4.12.20 – Our Perfect Sacrifice

By Jen C4KIDS Sunday Lessons May 11, 2020

Sunday Children’s Services 9 and 10:45am

Hey there, C4KIDS! We welcome you to join us Sunday mornings for our children’s services at 9 and 10:45am.
Children ages Pre-K to 6^th grade meet in the Purple Room 123 for worship, learning, encouragement and FUN,
all straight from God’s Word! If ever you can’t make it, you can still find what you missed right here on this page,
updated for our children’s services weekly.

the mystery

Easter is sometimes called Resurrection Sunday because we celebrate the day Jesus rose from the grave.
Have you ever wondered what that means for you?

The cross and the empty tomb changed everything… Why?

Throughout this new series we’ll be examining Scripture and finding clues (like detectives) to answer this
and some other BIG QUESTIONS about Easter.

today’s big question:

This SNEAK PEEK HELPS US TO UNDERSTAND

Our Bible story this week tells what happened to Jesus on a day we remember each year as Good Friday, the day Jesus died on the cross.

During the Passover Meal–the last meal they would eat together–Jesus gave His disciples some clues about what would happen to Him. When we remember this special meal and its significance, we call it the Last Supper.

Jesus did not ever sin. He did not deserve to die, but He allowed Himself to be killed on a cross. And, it was not a surprise. He knew exactly what would happen to Him.

You may already know what happened on that sad day. The next day after the Last Supper, Jesus was arrested and beaten. He was put into prison and mocked. He was whipped until He was bleeding. He was hurt so badly, He could hardly walk. Then He was put onto a wooden cross with nails through His hands and feet. He hung on the cross for hours, until He died.

But do you know why He did that?

Jesus, Who is God, could have stopped the arrest, the beating, and the crucifixion. But He didn’t. Why?

LET’S INVESTIGATE

cross-examine with a sketch

Sometimes detectives use a sketch to see better while investigating a mystery.

The Bible tells us there is one way, and only one way, to be cleansed, to be made right before God… and that is not something we can do.

It is only through what Jesus has done that we can be made right.

it is finished, and it is personal

Before we investigate further, let’s understand:

What Jesus did on the cross, He did for you.

You can pray, any time, any place, to ask God for forgiveness for your sins. Praying is simply talking to God.

If you believe that you have sinned and deserve punishment,

If you believe that Jesus took the punishment for your sins when He suffered and died on the cross,

If you believe that Jesus rose again so that you can have eternal life,

If you want to open the door of your life and invite Jesus in,

You can pray to ask Jesus to be your Lord and Savior.

You can pray a prayer like this Salvation Prayer from your heart any time, any place, to ask God for forgiveness for your sins. The words are not special, you can use your own.

All you have to do is tell God what you believe, and ask for His forgiveness.

salvation prayer

Dear Jesus, I know that I sin, and I am sorry. Please forgive me. I know my sin deserves punishment.

I believe you died on the cross and rose again to pay for my sin. Because of this I am forgiven.

Thank you, Jesus, for what you have done for me, and thank you that I will be with You forever. Amen.

If you need help to do this, you can talk with someone in your family. There are suggestions for parents here.

Jesus loves you! If you need help, C4Kids leaders are also here to help you in this most important decision of your life—we love you and will be praying for you!

Jesus’ disciples were so very sad after He died on the cross. They had not yet put together the clues. They did not yet understand what Jesus had done.

Detectives, are you beginning to uncover what Jesus has done? Let’s look for more clues in these next Scripture verses.

You can ask Mom or Dad to print this Secret Clue List. Ten words are missing, but their shape is left behind.

Read each Scripture verse (in the New International Readers Version) to find and fill in the missing words. The first one has been done for you.

Use the links below to read each verse in the New International Readers Version.

revealing hidden clues

Isaiah 53:5

But the servant was pierced because we had sinned.
He was crushed because we had done what was evil.
He was punished to make us whole again.
His wounds have healed us.

Romans 5:9

The blood of Christ
has made us right
with God.
So we are even
more sure that
Jesus will
save us from
God’s anger.

1 Peter 3:18

Christ also suffered once for sins. The one who did what is right suffered for those who don’t do right. He suffered to bring you to God. His body was put to death. But the Holy Spirit brought him
back to life.

Ephesians 5:2

Lead a
life of love,
just as Christ did.
He loved us.
He gave himself
up for us.
He was a
sweet-smelling
offering and
sacrifice to God.
,

Romans 3:25

God gave Christ as a sacrifice to pay for sins through the spilling of his blood. So God forgives the sins of those who have faith. God did all this to prove that he does what
is right. He is a
God of mercy.

DIscussion questions

What festival were Jesus and His disciples celebrating the night before Jesus died?
How do you think the disciples reacted to the news that Jesus was going to die?

What did Jesus say the bread and the cup represented?
Why did Jesus give up His life for us?

Challenge question:

Here is another mystery: In 1 Corinthians 5:7, the apostle Paul describes Jesus as the Passover Lamb. Why does he say that?

Watch the next Top Secret Video to give you some clues…

OLD TESTAMENT HIDDEN CLUES

Did you solve the challenge mystery?
Click the next red image box to see if you are correct.

The Passover was part of God’s amazing rescue of His people from slavery in Egypt. The Angel of Death came to Egypt as the last of ten mighty plagues to show Pharaoh that our God is the One True God. The Israelites were spared from death entering their households by the blood of the Passover lambs, which they applied to the doorways of their houses. The Passover is a clue from God in the Old Testament that His own Son, Jesus would come peaceably as a lamb, to shed His blood—so that we would be rescued from our sin and spared from its punishment, eternal death.

Great job! Now you can ask the same challenge question of your friends and family. If they need help, you can explain it to them!

close the case

So here’s the bottom line, detectives. Sin is serious. Sin is so bad, it keeps us apart from our Holy God… FOREVER.

And, God says in His Word that sin–like a serious crime–must be punished.

It looks like we have all the clues we need to answer the BIG QUESTION: What did Jesus do on the cross?

MYSTERY SOLVED!

In God’s ultimate act of love, Jesus sacrificed Himself when He died in our place. By taking the punishment we deserve for our sin, Jesus made a way for us to be forgiven. Jesus’ death on the cross allows us to be reconciled to God and to spend eternity with Him.

We can celebrate Jesus’ sacrifice every day, not just at Easter time. But celebrating these very special days each year at Easter time is one way to remember God’s mercy and praise Him for His goodness.

And that solves this case! great work, detectives!

CONNECT WITH GOD’S WORD

Here’s a playlist for you to praise God all week!

I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together. Psalm 34:1

Here’s a coloring page for younger ones to remember this lesson.

CONNECT WITH US

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MEMORY VERSE

Hide God’s Word in your heart by memorizing this verse: Acts 13:38. Practice by telling others!