Let’s Read! 

We have walked with Jesus from a celebration dinner, to a final supper, and now to Good Friday: the day of his crucifixion. The day Jesus will die for our sins. You can read the whole passage in your Bible: John 19 v 1 -37.

The story of the crucifixion is one of the most important in the Christian faith. There is no doubt that it is also one of the saddest and darkest passages in the Bible. Jesus suffers humiliation and mocking 

‘the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe and went up to him again and again, saying, ‘Hail, King of the Jews! And they slapped him in the face.’ John 19: 2-3 (NIV)); 

leaders and crowds of people demand that Jesus is put to death, 

‘as soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, ‘Crucify! Crucify!’ John 19: 6 (NIV)). 

Then Jesus was made to carry his own cross to Golgotha. This was where he was nailed to the cross by soldiers, who then made bets for items of his clothing: 

and when the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining...Let’s not tear it,’ they said to one another. ‘Let’s decide by lot who will get it.’ John 19: 23-24). 

All this had to happen to fulfil the scriptures. Jesus was exhausted and battered, and knowing he was ready to die, he said, 

‘It is finished’. With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.’ John 19: 30

Let’s Think!

Jesus was the son of God but if we look at the excerpts above, we can see that there was a lot of human emotions and physical pain in his death. This was a very sad day for Jesus’ family, friends and followers. Why do you think Christians call it ‘Good’ Friday and celebrate it?

Let’s Talk!

The whole account of Good Friday is a pretty big chunk of text to read, with a lot to think about and understand. We might not ever fully understand all of it! We can, however, recognise the main message. As a family, take it in turns to say what part of the crucifixion story you feel is the most important and why.

Do you all agree? Do you all have different interpretations?

Let’s Do!

You will need: one sheet of A4 paper/card, paints* in the following colours: Pink, green, purple, brown, red, blue, orange, and yellow.

^{*if you don’t have paints you can draw circles of colour with felt tip pen}

On the sheet of paper draw the outline of a cross.

Dip your fingers in the paint and cover the cross with your colourful fingerprints. Make sure you have at least one spot of each colour.

Once the cross is fully decorated, write the following prayer on it:

Pink for the people who came and praised,

Green for the palm leaves that were raised.

Purple for the robes that Jesus wore,

Brown for the cross that Jesus bore.

Red for the blood that Jesus shed,

Blue for the tears when he was dead.

Orange for the stone that was rolled away,

And yellow for joy, he’s alive today!*

*[poem spotted on the internet: http://flamecreativekids.blogspot.com/2012/02/easter-smarties-prayer.html]

Let’s pray!

Dear Lord,

Today we remember the pain and suffering of the cross and the sacrifice that Jesus made for us. Thank you, Lord, that in Jesus’ death we gained new life.

Amen