Introduction

• In the last lesson, we learned about Jesus’ desire to do the Father’s will no matter what. Who willingly accepted suffering to pay the price for our sins? (Jesus.)
• Today, we will learn about Jesus’ death on the cross and how it paid the price for our sins in full.

Bible Story

All the leaders had already decided that Jesus should die. So, they tied Jesus up and took him to Pilate, the Roman governor.
Pilate questioned Jesus. He could not find Jesus guilty of any crimes. So, he decided to let the people decide what to do.
“I have two men,” Pilate said to the crowd, “Barabbas, the terrorist, or Jesus who is called the Messiah. Which one do you want me to set free?”
“Barabbas!” the crowd shouted.
“But what about Jesus?” Pilate asked.
“Kill him!” they replied. So, Pilate set Barabbas free and ordered that Jesus be beaten and killed. Soldiers stripped Jesus’ clothes off and put a scarlet robe on him. They made a crown out of thorn branches and placed it on his head. They mocked Jesus, spit on him, and beat him. Jesus was lead to a place known as “The Skull.” There, he was nailed to a cross.
At noon, the sky turned dark and stayed that way until three o’clock. Then, Jesus shouted and died. At that very moment, the curtain in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, and rocks split apart. Graves opened, and many of God’s people who were dead came back to life.
“This man really was God’s Son!” the soldiers said.
A rich disciple of Jesus, named Joseph, asked for Jesus’ body. Pilate allowed it. Joseph wrapped Jesus’ body in clean linen and then placed it into his own tomb. A large stone was rolled across the entrance.
The next day, the religious leaders asked that Pilate order soldiers to guard the tomb. So, he sent soldiers to seal it tight and stand watch there.

Review

Sin causes a separation between God and us (Isaiah 59:2). Everyone has sinned (Romans 3:23), and we all deserve to be punished. The punishment for sin is death (Romans 6:23).
There is nothing we can do to pay the price for our sins. Even the very best things we do are like dirty rags to God (Isaiah 64:6).
But God loves us so much that he made a way to restore our relationship with him. He sent his Son, Jesus. Jesus was fully man and fully God. He lived a perfect life and came to pay the price for our sins. When he died on the cross, Jesus took the punishment that we deserve on himself (1 Peter 2:24).

1. How did Jesus’ death on the cross pay the price for our sin? (Jesus took the punishment that we deserved.)
2. What does this tell you about how much Jesus loves you? (Jesus loves me more than anyone else ever could.)

Prayer

Dear God,
Thank you for making a way for me to approach and know you. Amen.