Principle Workbook

Lesson 25 - Jesus’ Last Days

Aimto be familiar with the story of Jesus’ last days and the Crucifixion

Materials* picture cards of the story* Bible verses about Jesus’ last days* children’s story about Jesus’ crucifixion* worksheet

Lesson Outline1. Introduction2. Story3. Activities4. Review the aim of the lesson5. Prayer

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1) Introduction* Ask the children what they know about the last days of Jesus life and his crucifixion

2) Story* Use the pictures to tell the main points of the story. Give one picture to a child to say what is

happening in the picture. Can someone put the pictures in the correct order?* Read the children’s story of Jesus’ crucifixion in more detail

1. The Last Supper - Mark 14:22-25; Matthew 26:26-29; Luke 22:17-20.* At the Passover feast the Jews remembered how God delivered them from slavery. Jesus and his

twelve disciples gathered together to share the Passover meal, their last meal together.* When Jesus shared the bread and wine with his disciples, he said, "This is My body and this is My

blood. It is given for you, for the forgiveness of sins.” He asked them to do this to remember him.* Jesus said one of his disciples would betray him.(Judas Iscariot)* He told Peter, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.”

2. Jesus Prays in Gethsemane. Mark 14:32-42; Matthew 26:36-46; Luke 22:39-46.* Jesus and His eleven disciples went to a garden called Gethsemane. It was late at night. * Jesus told three of His disciples (Peter, James & John) to keep watch, while he prayed. He knew it

was time for him to die, but he was in great distress* The disciples didn’t keep watch. They fell asleep. This happened three times.

3. Jesus is Arrested. Mark 14:43-50; Matthew 26:47-56; Luke 22:47-53; John 18:1-12.Judas Iscariot came to Gethsemane. He led a crowd of people sent by the religious leaders. They were armed with clubs and swords. He told the men, "I will kiss one man. He is the one you want; arrest Him". Judas greeted Jesus and kissed Him. The temple guards arrested him. The disciples were terrified and ran away.

4. Peter Denies Jesus. Mark 14:66-72; Matthew 26:69-75; Luke 22:54-62; John 18:15-18,25-27.When the temple guards took Jesus away, Peter followed them. He entered the court of the high priest's house. A servant girl saw him. She said, "You were with Jesus." But Peter denied it. He was afraid. Three times he said that he did not know Jesus. Suddenly a rooster crowed. Peter remembered what Jesus had said to him. "Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times." Then Peter was very sorry that he had denied Jesus. He went out and wept bitterly.

5. Jesus is Tried by Pilate. Mark 15:1-15; Matthew 27:11-26; Luke 23:1-25; John 18:28 - 19:15.The priests wanted Jesus to die, but they were not allowed to execute anyone, so they sent Jesus to the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate. But Pilate couldn’t find any reason to to kill him said, and wanted to let Jesus go. But the people called out, "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!" Pilate thought there might be a riot, so he did what the people wanted and sentenced Jesus to death. The soldiers beat him, made a crown out of thorns and put it on His head. And called him 'King of the Jews'.

6. Jesus carries the cross. John 19:16-17; Luke 23:26-33; Mark 15:20-23; Matthew 27:31-34.* The soldiers took Jesus away to kill Him. They made Him carry a big wooden cross.* The women in Jerusalem wept for Jesus. They all went to a place outside the city, called

Golgotha, which means 'the place of the skull'.

7. The Crucifixion. Mark 15:25-39; Luke 23:33-46; Matthew 27:35-50; John 16:19-30.The soldiers took Jesus' clothes. They nailed Him to the cross and left Him there to die. Two other criminals were crucified beside Him. For three hours, a great darkness covered the land. After six hours on the cross, Jesus called out, "It is finished". Then He gave up His spirit and died. The Roman officer was amazed and said, "This man was really the Son of God".

3) ActivitiesComplete the worksheet - Write a brief explanation for each picture. For younger children, only write a title for each picture 1. The Last Supper2. Jesus prays in Gethsemane3. Jesus is arrested4. Peter Denies Jesus5. Jesus is tried by Pilate6. Jesus carries the cross- Draw a picture of Jesus on the cross.

Memory game- Use the picture cards to play the memory game

4) Review the aimsto be familiar with the story Jesus’ last days and the Crucifixion

5) End with a prayer

Jesus Death

GOLGOTHA

After Jesus had been brutally whipped, the guards took hIm into the courtyard of the palace. "So, you think you're a king, do you?" they said. "We'll see about that!"

The soldiers stripped Jesus, and dressed him in a purple robe. On his head, they placed a crown that they had made out of twisted thorns. Then the guards put a staff in his hand, knelt in front of him and mocked him.

"We salute you, King of the Jews!" they called out. Then they spat on Jesus, and used the staff to beat him on the head over and over again.

Once they had used him for their own amusement, the soldiers led Jesus off to be crucified. Usually, those who were to be executed each had to drag their own wooden cross outside the city to a hill, called Golgotha (the place of the Skull).

Jesus was so weak from the cruel flogging and beating, he was unable to carry his cross. The guards spotted a sturdy-looking African man, called Simon, coming towards them.

"You look fit enough," they said. "You can carry this man's cross to the place of execution."

When they reached the top of the hill, the soldiers made Jesus lie down on the large cross while they hammered long, sharp nails through his hands and feet to attach him to the wood. Then, they lifted up the cross and fixed it into the ground so that it stood upright.

There Jesus hung, his arms outstretched, dying an agonizing death in the terrible heat. Above his head, the Romans had written, "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews".

THE CRUCIFIXION

The guards sat at the foot of the cross and decided what to do with Jesus' robe. "This is a good piece of cloth," one said. "Let's not tear it." So, they drew lots to choose which one of them would have the robe.

Then, the Pharisees and other Jewish leaders crowded round. They sneered and called out, "He saved others, let him save himself. He said he was the Son of God. Let God rescue him now!"

Others shouted, "If he is the Messiah, let him get down from the cross!"

Jesus looked at the faces of the Jewish leaders, filled with hate, and at the soldiers laughing below him.

He prayed to God. "Father, forgive them," he said, "for they don't know what they are doing."

On either side of Jesus, two robbers were also being crucified. One of them said, "If you are the Christ, why don't you save us all?"

But the other robber called out, "Shut up! We deserve our punishment, but this man has done nothing wrong." Then he turned to Jesus and said, "Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom."

Jesus was filled with compassion for the thief who had repented. He answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

Near to the cross were many of the women who loved Jesus. When Jesus saw Mary, his mother, weeping, and the disciple, John, close by, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, this man will be your son from now on." And to John he said, "Look after her as if she were your own mother."

At noon, the sun was hidden, and darkness came over all the land. During the next three hours, Jesus grew weaker and weaker until the time came when he knew he was going to die.

"I'm thirsty," he whispered. And the guards soaked a sponge in wine vinegar and put it to his lips.

Finally, at three o'clock, Jesus cried out loudly, "It is finished! Father, I give my spirit to you."

Then he bowed his head, and died.

At the moment Jesus gave up his life, the great curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, and there was a huge earth tremor. When those that were guarding Jesus felt the ground shaking beneath them, and saw the dark sky above, they were terrified and cried out, "Surely this man was the Son of God!"

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Jesus’ Last DaysTell the story in your own words. Then draw a picture of Jesus on the cross

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Picture cards