn’t. This kiss was not a love kiss but a kiss of betrayal. It was Judas’s signal telling the soldiers which person to arrest.

"Judas the Betrayer" - Artist unknown

The soldiers arrested Jesus and took Him away for a trial at the High Priest’s house. There false witnesses lied about what Jesus had said and done. The Jewish leaders pronounced Him guilty of blasphemy - a crime that deserved the death penalty under Jewish law.

"Jesus before Caiaphas" - Artist unknown

Early next morning they brought Him to Pilate, the Roman Governor. They wanted Pilate to condemn Jesus to death by crucifixion - hanging on a cross.

"Jesus before Pilate" - Artist unknown

Find five things Pilate’s soldiers did to Jesus before He was led away to be crucified? (Mark 15:15-20)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.



When these things were happening to Him, Jesus did not fight back. Why do you think Jesus reacted the way He did?

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, thank You for Your example of meekness in suffering. Help me learn to trust God in suffering like You did. Amen.


MORE: Modern Trials
Our courts work differently than the courts in Jesus’ time. Can you match these modern-day trial words with their meanings?

1. Jury | 2. Judge | 3. Witness | 4. Accused | 

5. Verdict | 6. Evidence | 7. Testimony | 

8. Plaintiff | 9. Lawyer 

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A.  This is what the decision of a judge or jury  is called.

B.  This is a  person who knows or has seen something.

C. This person gives advice to and acts for a person in court.

D. This is a  group of people in court who decide whether the accused is guilty or innocent.

E. This person accuses someone of a crime.

F. This is what people say they saw or heard.

G. This person pronounces the verdict of guilt or innocence.

H. This person is accused of a crime.

I. This may prove or disprove that a thing happened.

- Do you think Jesus’s trial would have been different in our courts? How?

ANSWERS


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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Betrayed!

TODAY’S SPECIAL: John 13:18-30


TO CHEW ON: “'Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.'” - Jesus, John 13:21

• Your brother promises to wait for you after school, but then walks home without you.

• You tell your best friend a secret and ask her not to tell anyone. But the next day you find that five people in your class know your secret.

• Your baseball team has its own signals. One day you play a team that knows exactly what each of your signals means.

You have been betrayed! Whether betrayal comes from someone disappointing you, telling your secrets or helping your enemy, being betrayed is not fun.

"My Betrayer Is Here" - Artist unknown

Jesus was betrayed too. His betrayer came to the garden where He was praying. He came with soldiers who were planning to arrest Jesus.

1. Who was the traitor? (John 18:1-6)
a)____ John
b)____ Peter
c)____ Judas.

2. How did he betray Jesus: (Mark 14:43-46)
a)____ He spread bad stories about Jesus all around town.
b)____ He lost the money bag he was in charge of.
c)____ He kissed Jesus to show the soldiers which person to arrest.

"Betrayed with a Kiss" - Artist unknown

3.What was the purpose of Judas’ betrayal? (John 13:18)
a)____ to fulfill the Scripture
b)____ to help Judas get more money.
c)____ to show that Satan was more powerful than God.

I’m sure this betrayal by a friend hurt Jesus as much as being betrayed by our friends hurts us. But even this bad thing worked out to be good – for Jesus, and for us. It was one of the steps that led toward Jesus being killed. But that death and what happened later makes it possible for you and me to be friends with God now.

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, thank You for taking this betrayal for me. Help me not to be a person who betrays others. Amen

MORE: Traitors

• Have you ever betrayed someone? Who? What did you do?

• Has someone every betrayed you? Who was the traitor? What did they do?

ANSWERS

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

When God Says "No"

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Matthew 26:36-46

TO CHEW ON: “'My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.'” - Jesus, Matthew 26:39

After Jesus and His disciples had eaten the Passover meal they went for a walk. They walked to a garden called Gethsemane. But it was not a relaxing, enjoyable time for Jesus. He knew what was ahead of Him.
1. Choose the words that describe how He felt: (Matthew 26:37,38)

Happy   Sorrowful    Giddy  

Troubled    Relaxed    Sleepy   

Overwhelmed    Angry

It’s easy to think of Jesus as someone who was so God-like that He wasn’t affected by sadness, dread or wanting His own way. But here, in this garden, we see Jesus praying, and begging His heavenly Father for something.
2. What does He ask for? (Matthew 26:39) _________________________________.

Jesus praying in the Garden - Artist unknown

Jesus knew that physical torture and pain were ahead of Him. Worse than that, He knew that in a few hours, He would be separated from God the Father and all that was good. But as He prayed, He became absolutely sure of God’s answer to His request. It was ‘no.’ There was no ‘Plan B.’ So instead of insisting on his own way, Jesus says:
3. (Matthew 26:39) “Yet not as ___ will, but as ___ will.”
4. (Matthew 26:42) “...may ______ will be done.”

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, help me to learn to say ‘yes’ to God - like Jesus did. Amen.

MORE: Places to Pray
On this night Jesus went to pray in a garden.

• Where do you usually go to pray?

• List three other places you could go to talk to God.

1.
2.
3.

• Go to one of those places today and have a prayer conversation with God.

ANSWERS

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

A Keepsake Meal

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Luke 22: 14-20


TO CHEW ON: “...do this in remembrance of me.” Luke 22:19

Do you have a collection of special keepsakes? Suppose in your collection you have a teacup from your grandma, a baseball hat from when you were little, and a trophy.

Those keepsakes wouldn’t be special to someone else, but they are to you. Why? Because each one is a picture or symbol of someone or something important to you. The teacup might remind you of grandma and the interesting stories she told. The baseball hat could remind you of the friend you played with when you wore it. The trophy reminds you of your team and how hard you worked to win the tournament.

Jesus, during his last meal with His disciples, gave them just such a way to remember Him. He took a piece of bread, said grace over it, tore it apart, and handed the broken pieces to them. He told them to eat it and when they did, to remember Him and how His body would be nailed and pierced (broken) for them.

"The Last Supper" by Leonardo da Vinci - 1498

Then he took a cup of wine. Again he asked a blessing on it, handed it around and told them to take a drink. This was to remind them of how His blood would be poured out for them.

"The Last Supper" © 1993 by Darlene Slavuac (Used with the artist's permission)

We still celebrate this remembrance of Jesus. In some churches it’s called "Communion." Other churches call it the "Lord’s Supper.’"Still others call it "Holy Eucharist." Do you celebrate it in your church? What do you call it?

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, thank You for Your broken body and poured out blood. Help me to think of You each time I take part in this meal. Amen.


MORE: Christian Symbols
Pictures of a goblet of wine and a loaf of bread remind us of the Lord’s Supper. Below are more Christian symbols. Match each symbol with the thing or event we remember when we see it:



A. Jesus riding on a donkey into Jerusalem. _____

B. The end of the flood and God's faithfulness. _____

C. The Ten Commandments. _____

D. A secret symbol used by early Christians. One person would draw an arc in the sand and the other would complete the sign to show they were both followers of Christ. _____

E. The Lord's Supper. _____

F. Jesus' death. _____

G. The soldiers mocking Jesus and His suffering before His death. _____

H. The Holy Spirit. _____

I. Christmas. _____


ANSWERS

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Washing Feet

TODAY’S SPECIAL: John 13:4-17


TO CHEW ON: “Now that I your Lord and Teacher have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.” (John 13:14)

Imagine walking barefoot in sandals along the hot dusty roads of Palestine. Are you thinking dusty, sweaty, grimy feet? When people arrived at someone’s house after such a journey, they wouldn’t walk all over the clean floors with their dusty feet. Instead a servant would be at the door, ready to wash the guests’ dirty feet.

When Jesus and His disciples gathered in an upstairs room to eat the Passover meal, there was no servant there to do this job. Then while the disciples were eating (with dirty feet) an unusual thing happened. The most important person in the room, the leader and teacher, Jesus, took off His outer coat. He wrapped a towel around His waist, poured water into a basin and, one by one, washed His disciples’ feet.

"Jesus Washes His Disciples' Feet" - Artist unknown

After that, He told them they should wash one another’s feet, like He had washed their feet.

"Jesus Teaches Humility" - Artist unknown

What do you think He meant by this? With which statements do you agree?

1. ____ We should regularly take off our shoes and socks and wash each other’s feet.
2. ____ Only leaders are expected to do lowly jobs.
3. ____ We should be willing to serve each other, even in the lowliest way.

Whether we literally wash each others feet or not, I’m sure that one of the lessons Jesus was trying to teach was number 3.

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, help me to follow Your example and serve others. Amen.




MORE: How to “Wash Feet”
1) Think of a way you can serve or “wash feet” (be willing to serve – even in a lowly way) of:

• a parent:

• a friend:

• a team member:

• a grandparent:

• a younger brother or sister:

• an older brother or sister:

• a teacher:

2) Choose one of those things and do it today.


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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

A Parade of Palms and Praise

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Matthew 21:1-11

TO CHEW ON: "A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road." Matthew 21:8

One day as Jesus and His disciples walked toward Jerusalem, He sent two of them on an errand. “Go to the village ahead of you,” He said. “You will find a donkey tied with her colt. Bring them to me.”

Soon the disciples were back with the animals. They put their cloaks (outer clothing) on the animals’ backs and Jesus got on the colt and rode toward the city.

Crowds gathered beside the road. Many had probably seen Jesus’ miracles and heard His teaching. When they saw Jesus riding into Jerusalem on the donkey, they remembered what prophet Zechariah had said. They recognized this was how Messiah (the Jews’ promised deliverer) would ride into Jerusalem.

Then they took off their cloaks and spread them on the road in the donkey’s path. They cut palm branches and spread them on the road too or waved them as they ran beside Jesus shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” They were honoring Jesus as royalty.

"The Triumphal Entry" - Artist unknown

Spreading coats in the path of a donkey, waving branches and shouting “Hosanna” may seem like a strange way to greet someone who is special. But this was how people of that time honored someone as a king. And they could all get in on the celebration because the things they used – branches, clothes and their own voices – were things they all had.

We too can honor Jesus as our King by using what we have. And what is that? Ourselves and our love, worship and obedience.

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, help me to crown You king by giving You my life. Amen.


SUPERSIZE IT: Showing Honor
Though we don’t throw coats on the ground for our kings, queens and presidents to ride over, or wave palm branches as they parade down the street, we too honor important people. Some things we do to honor our kings, queens, presidents, heroes or sports champions are:

1. Roll out a red carpet for them to walk on when they come off a plane or into a reception hall.


2. Have them ride in parades.

3. Meet returning athletes or heroes with flowers.

4. Take care to greet them with perfect manners.

Can you think of more?



 Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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