Supplies:

PALM SUNDAYKEY VERSE And they clothed [Jesus] in a purple cloak; and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on him. And they began saluting him, “Hail, King of the Jews!”Mark 15:17-18

Jesus died to show God’s lovefor all the world.

Leader GuideGOOD FRIDAYHoly Moly:

A Journey to Easter

Week 3

STORY AT A GLANCE

1

Story Presentation and Script

MP4 MP4

Video

MP4 MP4

Crayons and

Markers

Scissors Clear Tape

Reproducibles Optional: Black and Gray Tissue Paper, Other Decorations

Good Friday. Holy Moly: A Journey to Easter. © 2017 Sparkhouse. All rights reserved. May be reproduced for local use only.

Pilate and His Soldiers• Condemn Jesus to the

painful, public death of a common criminal.

• Worship Roman emperor as a god.

• Also crucify 2 bandits—probably rebels against the empire.

• Mock Jesus with symbols of royalty (purple cloak, crown of thorns). Call Jesus “King of the Jews,” indicating that he is being executed as a political threat.

• Soldiers cast lots (wager, gamble) for Jesus’ clothing (Psalm 22:18; Mark 15:24).

The Scribes, ChiefPriests, and Elders• Jewish authorities who don’t

have the power to execute criminals.

• Mock Jesus as he dies, saying that God would save the Messiah.

• Ask Pilate to seal and guard Jesus’ tomb so the disciples can’t steal his body and claim Jesus came back to life (Matthew 27:62-66).

Simon of Cyrene• Helps Jesus carry the cross.

• Not a disciple but acts like one by stepping up to help Jesus.

• From a town in Northern Africa (modern Libya).

Jesus’ Friends• Most of the

disciples abandon Jesus because they are afraid for their own lives.

• Many women sadly and loyally watch Jesus’ death.

Jesus• Repeatedly predicted his

own death and resurrection, but disciples did not understand (Mark 8:31-32; 9:30-32; 10:32-34).

• Betrayed by Judas and abandoned by many of his followers.

• Doesn’t defend himself at trial.

• Dies for others’ sins (1 Corinthians 15:3).

• Quotes Psalm 22:1 in his suffering.

Joseph of Arimathea• A wealthy man who asks Pilate for

Jesus’ body.

• Buries Jesus in his own tomb, fulfilling prophecy that God’s “suffering servant” would be buried in a rich man’s tomb (Isaiah 53:9).

• Has to prepare Jesus’ body very quickly, without proper burial rites, before the Sabbath begins.

Scrap Paper

(10-15 min.)

DISCOVER

(5-10 min.)

RELATE(5-10 min.)

CONNECT

Get ReadyThe stories we hear right before Easter feature a lot of feelings and emotions. Write the emotions below on separate pieces of scrap paper and mix them up. Have kids take turns drawing one and acting out that emotion without using any words or sounds while other kids guess what emotion it is.

Watch for when color appears in the video. Who is black and white? Who is colored in? Pay attention to when this changes!If time permits, watch it again!

Play the Good Friday Video

Hear the StoryProject the Good Friday Story Presentation on a screen so everyone can see. Read the story from the Good Friday Story Script while kids view the images, then ask these questions.

• What sounds did you hear in this story?

• What did you feel when you heard that Jesus died?

• How do you think Jesus’ mother felt?

• The tomb where they took his body was a cave. What do you know about funerals today?

• I wonder why the people were so mean to Jesus.

• Does the story stop here? Do you think the people stayed sad forever?

• What is an Easter clue near the end of the story?

Talk about the Good Friday VideoAsk kids these questions about the video, making sure both younger and older kids have a chance to answer.

• What made this video different than others we have watched? How did you feel?

• How did Jesus show his love for his friends and his enemies?

• Why is it so hard to watch this story? Who helped Jesus?

• Were you surprised when Jesus died?

• How did the butterfly make you feel about the story? Did it give you hope that things will get better?

• Where did you see color in the video? How was God at work in those moments?

2Good Friday. Holy Moly: A Journey to Easter. © 2017 Sparkhouse. All rights reserved. May be reproduced for local use only.

• happiness• sadness• love

• worry• confusion• excitement

Today’s story is a sad story about the day Jesus died, but it’s still filled with hope. Jesus’ death is not the end of the story.

• Can you think of a time when you were really sad? What made you feel sad?

• Who helps you feel better when you are sad?

• How can you help someone else when they are sad?

Introduce the VideoToday’s video tells the story of the day Jesus died. Read these statements aloud before showing the video.

• In today’s video, Jesus’ disciples are upset about what is happening to Jesus. It is sad but important.

• The government leaders and the religious leaders are afraid of Jesus.

• The governor worried that people would follow Jesus instead of Roman leaders.

• Jesus is sad and his friends are scared.

• This is sad and might be scary. Remember, this isn’t the end of the story.

5

(20-30 min.)

EXPLORE THE STORY:

Cut out and color 2 sets of small stones and the large Good Friday stone.

1

Cut out and color the crosses. Tape them to the top of the Good Friday stone.

Create the third section of your Journey to Easter wall. Tape the first set of stones, the Good Friday stone, and the second set of stones to the wall at kid height so it’s connected to the

Maundy Thursday path you created last time.

2

3

Tape characters and tissue paper clouds on and around the Good Friday path. Add the butterfly

and talk about why we have hope on Good Friday.

Cut out and color the characters, and crumple black and gray tissue paper to make dark clouds.

4

Holy Moly!As kids color and create this week’s story characters, ask them these questions.

• How do you think Jesus’ followers and disciples felt in today’s story?

• When you feel sad, who helps you feel better?

• What does a dark day look like?

• Why do you think we are adding a butterfly to the Good Friday path?

• Why are we hopeful on Good Friday?

Good Friday. Holy Moly: A Journey to Easter. © 2017 Sparkhouse. All rights reserved. May be reproduced for local use only.

CREATE

3

Kids work together to color and create a Journey to Easter wall to use for retelling today’s story.

Good

Frida

y

Good Friday

Palm SundayMaundy

Thursday

Good

Friday

MaundyThursday

Good Friday

Palm Sunday

CLOSING PRAYER

Dear God,Thank you for loving us so much that you came to us in Jesus. Jesus’ dying makes us sad but his doing it for love makes us happy. What a story! We love Jesus and his story too!

Amen!

a journey to easter

4

Fewer kids?Use a smaller number of characters and objects.

More time?Make enough copies of the butterfly so that each kid can have one to take home. Color the butterflies, and take them home as a reminder that this isn’t the end of the story.

More kids?Create two or more sets of reproducibles.

Less time?Cut out the reproducibles in advance.

ACTIVITY TIPS

Good Friday. Holy Moly: A Journey to Easter. © 2017 Sparkhouse. All rights reserved. May be reproduced for local use only.