Read: Matthew 26:47-50, 27:1-45

Point: Jesus died to pay the penalty for my sins.

Holy Week: Friday

 

Devotional: Think about how much you love your children or how much your parents love you. What if your kids, or maybe you when you were younger, broke something that was really expensive and you did not have the money to pay for it? Out of responsibility and great love you would make the payment for your kids or your parents would make that payment on your behalf.

On Friday of Holy Week, Jesus was falsely accused of blasphemy, beaten by professional soldiers with instruments of torture, and ultimately hung on a tree to die the most violent death the Romans could envision.

Nothing that happened in the events of Jesus’ betrayal, arrest, or trial was out of Jesus’ control. Because Jesus is the Son of God, He knew everything that was going to happen, and He willingly submitted to the Father’s plan. Jesus allowed these events to take place so that He could fulfill God’s promise and make a way for people to be rescued from their sins. Jesus died on the cross, and God raised Him from the dead so we can be saved.

Jesus paid your debt with His death on the cross, so that your sins can be forgiven. How great is His love for us!

 

Pray: Dear Jesus, thank You for giving Your life on the cross for me. You did not have to do it, but You chose to take my place. Thank You for loving me that much! Amen.

 

Family Activity: Give each family member a moment to think about a situation where something felt out of his or her control.  Engage in discussion about what is out of our control (circumstances) and what is in our control (responses). Read the following scenarios and guide family members to move to one side of the room if the statement is in our control or to the opposite side of the room if it is out of our control. Allow kids to create additional scenarios.

  • Your brother spills milk on your homework (out of our control)
  • You yell at your brother for spilling milk on your homework (in our control)
  • You lie to your mom about cleaning your room (in our control)
  • You choose to clean your room before playing video games (in our control)
  • The neighbor rakes all of her leaves into your yard (out of our control)
  • You complain about your neighbor to your friends (in our control)

Challenge family members to think of ways to encourage each other when things feel out of control.  Maybe think of a family codename or hand signal (like two thumbs up, it’s okay, God’s in control).

We can respond to difficult circumstances in ways that demonstrate our faith in God and belief that He is in control of all things.

 

Going Deeper:

Watch this video to reflect on all the events that happened between Palm Sunday and this day (Friday) when Jesus was crucified. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_unHmAf7INk