Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. Therefore, I will punish him and then release him."
With one voice they cried out, "Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!" (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)
Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again.
But they kept shouting, "Crucify him! Crucify him!"
For the third time he spoke to them: "Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him."
But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed.
So Pilate decided to grant their demand.
He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will. Luke 23:13-25
The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. And they began to call out to him, "Hail, king of the Jews!"
Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him.
And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him. Mark 15:16-20
He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on Him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care... we thought His troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for His own sins!...He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed...He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet He never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter...Unjustly condemned, He was led away...But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush Him and cause Him grief. Yet when His life is made an offering for sin, He will have many descendants.
Isaiah 53:3-10
I offered my back to those who beat me and my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard. I did not hide my face from mockery and spitting. Isaiah 50:6
"All this I have told you so that you will not go astray.
They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God.
They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me.
I have told you this, so that when the time comes you will remember that I warned you." John 16:1-4
Questions:
- Before you begin, ask the children to pray, asking God to help them understand, in even some small way, what Jesus did for them and for the world, so that we might be saved
- Why did all this have to happen to Jesus?
- Whose plan was this? (read Isaiah 53:3-10)...this was God's plan. Talk to children about how it wasn't Satan defeating Jesus but all of this happened according to God's plan, to fulfill prophecy
- What did Pilate believe about Jesus?
- Why did he decide, in the end, to have Him crucified?
- How did the soldiers treat Jesus?
- How did Jesus react? (read Isaiah 50:6)
- Read John 16:1-4...what did Jesus say would happen to His followers?
- Is this happening right now in the world? (talk about persecution of Christians...to learn more go to Kids of Courage
- Do you think you could stand for Jesus even if you were being treated cruelly?
- How can you prepare now so that like Pilate, you won't give into peer pressure and like Jesus, you can take abuse for Jesus?
Thoughts:
It's hard to begin to understand why Jesus suffered this way. He didn't have to. At any time He could have stopped it all. It wasn't the Jewish leaders or the crowds or the Roman soldiers who were in control. God was in control. It was the Lord’s good plan to crush Him and cause Him grief. Yet when His life is made an offering for sin, He will have many descendants. We are those descendants when we accept Him as our Lord and Savior. Jesus did this for each of us. He stayed there and took all the hurt and pain because He did not want us to suffer the same thing in Hell, forever. He loves us more than we can ever imagine. It's His love that kept Him there.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, how can we begin to thank You for what You did for us. You took the hurt of the world on your shoulders, the beatings, the mocking, the crown of thorns and the cross, out of Your great love for us. What a wonderful Savior we serve. May we live our lives, every day, in honor of You. We so look forward to one day being with You forever, in Heaven. We love You Jesus!
Song: He Will Carry You
There is no problem too big
God cannot solve it
There is no mountain too tall
He cannot move it
There is no storm too dark
God cannot calm it
There is no sorrow too deep
He cannot soothe it
If He carried the weight of the world upon His shoulders
I know, my brother that He will carry you
If He carried the weight of the world upon His shoulders
I know, my sister that He will carry you
He said come unto me all who are weary
And I will give you rest
For Further Study:
There are many children throughout the world who are very bold in their faith in Christ, especially in nations where it is hard to be a Christian. Sharing their stories can encourage a bolder faith in your children. A wonderful resource is Kids of Courage
* Some of the content of this blog is based on the book Family Celebrations at Easter by Ann Hibbard.*
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