Jesus Dies (Luke 23:1-49) Reading
Have you ever been having a good time, and then something bad or sad happens? This is what happened to Jesus after the Passover meal he shared with the disciples. If this part of the story makes you feel sad or scared, red it with a friend or family member.
Some temple leaders didn't like the way so many people listened to Jesus' teachings. They worried that people might not listen to them. So that night, they came to the garden where Jesus was praying. Judas, one of the disciples, pointed them to Jesus. The temple guards grabbed Jesus and arrested him. They took him to the temple leaders. "If you are the one God has sent, tell us," the temple leaders said.
"If I answer, you won't believe me," said Jesus.
"Are you God's son?" they asked.
They took Jesus to Pilate, who was the Roman leader in Jerusalem.
"Are you the 'King of the Jews'?" Pilate asked.
"If you say I am," Jesus answered.
Pilate knew that the Roman king didn't want another king in the land.
Pilate didn't think Jesus had done anything wrong, but some of the temple leaders said he had. Pilate decided to let the people decide if Jesus should die. So Pilate had Jesus and a murderer named Barabbas brought before a crowd of people.
"Which one should I set free?" Pilate asked.
Some people shouted, "Barabbas! Let Barabbas go free!'
"If that's what you want," said Pilate.
The soldiers led Jesus to the top of a hill and placed him on a cross to die. A crowd followed, bit only a few women who followed Jesus stood close to him.
About noon, the sky became very dark, like night without stars. Then Jesus died. His disciples and followers were sad. How could they live without Jesus?
*Taken from Growing in God's Love: A Story Bible by Elizabeth Caldwell
Some temple leaders didn't like the way so many people listened to Jesus' teachings. They worried that people might not listen to them. So that night, they came to the garden where Jesus was praying. Judas, one of the disciples, pointed them to Jesus. The temple guards grabbed Jesus and arrested him. They took him to the temple leaders. "If you are the one God has sent, tell us," the temple leaders said.
"If I answer, you won't believe me," said Jesus.
"Are you God's son?" they asked.
They took Jesus to Pilate, who was the Roman leader in Jerusalem.
"Are you the 'King of the Jews'?" Pilate asked.
"If you say I am," Jesus answered.
Pilate knew that the Roman king didn't want another king in the land.
Pilate didn't think Jesus had done anything wrong, but some of the temple leaders said he had. Pilate decided to let the people decide if Jesus should die. So Pilate had Jesus and a murderer named Barabbas brought before a crowd of people.
"Which one should I set free?" Pilate asked.
Some people shouted, "Barabbas! Let Barabbas go free!'
"If that's what you want," said Pilate.
The soldiers led Jesus to the top of a hill and placed him on a cross to die. A crowd followed, bit only a few women who followed Jesus stood close to him.
About noon, the sky became very dark, like night without stars. Then Jesus died. His disciples and followers were sad. How could they live without Jesus?
*Taken from Growing in God's Love: A Story Bible by Elizabeth Caldwell
Discussion Questions
- Why did the assembly, the chief priests and leaders so eager to kill Jesus?
- Why did Pilate tell them he didn’t see any validity in their claims against Jesus and then pass him off to Herod for a final decision?
- Where have you heard of Herod before? (Matthew 2:1-16a Herod and the three Wise Men)
- Why do you think Pilate finally agreed to put Jesus to death even though he and Herod both found him innocent of crimes that would call for death?
- How did Jesus respond and react through all of this?
- Why do you think Jesus forgave them all even though all he had to endure and refuse to condemn them?
- Why did Herod send him back to Pilate?
- What are you feeling when you read/listen to the story?
- When you are sad or scared, what do people say to comfort you?
- If you had been in the crowd, what would you do?
- If you had been in the crowd, what would you have seen and heard?
- Write a note or draw a picture for someone who is sad.
I Wonder...
- If there was anyone in the crowd that day who didn’t really believe that Jesus was guilty but who didn’t say anything? Why would they have gone along with what everyone else was saying when they didn’t personally completely agree with it?
- Why people got caught up in what the crowd was demanding?
- What would I say if I was in the crowd?
- Why Jesus died on a cross?
- If the garden had a name?
- Why the people wanted to release Barabbas?
- What were the women's names?
- How big was the crowd?
Video
This video is 4:25 minutes long
Reflect
Jesus took his last breath on the Friday of Holy Week, and then he died. The details of his death are extremely hard and sad. Jesus felt abandoned when he died. It was a tragedy. We might already know how this story ends, but even if we do, it can be good to sit for a minute with the sadness and shadows of this dark day. When someone dies, or when something sad happens in our lives, we don't need to rush ahead and feel better or ok. It's fine (and sometimes even good) to take the time to be sad and remember that sometimes sad things happen in life that we can't stop.
- Good Friday is the day Christians intentionally remember Jesus’ crucifixion and the sacrifice he made on our behalf.
- It is called good, not because what humanity did to Jesus was good, but because what God did through it was good. Jesus’ death, and on Sunday his resurrection, brought the grace of salvation for all of us.
- Between the end of the Last Supper and Friday morning, the following things happened:
- Jesus went to the Mount of Olives to pray and the disciples followed him.
- He asked them to pray and he went into the garden to pray by himself.
- During his prayer, he asked God to stop what was going to happen but if it was God’s will then he would be obedient.
- Jesus returned to find the disciples had fallen asleep rather than praying.
- Judas, the disciple who took 30 pieces of silver to betray Jesus, comes with a crowd to the garden and kisses Jesus on the cheek. This was to identify Jesus.
- Jesus was arrested and was taken to the high priest’s house.
- Peter followed at a distance. When he was asked if he was with Jesus, Peter denied it. In fact, Peter denied knowing Jesus three times that night, just as Jesus said he would. When Peter realized what he had done, he wept.
Practice
Light a candle. Sit with the light for a brief time and then blow it out with a sharp breath. As you sit the shadows with the light gone away, how do you feel? Write down how it feels to remember the day Jesus died, or draw a picture. This is a hard and sad practice. Consider ending your time with a family hug so everyone leaves the practice feeling safe and secure.
Children's Books About Grief
Videos
Godly Play
This video is 28:38 minutes long
Holy Moly
This video is 4:51 minutes long
Prayer
The day Jesus died was such a sad day. Darkness covered the whole earth. God, please be near to us when we are sad about the death of Jesus or the death of anyone we love. Draw near to us when we grieve. Amen.
Today is called Good Friday, but we can’t seem to see what is good about the day you died, Gracious Lord. But we know that God works good out of human evil and we give thanks for the goodness that emerges from this day. We thank you for your sacrifice and your willingness to do God’s will. Give us the courage to live in ways that reflect our gratitude for the grace your Son brings to our lives. Amen.
Help us to see, O Lord, the pain that is still around us. Let us recognize the broken places where your deliverance is still needed. Then, O God, give us the courage to make Christ’s healing love known so that your son’s sacrifice on the cross is not in vain. Amen.
Reflect, Practice, and Prayer Source
How do you share the deep mysteries of Lent, Easter, and Resurrection with children? Parents, guardians, teachers, and ministers will find dozens of fun and easy practices for celebrating the Easter season with our kids. The practices and seasonal prayers are grouped into chapters titled Ash Wednesday, Symbols, Lenten Prayers, Lenten Refraining, Lenten Acts of Service, Holy Week, Easter Vigil and Easter Day, and the Season of Resurrection. Smith also offers theological notes guiding parents on addressing the violence of the crucifixion and the meaning of Jesus' death.
Traci Smith is an ordained minister, mother of three, and author. Traci's passion is helping families find times for connection and spiritual nourishment amid the hustle and bustle of daily life. What began as a quest to help her own family has provided valuable insight for thousands of others. Traci believes faith practices should be fun, easy to fit into daily life, and accessible to all.