Watch it

Read it

Luke 23:24-27

It was about twelve o’clock when the sun stopped shining and darkness covered the whole country until three o’clock; and the curtain hanging in the Temple was torn in two. Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Father! In your hands I place my spirit!” He said this and died.

The army officer saw what had happened, and he praised God, saying, “Certainly he was a good man!”

Quiz it

Jesus had never done anything wrong but he was punished on a cross like a criminal.

  • Have you ever been told off or punished for something you didn’t do?

After Palm Sunday the crowds turned against Jesus. He wasn’t the kind of King they wanted - Jesus had not come to Jerusalem to fight the Roman army!

  • What was his actual rescue mission?

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus withdrew to pray with his friends, but one of his disciples was not there.

  • Who was he and what was he up to?

After being arrested, Jesus was sent to the Roman ruler, Pilate, for questioning.

  • Did Pilate think Jesus had done anything wrong?
  • So, why then did he sentence him to death?

Pilate gave in to the pressure from the crowd and handed Jesus over to be crucified by Roman soldiers. Crucifixion was a form of torture. Jesus was nailed to a wooden cross by his hands and feet and lifted up to die slowly.

  • What happened to the sky as Jesus hung on the cross? Luke 23: 24-25

It went dark because Jesus was taking the horrible punishment for the bad things we have done.

  • What happened to the curtain in the temple? Luke 23: 24-25

The curtain blocked the way into God’s presence. Now because of Jesus’ death the way is open for us to be God’s friends.

  • When the Roman soldier saw all this, how did he respond?

Jesus was nailed to a cross for all the wrong things we have done.

  • How does this show us how much God loves us?
  • How does this make you feel?

Pray it

Dear God,

Thank you for sending Jesus to die on the cross for all the bad things we have done. Thank you that the curtain was torn in two and we are no longer separated from you. Help us to live as your friends and to share this great love with others.

Amen

Do it

Make a cross out of card, or something else. Hang it somewhere to remind you that Jesus loves you.

Place it

Finally - have a look at the back of your card. What does it say? You can now place your card onto your story line.