It is awful to think of Jesus like this – nailed to a cross, suffering and dying – but it is good for us to remember because He did it for us. Jesus, who never did anything wrong, took the punishment we deserve for our sins. Jesus loves us so much He died for us.
HIGHLIGHTS from the Weekend…
This week, talk to your child about how Jesus died on the cross to take the eternal punishment for sins. Jesus was taken to Pilate, who chose to crucify Jesus and let a murderer (Barabbas) go free. The guards beat Jesus, placed a crown of thorns on His head, and made Him carry His own heavy cross through the town, up to the hill where He would die. Jesus was nailed to the cross and hung there to die between two prisoners. It became very dark, and the sun stopped shining. After Jesus died, He was taken off the cross and laid in a tomb. A large stone was placed at the entrance of the tomb and guards were posted there. (Matthew 27:15-61, Mark 15, Luke 23, John 18:19-19:42)
Teaching Truth:
- Jesus loves us so much that He died for us.
- Jesus took the punishment for our sins.
Memory Verse
"But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." Romans 5:8
Three Activities that Help Us Learn This Week's Teaching Truth:
1. Easter Mobile
Continue adding to your Easter mobile or create a new one with your child using a coat hanger, pieces of yarn, and various items. If you are just starting your mobile, write “Easter” on a piece of paper and let your child to decorate it with crayons. Tape this paper across the middle part of the hanger. This week, help your child make a cross to hang from the mobile by choosing one of these options.
1. Cut one out of brown construction paper. Punch a hole in the top to string the yarn through to hang it.
2. Glue popsicle sticks together. Wrap the yarn several times around the center before hanging it on the mobile.
3. Find two sticks from outside and use a rubber band to wrap around the intersecting point. Loop the yarn through the rubber band and hang it up!
2. Thank You, Jesus
Start by cutting a circle out of a piece of paper and draw a smile face on it (or letting one of your kids draw the face). Have everyone in your family sit in a circle and talk about how Jesus died on the cross for each of us and how thankful we are that Jesus died for us. Start passing around the smiley face paper while music is playing. When the music stops, the person holding the paper jumps up and says, “Thank you Jesus for dying on the cross for me.” Continue to play the game.
3. Sing a Song
Sing this song to the tune of “Mary Had a Little Lamb.”
Jesus died on the cross
On the cross
On the cross
Jesus died on the cross
For my sins.
Pray
Lord we thank you for teaching us this week. Thank you for Easter and for Jesus' sacrifice to forgive and save us. We pray you would use these activities and truths to grow our love and trust of you.