Cross and Tomb

Teaching Goal:  Jesus suffered for our sin, died, and rose again, conquering death so that we might join him in Heaven.

Scriptures:

Luke 22-24

Materials:

• Wood to make three crosses.  3- 3′ pieces; 3- 2′ pieces
• 6 large and 6 small nails
• Hammer
• Duct tape
• Print from the Internet a picture of Jesus and two men to represent the thieves
• 1 copy-paper-size box with lid
• Paper, pen, crayons
• White handkerchief or white washcloth

1. Play theme song
2. Pray
3. Review last lesson
4. Lesson and discussion

• Words written in bold are when the leader is speaking. Feel free to use your own words.

ACTIVITY #1: This lesson can be done over several days. Consider doing Activity #1 and #2 on Good Friday.  Activity #3 can be done on Saturday.  The kids can find the tomb empty on Sunday morning. Make the three crosses by nailing the 2′ piece of wood horizontally across the vertical 3′ piece of wood.  Connect the pieces one foot from the top of the 3′ piece and in the middle of the 2′ piece.  Let the children help make the crosses by nailing two larger nails where the pieces of wood intersect.  If you use just one nail the pieces of wood will swivel around.  If you are concerned about the wood splitting then you can pre-drill small holes for the nails.  This will also help younger children when nailing.

While you are making the crosses, in your own words, tell the story of Easter from Matthew 26-28.  Help your children understand the schedule of events.  Jesus had the Passover meal with his friends, the disciples, on Thursday.  He was arrested Thursday night while praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. He was tried on Friday morning and crucified mid-day on Friday. Jesus’ body was placed in a tomb on Friday night and remained in the tomb on Saturday.  On Sunday, Jesus rose from the grave.  Everything happened so quickly.  It was just five days earlier that he had ridden into Jerusalem on a donkey with people praising Him and calling Him “King.”

ACTIVITY #2: Make a tomb from the box.  Cut a large, slightly oval, piece of cardboard from the box top.  This will be the stone.   Cut a hole about half the size of your “stone” in the side of the box.  Turn the box upside down and this will be the tomb.  OPTIONAL:  You can decorate the stone and tomb using construction paper, crayons or spray paint.

Download and print pictures of Jesus and two other people who can represent the two thieves.  Each picture should be as large as an entire sheet of paper.

Together, color the pictures of Jesus and the two thieves. Tell the story of the crucifixion.  Back in Jesus’ day, they would punish criminals by nailing them to a cross and letting them hang there until they died.  Jesus was not a criminal; in fact, He had never sinned.  He is the only person who has never sinned, yet He was hung on a cross.  There were two men hung on crosses next to Jesus.  These men were criminals.  They were thieves.  One of these men recognized that Jesus was innocent and the Son of God.  He believed in Jesus and Jesus said, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” Jesus paid the price for all our sins when he died on the cross.  Like the thieves, we have a choice to believe Jesus.  One thief believed Jesus and the other did not.  The one who believed had his sins forgiven and went with Jesus to heaven.  Further discussion:  Everyone has sinned.  Jesus died for those sins.  What are some sins we have committed that Jesus died for?  Do you believe in Jesus and believe that He died for your sins

When you are done coloring the pictures, use the small nails and nail the pictures to the crosses.  Using the duct tape, tape the crosses to the back of the “tomb” box.

Later on Friday evening before sundown, together take Jesus off the cross and put him in the tomb.  Cover his picture with the white handkerchief or washcloth.  Also, remove the thieves and put them away.

ACTIVITY #3: Saturday night after the children go to bed.  Remove Jesus from the tomb.  Leave the stone rolled away.  When the children come down on Sunday morning, let them see Jesus out of the tomb.  Retell the story and add (from Luke 24) how Jesus visited with His friends, the disciples, before going up in the clouds to Heaven.

Memorize:

Jesus rose on Easter day

He takes my sin away!

Close in Prayer