"You shall not murder," The LORD said on Mount Sanai (Ex. 20:13). This was the command he had given to his people. But their Jewish minds were made up. Jesus had to be put to death. He was a breaker of the Law (specifically in breaking the Sabbath) and was a blasphemer, calling God his father, making himself equal with God (John 5:18). But it was against their law to have anyone put to death.

The Romans, however, had no such law. So they appealed to them.

Last week we read in our Family Worship time that "This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die" (John 18:32).

We get to chapter 19 this week to now see how Jesus died. His death is not as clean as the pages in our bibles. He was brutally murdered. Isaiah predicted the death of Jesus and told us that he was disfigured, or marred beyond human semblance or recognition (Isaiah 52:14). He was tortured.

So should our kids hear this story? Yes!

God gives us an account that even our young kids can hear and the freedom for us as parents to take it as deep as is appropriate for their age. Our kids need to understand, as early as possible, that the cross serves a greater purpose than adorning our walls and necks. This is the instrument on which Jesus died for their sins. This is their hope and the means of their salvation.

John Rogers (@johnrogers) attends Connection Community Church (C3) in Rowlett. John serves as the Children's and Family Pastor and as an elder. John and his wife Chassidy are passionate about teaching good doctrine and stumbling along side parents to make disciples of children. They have two children: Sophia and Josiah.

Day 1: John 19:1-16a

Weekly Catechism: (newcitycatechsim)

• Q25: Does Christ’s death mean all our sins can be forgiven?
• A: Yes, because Christ’s death on the cross fully paid the penalty for our sin, God graciously imputes Christ’s righteousness to us as if it were our own and will remember our sins no more.

READ:

[1] Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. [2] And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. [3] They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands. [4] Pilate went out again and said to them, “See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him.” [5] So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!” [6] When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him.” [7] The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God.” [8] When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid. [9] He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. [10] So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” [11] Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.”

[12] From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” [13] So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha. [14] Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” [15] They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” [16] So he delivered him over to them to be crucified. - John 19:1-16a (ESV)

Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you? What can we learn?

• Suggested Question: Pilate seems to be very afraid throughout this whole trial. What are some things he is afraid of? Is he afraid of God? People? Caesar? All of the above?

PRAY:

Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.

• Suggested Prayer: Jesus thank you for being obedient to the Father’s will. Even being crucified, or dying on a cross, for our sins. Help us share this good news with others.

SING:

Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.

Day 2:  John 19:16b-27

Weekly Catechism: (newcitycatechsim)

• Q25: Does Christ’s death mean all our sins can be forgiven?
• A: Yes, because Christ’s death on the cross fully paid the penalty for our sin, God graciously imputes Christ’s righteousness to us as if it were our own and will remember our sins no more.

READ:

[16b] So they took Jesus, [17] and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. [18] There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. [19] Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” [20] Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. [21] So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’” [22] Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.”

[23] When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, [24] so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture which says,

“They divided my garments among them,
and for my clothing they cast lots.”
   
So the soldiers did these things, [25] but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. [26] When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” [27] Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home. - John 19:16b-27 (ESV)

Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you? What can we learn?

• Suggested Question: Jesus was crucified with two others--criminals. Jesus appeared to be killed like a criminal. But had Jesus done anything wrong?

PRAY:

Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.

• Suggested Prayer: Jesus you did nothing wrong. You were righteous but you died like the unrighteous deserve to die so that we can be forgiven.

SING:

Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.

DAY 3: John 19:28-30

Weekly Catechism: (newcitycatechsim)

• Q25: Does Christ’s death mean all our sins can be forgiven?
• A: Yes, because Christ’s death on the cross fully paid the penalty for our sin, God graciously imputes Christ’s righteousness to us as if it were our own and will remember our sins no more.

READ:

[28] After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” [29] A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. [30] When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. - John 19:28-30 (ESV)

Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you? What can we learn?

• Suggested Question: Why did Jesus need to say he was thirsty?

PRAY:

Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.

• Suggested Prayer: Jesus you fulfilled all the Scriptures about you! Even a simple saying like, “I thirst.” You are the only perfectly obedient one and we need your righteousness.

SING:

Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.

Day 4: John 19:31-37

Weekly Catechism: (newcitycatechsim)

• Q25: Does Christ’s death mean all our sins can be forgiven?
• A: Yes, because Christ’s death on the cross fully paid the penalty for our sin, God graciously imputes Christ’s righteousness to us as if it were our own and will remember our sins no more.

READ:

[31] Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. [32] So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. [33] But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. [34] But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. [35] He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. [36] For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” [37] And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.” - John 19:31-37 (ESV)

Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you? What can we learn?

• Suggested Question: How was Scripture fulfilled in this passage?

PRAY:

Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.

• Suggested Prayer: Jesus even when you were already dead you were fulfilling the Scriptures! There is no one like you, Jesus.

SING:

Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.

Day 5: John 19:38-42

Weekly Catechism: (newcitycatechsim)

• Q25: Does Christ’s death mean all our sins can be forgiven?
• A: Yes, because Christ’s death on the cross fully paid the penalty for our sin, God graciously imputes Christ’s righteousness to us as if it were our own and will remember our sins no more.

READ:

[38] After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. [39] Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. [40] So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. [41] Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. [42] So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there. - John 19:38-42 (ESV)

Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you? What can we learn?

• Suggested Question: Remember Nicodemus in chapter 3? Do you think he becoming a follower of Jesus or perhaps born again?

PRAY:

Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.

• Suggested Prayer: God, thank you that Christ’s death on the cross fully paid the penalty for our sin and you will remember our sins no more.

SING:

Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.

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