“JESUS DIES”
Season 5: Easter
Episode 3: “Jesus Dies”
Today’s Bible Bite: Matthew 26-27
Video Story:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HL8R158Ujp4 (Saddleback Kids – Jesus’ Sacrifice)
“A sign was fastened above Jesus’ head, announcing the charge against him. It read: ‘This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.’” (Matthew 27:37)
Earlier in the week, many people had been convinced that Jesus was the Messiah and had given him a royal parade as he rode a donkey into Jerusalem. Now the crowd wanted him to die like a criminal! What had happened? Many of the religious leaders had always hated Jesus and they decided they wanted him murdered. Judas, one of Jesus’ disciples, betrayed Jesus for money. This gave them their chance to arrest him and bring him up on false charges.
The Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, knew the religious leaders were jealous of Jesus, but when he tried to let him go free they got the crowd all angry and it looked like things could become a riot. To keep the peace, Pontius Pilate gave them permission to kill Jesus, even though he thought he was innocent. They nailed him to a cross with two criminals and he died. The religious leaders thought they had won, but what they didn’t realize was that this had been God’s plan all along. And even though Jesus had died, what was going to happen next would be truly incredible…but that’s tomorrow’s story!
Think about it...
• In the same week, crowds had cheered Jesus as king, then shouted that they wanted him murdered as a criminal. What could change their minds so quickly?
• The religious leaders were jealous of Jesus. Why?
• Judas betrayed Jesus and Pontius allow him to be executed, even though both thought he was innocent. What could they have done instead?
• Jesus’ story would be a very sad one if it ended there, but we know that this was all part of God’s plan…and he wasn’t finished yet. Do you know what happens?
Prayer: Thank you, God, that Jesus was willing to die for us. I am very sorry for the bad stuff I do. Help me to obey you, like Jesus, even when it’s hard to do.