Golden Bells
The Cross
The Cross
Warning: The following story is all about crucifixion . It has some very sad bits in it. Be brave when you read it because it is a story that you really need to hear.
Crucifixion is something really terrible which they used to do to really bad people. People like robbers, killers and thugs. Crucifixion is the worst way for a baddie to die. It is worse than being shot, worse than being drowned and worse than being burnt. When a baddie got crucified, this is what happened. First they make a big cross out of wood. Then they whipped the baddie they were going to kill until he was crying and bleeding. Then they made the baddie lie down on the cross. Then they took big iron spikes and hammered them into the his hands and feet. The baddie was nailed to the wood. Then they dug a hole in the ground. Then they lifted up the cross and put it in the hole so everyone could see the baddie hanging there and dying.
But this is not a story about a baddie getting crucified. This is the story of the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Jews and the Soldiers had captured Jesus. They took Him to Pilate the Governor and said, ‘This is a bad man, and we think He must die’. Pilate said, ‘Why? What bad thing did He do?’ The Jews could not think of a single bad thing Jesus had ever done. Pilate said, ‘Crucifixion is only for very bad criminals. I will let Jesus go’. But all the people began to shout, ‘Crucify Him, Crucify Him’. Pilate saw how much the people hated
Jesus and how angry they were, so he said, ‘Very well, take Jesus and crucify Him’. The soldiers grabbed Jesus. They hit Him and spat on Him. They whipped His back and made it bleed. They made a crown of twisted thorns and pushed it into His head. Then they laughed at Jesus. A big wooden cross was made and they put it on Jesus’ back. Then they made Him walk outside the city and up a hill. Lots of people came to watch. The crowd reached a place at the top of the hill called Calvary and there they crucified Jesus and two baddies with Him. These baddies had stolen, hurt and even killed other people. They deserved to die. The baddies booed and hissed at Jesus. Everyone watching laughed and made fun of Jesus. Jesus prayed to God, ‘Father forgive them because they don’t know what they are doing’. Suddenly everything went dark. The sun stopped shining. Everyone was afraid. They all stopped laughing. It was dark for three hours. Then Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘My God My God why have you forsaken me?’ The people heard Him and they wondered. Then at last the light came back. Again Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘It is finished!’ Then Jesus bowed His head and gave His soul to God. Jesus died.
What a terrible story! It is too dreadful to be true! But you had to read it because YOU are part of this story. All this happened for you. Jesus was not the baddie in the story. You are the baddie (the bible says you are a sinner). It was because of your sin that Jesus died . You should have died . But Jesus died for you because He is the Saviour of sinners.
Characters Characters Who They Were
At The Cross What They said
What They Did
Said: ‘I deserve to die but not Jesus. He has done nothing wrong. Lord remember me’ What: He asked for mercy and went to heaven.
Said: ‘Away with Him! Crucify Him!’ What: They rejected their King. They killed the Son of God.
The Jews Said: ‘Truly this man was Pilate the Son of God’ Thief 2 What: After watchSaid: ‘I have ing Jesus on the cross, He realised who examined He really was! Jesus and I find no fault in Him at all’ What: He knew Jesus was perfect but He was too scared to set Him free. Soldiers
Centurion
Thief 1 Said: ‘If you really are the Son of God, save yourself and us as well!’ What: He died rejecting Jesus. Said: *spit* ‘Hail King of the Jews!’ *slap* What: They laughed at Jesus & mocked Him with a crown of thorns, purple clothes & fake sceptre.
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Look-it-up! Jesus when on cross. the Cross. Jesussaid said77 things things when Hehe waswas on the Find Find heinsaid in thebelow. verses below. Read whatwhat He said the verses Read carefully and carefully think and thinkbecause seriously because are hisChoose dyingyour words. seriously these are His these dying words. Choose your favourite three and write them down. favorite three and write them down.
Luke 23:33-34 Luke 23:39-43 Luke 23:46 John 19:26-27 John 19:28 John 19:30 Matthew 27:45-46
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What wasJesus Jesus really doing the cross? What was really doing on theoncross? Read 1 Peter 3:18 1and Peter Read it and write it (in your own words). write3:18 it in your own words.
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Instructions Start Here
Colour-by-Numbers
m’, 4 = Green | If there were crowds of people at the cross, 2 = yellow | If the soldiers were nice to Jesus, 8 = black
not colour the 7s | If the sun stopped shining for 3 hours, 1 = Blue | If Pilate thought Jesus was a baddie, 5 = purple |
>> If Jesus is the Saviour of sinners, colour the 3s red | If Jesus said ‘it is finished’ do
If Jesus was crucified with four thieves, 6 = Yellow | If the people shouted ‘crucify Hi
What is the centurion saying? Do the colo ur-by-number on the previous page and write the answer in the speech bubble.
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here have been many terrible things done in the world but the worst of them all was when people took Jesus Christ and killed Him by nailing Him to a cross. He had come down from God to bring salvation to the world. To deliver people from their sins. He was the answer to all the world’s problems. He was God’s gift to the human race but they rejected Him. The prophet had said they would, ‘He is despised and rejected of men’ (Isaiah 53:3). The prophet was right. They did it deliberately, cruelly and completely.
They Rejected... 1. His Words 2. His Person
3. The Stone 4. God’s Gift
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The Lord Jesus had come and spoken the words of God to all people. When they heard Him preach and teach, they were amazed at His gracious words (Luke 4:22). They had never heard a man speak like Him before. There was power, truth and authority in His words. But they chose not to listen, they rejected His words. The Lord’s words are truth. They will never change. They will stand in the last day and the world will be judged by the words that He spoke, the same words they once rejected (John 12:48).
They rejected the words...
When Jesus came He told the people who He really was. Not just a carpenter, the son of Joseph but Christ their King. He told them He was the Son of God (Luke 22:70, 23:3). He showed them that He had the power of God by casting out devils, healing sick people, commanding the wind and the waves and even raising the dead! Only God could do all that. Jesus also forgave sins and certainly only God can do that (Luke 7:48-50). The people said Jesus was a blasphemer and for this crime they condemned Him to death (Matthew 26:63-66). They rejected His person.
They rejected the person... When God sent the Lord Jesus into the world, He was giving One upon whom all people could build their faith, their worship and their future. Jesus Christ is the Foundation Stone and the Cornerstone for life. Without Him everything crumbles, nothing can stand, nothing will last. The Christian’s whole life, whole faith and whole hopes for heaven are built on Jesus Christ. Without Him you have nothing. That day at Calvary the people pushed Him out of their lives. They cast Him out of their world. He became ‘the stone which the builders rejected.’ (Read Luke 20:9-19 to know more about Jesus Christ the foundation stone).
They rejected the stone... God freely gave the Lord Jesus Christ, but He was not wanted. He was rejected. When you reject something you decide you do not want it. It does not fit into your plans. You have no use for it so you treat it like rubbish and throw it away. This is exactly what people did to Jesus Christ at the cross. They rejected God’s greatest gift to mankind: His Son.
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They rejected the gift...
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Young Christian’s Page with Dr Paul
He was in the world, but the world though it owed its being to Him, did not recognise Him. He entered His own realm, and His own would not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the power to become children of God even as--John 1:10-12 -- many as believed on His name.
About Us... goldenbellsmag.com.au is a free, online kids Bible teaching magazine and a resources website for religious education teachers. If you would like to order printed copies of this magazine, please contact us (minimum quantities apply). We also welcome your ongoing feedback. goldenbellsmag.com.au mail@goldenbellsmag.com.au
mail@goldenbellsmag.com.au
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