LESSON THEME: Jesus Loves Me
Mark 15:16-47 describes Jesus’ crucifixion, from the Roman soldiers mocking him through his death on the cross and burial in a tomb. It portrays the profound suffering Jesus endured, the various reactions of those present, and ultimately fulfills the scriptural prophecies about the Messiah’s death.
WELCOME MUSIC: PLAYLIST (WEE SING KIDS)
This music should be playing in the background while the kids come in for the first 15 minutes. A craft or station will be setup to keep their attention and get them focused upon coming into the classroom.
WELCOME STATION CRAFT: Calvary Sunset Painting Craft 6:00-6:15 p.m.
ITEMS NEEDED
It is Finished Sunset Painting Craft Handouts
Baby Wipes for Clean Up
Paint brushes to paint
Cardstock to paint on
Water color paint
Glue
Have each child paint a sunset on the cardstock. The paint should dry during the lesson. We will glue the crosses on top during snack time or at the end of the Bible Lesson Craft.
WELCOME STATION GAME: Calvary White Board Mats & Easter Sensory Stations 6:00-6:15 p.m.
ITEMS NEEDED
Easter Sensory Stations
Calvary White Board Mats
Plastic Covers
Dry Erase Markers
If children finish their painting early, they can draw with dry erase markers on mats or play the Easter Match Sensory Bins game until the other children arrive. Only use the Good Friday/Calvary Hill Mats from the template.
WORSHIP JESUS THRU MUSIC: 6:15-6:30 p.m.
Move kids by the TV into the “Worship” Area near the TV. Let kids know we are going worship Jesus through song.
- Teach them the song “Jesus Loves the Little Children” without music.
- Teach them the song “Jesus Loves Me” without music.
Note: Play on keyboard if it is available. - Victory in Jesus (3:07)
- Jesus is Alive (Freeze Dance) (2:08)
- Jesus is My Best Friend (1:28)
WORSHIP JESUS THRU PRAYER: 6:30-6:40 p.m.
Transition kids to a prayer circle on the floor.
Ask each kid to share one thing they need to ask forgiveness for (being mean or angry, saying something unfriendly, not sharing, not listening, taking something without permission, etc…). Ask them to ask Jesus for forgiveness.
Pick one kid to bless the snack we are about to eat.
SNACK TIME: 6:40-6:50 p.m.
Pass out snacks and allow kids time to eat snacks. Have paper or color activity on the table for kids to draw on while they eat their snack, or while they are waiting for others to finish. If there are any kids who didn’t complete the Nailed to the Cross Craft prior to 6:15, they can choose to do this craft now.
BIBLE STORY 6:50-7:00 p.m.
ITEMS NEEDED
Bible
Wooden Cross
Crown of Thorns (For each Kid if able)
Dice with Star Stickers on Them (or dice)
Assortment of Color Star Stickers
Purple Construction Paper for Each Kid (Temple Curtain)
Paper Nails from Craft
Tomb & Stone Object (Use next week’s object lesson Tomb and Stone)
Map with Golgatha
READING AREA
Move the floor with the objects already setup (or in a bag).
Go over the rules.
1. Bubbles for our mouth. (Demonstrate putting a bubble in the mouth)
2. Open our ears. (Demonstrate opening ears)
3. Clap 3 times. (Demonstrate time to return to be quiet)
THE CROSS
“Look what I have today. This is called a cross. Would you like to touch it? Feel how smooth the wood is! (Pass around gently)
ASK: Where do you see crosses today?
A long, long time ago, crosses were used to punish people who did very bad things. Criminals were nailed to the cross for punishment. We don’t do that anymore, but one very special person we all know about was nailed to the cross. Can anyone tell me that person’s name?
Let me ask you a question: Did Jesus do anything wrong? Did Jesus do bad things?
(Let children respond)
That’s right! Jesus never did anything wrong. He was perfect and kind. Jesus didn’t deserve to be put on a cross, but He chose to go there because He loves us so much. This was part of God’s special plan.
Jesus took the punishment even though He never did anything wrong. He did this because He loves us THIS much! (Stretch arms out wide)
Because Jesus went on the cross, we can be His friend forever! When we see a cross, we can remember Jesus’ amazing love for us.
Let’s say together: ‘Thank you, Jesus, for loving me!'”
OPEN THE BIBLE TO MARK 15:16-47
Today we’re going to learn a very important story from the Bible. This story helps us understand how much Jesus loves us. I’ll read it from the Bible in parts, and then we’ll do something fun together to help us understand.
The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. And they began to call out to him, “Hail, king of the Jews!” Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him.
The soldiers weren’t being nice to Jesus. They were pretending he was a king, but in a mean way.
Hold up the purple cloth and the crown. Let the children look at it. Ask what it feels like if someone makes fun of you?
GIVE EACH CHILD THEIR OWN CROWN TO WEAR/TAKE HOME (HOMEMADE FROM TREE BRANCHES)
When they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.
Jesus had to carry a big, heavy cross. It was so heavy! Let’s all pretend to carry something really heavy. Can you show me how you would walk if you were carrying something super heavy? (Let children act this out)
A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross.
Jesus was so tired that another man had to help carry His cross. Sometimes we need help too. Can you think of a time when you needed help? Let’s practice asking for help: “Can you please help me?” Good job!
They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. And they crucified him.
Golgotha is a funny word to say. Can everyone say “Golgotha” with me? (Children repeat)
Show them the map with Golgatha compared to the church.
This is where they put Jesus on the cross. Let’s all make a cross shape with our arms out wide. (Demonstrate and have children copy). What do we remember when we put our arms out? JESUS LOVES US THIS MUCH
Do you know why Jesus died on the cross? For our sins. God knew we couldn’t keep his laws, so he sent Jesus to die on the cross for us. Our sins were “nailed” to the cross. What are sins? (Bad things we do). Let’s look at some of the sins we might do daily. I’m going to hand them out to you to collect, and later we are going to ask Jesus to forgive our sins. (Go through the words on the nails and give different nails to different kids).
Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get. It was nine in the morning when they crucified “In Bible times, when it says they ‘cast lots,’ they were doing something like rolling dice or picking straws to decide who gets what. The soldiers who put Jesus on the cross wanted His clothes, so they played a game of chance to see who would get them.
Let’s try something similar to understand what ‘casting lots’ means. I have some treats/stickers in this bag. We’re going to roll the dice, and depending on what sticker you roll, you’ll get a certain color!
Each of you will get a turn to roll the dice:
- If you roll a 1: You get a red sticker
- If you roll a 2: You get a blue sticker
- If you roll a 3: You get a yellow sticker
- If you roll a 4: You get a orange sticker
- If you roll a 5: You get a green sticker
- If you roll a 6: You get to choose any sticker
(After everyone has had a turn)
That was our game of chance, just like casting lots. We didn’t know what we would get until we rolled the dice. The soldiers did something like this with Jesus’ clothes.
They crucified two rebels with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, come down from the cross and save yourself!” In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself!”
People were saying mean things to Jesus. Has anyone ever said something that made you feel sad? Jesus knows how that feels.
Let’s practice saying something kind instead: “Jesus loves me.” Everyone say that together!
At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.
Turn off the lights. It got very dark in the middle of the day, like when the lights go out or when it’s nighttime. Let’s count to three together, and then I’ll turn the lights back on. One, two, three! (Turn lights back on)
And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”)… With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.
Jesus was talking to God, His Father. Let’s all take a big breath in and then slowly let it out. (Do this with the children) Jesus died on the cross because He loves us so much.
The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
(Hold up the fabric or paper) This represents a special curtain in God’s house called the temple. Watch what happened! (Tear the paper or pull apart the fabric dramatically) The curtain tore from the top to the bottom! This showed that now everyone can talk to God directly because of Jesus!
NOTE: DEMONSTRATE WITH A WEIGHTED BLANKET HOW THICK AND HEAVY THE CURTAIN WAS BEFORE IT WAS TORN. EXPLAIN HISTORY OF THE CURTAIN.
And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”
The soldier watching Jesus knew He was God’s Son! Let’s all say together: “Jesus is God’s Son.”
Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead… So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.
(Show the round object that represents the stone) After Jesus died, His friends put His body in a special place called a tomb. It was like a little cave with a big, heavy stone rolled in front. Let’s all pretend to roll a heavy stone. (Mime rolling a heavy stone)
This is a sad story, but it’s not the end! Next time, we’ll learn about the amazing thing that happened next. Jesus didn’t stay dead! He showed His power over death because He loves us so much.
CLOSING LESSON PRAYER
“Dear Jesus, thank you for loving us so much that you died on the cross for us. Help us to remember your love every day. Amen.”
SONG: Jesus Loves Me (Sing with the Kids – No Music)
End the lesson asking everyone to sing the song.
BIBLE CRAFT OR ACTIVITY: Nailed to the Cross Page 7:00-7:15 p.m.
ITEMS NEEDED
Nailed to the Cross Printouts
Crayons
Glue Sticks
Children should color the cross on calvary and glue the paper nails they were given during the lesson to the paper. Discuss how Jesus died on the cross for our sins.
DISMISSAL 7:25-7:30 p.m.
Prepare for dismissal. Do clean up.
Hand each parent the “Today I Learned” handout.
