Lesson 8: Jesus Is Crucified

Welcome

            Thank kids for coming.

            Just for fun, have kids give an elbow-five to five friends.

            Make announcements.

            Introduce new kids.

            Celebrate birthdays by having kids say “Happy birthday” in a deep voice.

            Collect the offering.

Introduce the Lesson

            Say: Today we’re going to learn a very important Bible story. We’re going to hear about when Jesus died on the cross. Jesus was perfect, but he died like a criminal as punishment for all the things we do wrong. Jesus loves us so much that he died for us. What an amazing way to show love!

Share

            Tell kids about someone who loves you and how that person shows it.

            Have kids form pairs and talk about people who love them and how they show it.

            After partners have discussed, ask two or three kids to share with the whole group what they talked about with their partners.

Summarize

           Open a Bible, and say: It feels so nice when people show they love us. The most loving thing anyone has ever done is when Jesus died on the cross. Jesus loves us so much that he died for us. Let’s see what the Bible says about Jesus’ death. The Bible isn’t an ordinary book; it’s God’s special book. The Bible is one way God shows us his love. As we read his Word today, let’s see how he changes us.

            Pray, thanking Jesus for loving us so much that he died for us.

Tip 

• Don’t have internet in your classroom? That’s okay! You can download the videos before class using the “download” button at the link provided, or just purchase this quarter’s DVD here.

Sing Songs to God

            Sing the three songs in any order.

Tip

• Six inches is a guideline for the fabric strips. Kids can trim them, but if they’re too short, it will be difficult for kids to tie them onto the cross.

Make a Cross

            Say: Jesus loves us so much that he died on the cross for us. We’ve all done wrong things; that’s called sinning. Jesus never sinned, but on the cross, he took the punishment for the sins of everyone in the world! Let’s make a special craft to help us remember that.

            Have younger kids find older partners who can help them with this craft.

            Have kids bend chenille wires into a cross shape with a small loop at the top of the cross. To make the cross, they can use one longer chenille wire and cut one shorter piece.

            Kids can make a small loop at the top of the longer piece and then twist the shorter wire around the longer one as the arms of the cross.

Tear Fabric

            Have kids tear the fabric into thin strips that will be about ½ inch wide and 6 inches long. Kids may need to cut a small notch in the fabric to start the tear. After that, older kids should be able to rip it. Younger kids might need additional help starting the rip. They can trade with each other to use a mix of colors or just make a single-colored cross. Kids will each need about 24 strips. As kids tear, have them talk about things in our world that tear us apart.

            Have kids tie the fabric strips all over their chenille-wire crosses, double-knotting so the strips stay in place. As kids work, have them talk about how Jesus’ death on the cross can make us feel closer to him.

            Then have kids trim the ends of the fabric so you can once again see the cross shape.

Add a Chain

            Give each child a ball chain to string through the loop at the top of the cross to make the cross into a key chain.

Wrap It Up

            Say: Jesus went through a lot of pain when he died on the cross. And he died a criminal’s death, even though he had never sinned. He did that to take the punishment for all of the things we do wrong. It was an amazing act of love and sacrifice! Jesus loves us so much that he died for us. And knowing that he took on our sin can make us feel closer to him.

            Encourage kids to take their crafts home and hang them on their backpacks. Encourage them to tell their friends or families what the key chain shows about the Bible story.

Stick Tape

            Say: Today we’re going to be learning a true, very special Bible story. It’s about when Jesus died. Jesus loves us so much that he died for us. It’s a very sad and serious story, so we need to make sure we’re extra respectful as we learn what happened. If you start to goof around, that’s a way of disrespecting what Jesus did for us.

            To help set a more somber tone, dim the lights if possible.

            Give each child a 3- or 4-inch piece of tape.

            Say: Think about a time you lied or didn’t tell the whole truth. As you think about that, stick your tape to the floor. Allow time. Then have kids peel off their tape.

            Say: Think about a time you disobeyed your parents. As you think about that, stick your tape to your clothes. Allow time. Then have kids peel off their tape.

            Say: Think about a time you were mean to someone. As you think about that, stick your tape to the bottom of your shoe. Allow time. Then have kids peel off their tape.

            Say: Think about a time you were selfish. As you think about that, stick your tape to the floor. Allow time. Then have kids peel off their tape.

            Say: Think about a time you bragged about yourself. As you think about that, stick your tape to your clothes. Allow time. Then have kids peel off their tape.

            Ask: • What’s your tape like now?

            • What could you do to make it clean again?

            Say: Today we’re going to learn that Jesus died to forgive our sins. Sins are wrong things we do, like the things we just thought about. Sins make our life dirty. We can’t undo those sins, just like we can’t make our tape clean again. God takes sin very seriously—so seriously that the only punishment for sin is death! But Jesus loves us so much that he died for us. Let’s look at what he did. Have kids set their tape next to them and save it for later.

Carry Something Heavy

            Read Matthew 27:32.

            Say: A cross was so heavy. Before Simon carried the cross, Jesus carried it. But he had been beaten and whipped, and it got too heavy for him. Let’s see how tired Jesus must’ve been carrying that cross.

            Have kids form mixed-age groups of five. Give each group a gallon jug of water, and have kids take turns trying to hold up the gallon of water with one arm extended for 10 seconds.

            Ask: • How did you feel trying to hold up that water?

            Say: A cross is much heavier than the water you were holding up. And imagine if you were already injured! Jesus had been flogged with a lead-tipped whip. The soldiers beat him with a stick and struck him in the head with it. But Jesus carried the cross as far as he could because Jesus loves us so much that he died for us.

Discover What Jesus Did for Us

            Say: Once they got Jesus and the cross to a lonely hill called Golgotha, they stopped. Golgotha means “place of the skull.” There they nailed Jesus to the cross like a criminal.

            Hammer the wooden block several times, and have kids add to the sound effect by each hammering a fist into their other palm.

            Say: Jesus loves us so much that he died for us. He let himself be nailed to a cross because he loves us. You. And me. While he hung on the cross, people mocked him. Listen to what they said.

            Read Matthew 27:39-44.

            Say: Think about a time someone said something mean to you and how much that hurt your heart. Pause. Jesus was already feeling intense physical pain, and people still mocked him. It must’ve been awful. But this is what Jesus said.

            Read the first part of Luke 23:34: “Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.’ ” Wow. Unbelievable. Jesus was being mocked and murdered, but he forgave the people doing it.

            Ask: • Why is it so hard for us to forgive people who hurt us? Have kids answer this question in pairs.

            Say: Jesus loves us so much that he died for us. He died to forgive everyone—even the very people who nailed him to the cross and mocked him. Jesus forgave them because he loved them, too.

            After Jesus had been on the cross for three hours, something strange happened. Listen. Read Matthew 27:45. Have kids close their eyes, and darken the room as much as possible. Even though it was only noon, darkness covered the land.

            After three more hours, Jesus died. Here’s how the Bible describes it. Read Matthew 27:50.

            Say: Jesus released his spirit, meaning he chose when to die. Jesus loves us so much that he chose to die for us. Have kids hold their breath for a few seconds and then release it to demonstrate Jesus releasing his spirit.

Bring Sins to the Cross

            Say: Remember before when I said that death is the only punishment for sin? That’s why Jesus died. He hadn’t sinned, but he was taking the punishment for all of our sins. When he died on the cross, he took all of our sins with him. Jesus loves us so much that he died for us.

            Play soft music, such as “There’s Power in the Blood” from this quarter’s worship music.

            Invite kids to come to the cross one by one and drape their dirty pieces of tape over the arms of the cross. If you’re using a paper cross, kids can simply lay their tape at the foot of the cross. Tell kids that after they drape their tape, they can find a quiet place in the room to kneel or sit alone and think about what Jesus did for them on the cross. Allow time for kids to reflect before you continue.

            Say: After Jesus died, something amazing happened in the Temple, God’s holy place! As you read the first part of Matthew 27:51, tear a small piece of fabric as a sound effect. And there was an earthquake! Have kids stomp their feet and slap the ground to make earthquake sound effects. The earth shook, rocks split apart, and tombs opened!

            Ask: • Why do you think so many strange and dramatic things happened around Jesus’ death? Have kids answer this question in pairs.

            Say: I wonder what the people who were there that day thought. Let’s see. Read Matthew 27:54.

Bury the Sins

            Say: After Jesus died, a rich man named Joseph, who had become a follower of Jesus, asked Pilate for Jesus’ body. Joseph placed Jesus’ body in his own new tomb, which he’d been saving for himself when he died. A tomb was like a small cave.

            Spread out the bedsheet, and put all the tape from the cross on the sheet. Bunch it up, and place it in a corner of the room.

            Then set up a card table on its side so that it blocks the view of the sheet as you say: After he placed Jesus’ body in the tomb, Joseph rolled a big stone in front of the tomb.

            What a sad day. Jesus loves us so much that he died for us. And I’m so thankful for that, aren’t you? But it’s still sad to think that Jesus had to suffer and die. But that’s not the end of the story! No! Something so wonderful happened that it changed our world forever! Please come back next week to find out what happened!

Tip 

• Don’t have internet in your classroom? That’s okay! You can download the videos before class using the “download” button at the link provided, or just purchase this quarter’s DVD here.

Discuss and Watch “How Much Do You Love It?”

            Say: We’re learning that Jesus loves us so much that he died for us. Love is a word we use a lot. You might love a song, a food, or a new movie. Let’s talk about things we love.

            Ask: • What’s a food you love?

            • What’s a song you love?

            • What’s a TV show you love?

            Say: We say we love these things because we enjoy them so much. But what does love really mean? Let’s play a game to find out.

            Watch “How Much Do You Love It?”

            Ask: • Explain why it did or didn’t change your mind to think about giving up your life for something you said you loved.

            • What does it show about Jesus that he was willing to die for you?

            Read Romans 5:7-8.

            Say: Jesus loves us so much that he died for us. The Bible says that’s not something most people would be willing to do. Let’s thank him for his love.

            Pray: Jesus, thank you for loving us so much that you were willing to give up your life for us. Thank you for showing us what true love is. In your name, amen.

Light the Candles

            Form mixed-age groups of two to four, and give a candle and a ball of modeling dough to each group.

            Say: Sometimes we think we have to get rid of all the sin in our lives so that Jesus will love us. But we can’t get rid of sin on our own. Let’s do an activity that shows why we need Jesus. Tell kids to create a base for the candle by pressing it firmly into the ball of modeling dough.

            Say: When I light your group’s candle, blow out the flame and make sure it stays out. Ask older kids in each group to make sure preschoolers don’t get too close to the flame or knock it over.

            Walk to each group and light the candles. The trick candles will relight automatically, and kids will need to repeatedly blow out the candle. Allow kids to keep trying for about a minute or until they get tired and out of breath.

Spray With Water

            Say: Are you getting tired? It looks like you need something to blow out those candles once and for all. Walk around to each group and spray the candles with water. They shouldn’t relight again.

Talk About It

            Ask: • How did you feel when, no matter how hard you tried, the flame kept coming back?

            • How is blowing out a trick candle like trying to get rid of sin on our own?

            Say: The flames are like sin in our lives. We can try to get rid of it on our own, but it keeps coming back. That’s why we need Jesus. Only Jesus can get rid of our sins. Jesus loves us so much that he died for us. When we believe in Jesus, he forgives our sin, and we can live with him forever! Thank you, Jesus!

Make Labels

            Say: We’ve been learning that Jesus loves us so much that he died for us. That’s an amazing thing Jesus did to show his love! But do you ever feel like you’re not very lovable? Maybe people have said mean things about you or you feel like you’re not smart, strong, or pretty enough.

            Distribute a sheet of five blank labels and a pen to each child. Have kids spread out and sit alone.

            Say: We’re going to think about feeling unlovable. On each label, write a mean thing someone has told you about yourself—or a not-so-nice thing you believe about yourself. If you can’t write, just think of words in your head, and scribble on each label. Then stick the labels all over yourself.

            Allow time. This should be a quiet, introspective time where kids are reflecting individually. You may wish to play reflective music to help set the tone.

            Say: Look at all those labels on you! When you look at yourself that way, it might seem hard to believe that Jesus could love you. How can Jesus love us even when we don’t? Let’s dig in to that.

Dig Deeper

            With kids still spread out around the room, read the following verses. As kids remove labels, have them crumple them up.

            Read Psalm 139:14.

            Say: Jesus loves you because God made you wonderfully complex! Take off one of your labels.

            Read Zephaniah 3:17.

            Say: Jesus loves you so much that he delights in you. Take off another label.

            Read 1 John 3:1.

            Say: Because of Jesus’ love, we can be children of God. Take off another label.

            Read 2 Corinthians 5:17.

            Say: Jesus loves you so much that he has made you into a new creation. Take off another label.

            Read Ephesians 2:10.

            Say: Jesus loves you because you are God’s masterpiece! Take off your last label.

            Read Isaiah 43:9. Go around to each child with a trash bag, and let him or her throw away the mailing labels. Then stick a pre-made “You are mine” label on the child. As you do, say: [Name of child], you belong to Jesus. Jesus loves you.

            After you’ve gone to each child, throw away the bag of discarded labels. Say: Other people might label us with a lot of bad names. We might even label ourselves with bad names. But there’s only one label that really matters: Jesus loves you, and you are his!

Talk About It

            Ask: • If you’re willing, share about things you wrote on your labels. Share your own example first, and remind kids that this is a safe place where they can encourage each other, rather than adding more negative labels.

            • Tell about a time someone treated you in an unloving way. Share your own example first, and then have kids share in pairs.

            Say: Sometimes other people don’t treat us with love. Sometimes we don’t even treat ourselves with love. But those things don’t define us. Here’s how you know you are lovable.

            Read 1 John 4:10.

            Say: What Jesus did for you is real love. Jesus loves us so much that he died for us. The next time you don’t feel worthy of love, just remember that Jesus loves you enough to die for you!

Tips

• If you’re concerned about water in your meeting space, you can also play this game outside.
• If you used the Music Video block, consider repeating the songs from today’s lesson during the game. You can find the album here.

Recommended for 8 or more kids.

Run a Relay

            Have kids form mixed-age teams of four. Give each team a plastic cup. Then have teams each line up next to a bucket, two teams per bucket. Point out each team’s bowl on the opposite side of your meeting area.

            Say: When I yell “go,” the first person in each line will fill the cup in the bucket of water. Then they’ll race across the room, pour the water into their team’s bowl, and then race back to the next person in line. You’ll continue until one team fills their bowl to overflowing. I’ll announce the winner when I see water overflowing a bowl. Ready? Go!

            If you’d like, play music as kids play.

Talk About It

            Ask: • What surprised you about this game?

            Say: Like the overflowing bowl of water, Jesus’ love for us overflowed when he died on the cross.

            Ask: • What are some ways Jesus’ love has overflowed in your own life? Share your own example first.

            Say: Jesus showed how much love he has for us when he died on the cross for us. Jesus loves us so much that he died for us.

Tips

• To keep costs down for this activity, consider sending a note home the week before, asking families to donate 1 bag of wrapped candy each.
• If you used the Music Video block, consider repeating the songs from today’s lesson during the game. You can find the album here.

Recommended for 6 or more kids.

Fill the Bowls With Candy

            Have kids form mixed-age groups of three. Give each group a bowl and a couple of bags of candy. (Make sure each group has far more candy than could fit inside the bowl.)

            Then explain to kids that they have one minute to work together to fit as much candy as possible into their bowls, stacking the candy as high as possible.

            Start the timer and allow kids to work together in their groups to build their towers of candy. If you’d like, play music as kids play. When the minute is over, encourage kids to stop and look at their bowl and the bowls around them. Have groups count how many pieces they fit.

            Repeat the game two more times, challenging groups to find ways to fit even more candy in the bowl each time.

            Then allow each child to have two pieces of candy while you discuss the following questions.

Talk About It

            Ask: • How did it feel to have so much candy that you couldn’t possibly fit it in your bowl?

            • Just as your bowls are overflowing with candy, Jesus’ heart is overflowing with love for you. Tell about a time you’ve felt loved by Jesus. Share your own example first.

            Say: It felt exciting to see how much sweet stuff we could fit in our bowls. In fact, our bowls couldn’t even hold all that candy. In the same way, Jesus’ sweet love for us is so much that it overflowed when he died on a cross. Jesus loves us so much that he died for us.

Hold Your Arms Out

            Have kids hold their arms out to their sides to make cross shapes with their bodies.

            Say: Jesus loves us so much that he died for us. He hung on a cross like a criminal, even though he was perfect and had never sinned. Let’s thank him for his death. If you’re comfortable, thank him out loud.

            Start the prayer by thanking Jesus for dying for us. Then allow plenty of time for kids to pray aloud, too. It’s okay if there are long pauses; some kids might be getting up the courage to pray.

Bring Your Arms In

            Have kids bring their arms in to hug themselves.

            Say: Jesus’ death on the cross was the most amazing way for him to show us love. Let’s thank him for his love. Again, we’ll pray out loud.

            Start the prayer by thanking Jesus for loving us. Then allow plenty of time for kids to pray aloud, too.

Wrap Up

            Say: Jesus loves us so much that he died for us. When you need a hug this week, give yourself a hug and imagine it’s coming right from Jesus.

            Thank kids for coming, and invite them to come back next week.

Distribute a copy of the “Dig In @ Home” handout to kids as they leave, or email it to parents during the week.