Remembering Our King Who Suffered

TEXT: Luke 22:39-44; 23:33-38

OBJECTIVE

The students will be able to describe how Jesus suffered for us, and will learn to worship the King by remembering His suffering.

BIBLE LESSON OUTLINE

Introduction: For your class opener, bring a photo album to class and follow the suggestions given under In-Class Activities.

1. Describe Christ's agony in the Garden as He prayed.
2. Bring out His willingness to do His Father's will, even though it meant great suffering.
3. Briefly summarize the cruel treatment Jesus received. (See Mark 15.)
4. As He was crucified, the religious leaders mocked and scorned Him.
   

Climax: Christ was rejected by those who gathered at the cross—the Romans, the Jews, the one thief. Even His friends apparently didn't do or say anything in His defense.

Conclusion: Christ willingly suffered the pain and death of the cross that we might have eternal life, and we should remember what He went through for us.

Response: The students will be able to describe the suffering Jesus went through, and will realize that in remembering this we can worship Him.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Undoubtedly, Jesus' physical and emotional suffering was excruciating. He was arrested like a common criminal and forsaken by those who were closest to Him. He was unjustly tried and ridiculed by the leaders of the nation to whom He had been sent. He was led before Pilate, a pagan ruler, and falsely accused by His own people. He was stripped and beaten by cruel, war-hardened soldiers. He suffered the Roman flogging which many others had not lived through. Then He was crucified. This was a form of torture designed by the Romans to greatly lengthen the death process in order to incite fear into all who saw so that they might not rebel against Roman authority. All this (see Psalm 22), however, is only briefly mentioned in the Scriptures. Alter all, many thousands of others also suffered the same fate at the hands of the Romans. The emphasis of the Scriptures is not on Jesus' physical suffering but on the fact that our sins were placed upon Him and that He suffered death in our stead. "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing" (Revelation 5:12).

The Christian is commanded to remember Christ's "death till he come" (1 Corinthians 11:26), by partaking in communion.

IN-CLASS ACTIVITIES

• Give each child a small blue felt rectangle, about 2" x 3". As you go through the story of the crucifixion, give each child the small felt pieces representing the hill of Calvary, and the three crosses (see Patterns). Let them build the scene with you as you tell the story.
• Bring some sharp thorns and some large nails to help the children visualize the suffering Jesus went through for them.
• Give each student in your class one or two chenille wires (pipe cleaners). Have them make some object representing a part of this week's lesson. When they have completed their objects, go around the class and have each student tell what he made and how it fits into the lesson.
• Bring a photo album to class. Bring out that usually pictures record happy events that we want to remember. Look through and point out some examples. Jesus' death was a sad time, but we want to remember it because it reminds us of how much He loves us. Our Bible text gives us a word picture to help us remember what He went through for us. Pick out several Scriptures and read them aloud while your students close their eyes and try to picture the scene in their minds.
• Use a chalkboard and simple line drawings (stick figures) to illustrate the story (see Patterns).
• Find a picture of the crucifixion scene which is fairly detailed. (Easter Ideals magazines are a good resource for this type of picture.) Let the students study the picture for a minute or two. Then put the picture away, give each student pencil and paper, and have them write down as many things as they can remember from the picture. Give a small prize to the student recalling the most items.
• Make a mobile of the Easter story (see Patterns).
• Let each child make an Easter card to give to someone, telling that Jesus died for all (see Patterns).

Special Instructions for this Lesson: Refer to Lesson 7d for additional ideas.

QUESTIONS

1. How do you think Jesus felt when He knew it was time for Him to die on the cross?
2. When Jesus prayed, an angel came and strengthened Him. Children also have angels in Heaven who will help them when they cry for help. Explain.
3. Jesus was willing to suffer and die for our sins. How can we repay Him? How can we show Him how thankful we are?
4. How can our testimony give praise to Jesus for dying on the cross?
5. Did the people still feel the same about Jesus as they did when He rode on the donkey in Jerusalem? Why?
6. Did the words, "Jesus the King of the Jews," which Pilate wrote on His cross have the same meaning as when the people called Jesus their king in Jerusalem? Why? What had happened to change their feelings?
7. What did Jesus want His disciples to do while He was praying alone?

PRE-SCHOOL SUGGESTIONS

• Prepare in advance and bring to class little decorated angels (see Patterns) made from posterboard for each student, to remind them that even as Jesus was comforted in the Garden by an angel, so is there an angel, though unseen, to help them in every time of trouble.
• Let your children construct a scene depicting this Sunday's lesson. Precut a hill, and three crosses from construction paper. Using a blue sheet of construction paper as a background, let the children glue on the green hill and the brown crosses. To finish the project, let them put on stickers of flowers around the base of the crosses. Write the words JESUS DIED FOR _____ on the top of their paper. Let the children write their name on the line.
• Cut out a paper chain of crosses. (Cut as many or few as needed.) Ask the children to name some people for whom Christ died: Mommy, Daddy, Grandma, neighbor, etc. Write each name on a different cross. Let the children color them and take them home.

REVIEW IDEAS‍

Bring 12 colored plastic eggs in an egg carton. In each one, have a symbol of the Easter story. Open the eggs one at a time (being sure you have them in the correct order) and discuss what part of the lesson the symbol stands for. Following are the items to include: 1) Bread—the Lord's Supper; 2) Coin—the money paid Judas; 3) Piece of string—the rope which bound Jesus; 4) Piece of purple cloth—the robe they put on Jesus; 5) Thorn—the crown of thorns; 6) Small cross made from paper or wood; 7) Nails—the nails in Jesus' hands and feet; 8) Sign—Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews; 9) Small sponge—vinegar given to Jesus; 10) Spear—cut from paper, or spear made from match stick; 11) Rock—to represent tomb; 12) Empty egg—to represent the empty tomb. This review idea could also be used as a review on Easter Sunday, but most of the objects have to do with this Sunday's lesson.

Make a large crossword puzzle grid on a chalkboard. Write the clues to the crossword on slips of paper. (Give verses where the answers can be found when needed.) Have volunteers come to the front and read the clue. If they know the answer, let them fill it in on the chalkboard grid. If they are not sure of the answer, someone from the audience can respond. Be sure to have a Bible available so they can look up the answers if necessary.

Do a Word-Picture review. Select 8-10 important words from the story that can be illustrated with a simple picture. (See Patterns for some ideas.) Mount each picture and word on a sheet of construction paper. Attach a square of sandpaper on the back. Use a large flannel board to display words as they are introduced. Have volunteers come forward, pick up a word-picture, and tell what part this object had in today's story. Some words to use: thorn, nail, spear, sponge, cross, whip, tomb, hill, sign (Jesus, King of the Jews), robe, soldier.

SUPPORT MATERIAL

• The Crucifixion and Resurrection — Panorama, Standard Publishing
• Crucifixion and Resurrection — Pict-o-graph, Standard Publishing
• The Road to Skull Hill — Tape No. 148, Series 10, Your Story Hour, Inc.