Jesus Was on Trial :
The focus of this family time is to use five easy steps to teach your family that Jesus was unfairly sentenced to die although He did no wrong. Jesus was the perfect substitute for us, dying on the cross for our sins and rising from the dead. Everyone who trusts in Jesus has forgiveness and life with God forever.
MEMORY VERSE:
“For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.
Hebrews 4:15
Learn the Memory Verse together and say it throughout the week to help your family remember and apply what they have learned.
STEP 1. GATHER!
Use this time to begin Family Worship Night and have fun!
For Fun
Visit a local courthouse. If possible, speak to a judge or a lawyer about their jobs. Help kids understand that the system is meant to protect the innocent and punish those who commit crimes. Talk with kids about how Jesus was innocent yet was sentenced to death on the cross. Discuss why this was part of God’s plan to rescue us from sin.
To Serve
Make a monetary donation to your child’s school or a local elementary school to cover outstanding lunch debt. Talk with kids about how the debt was owed by someone else, but our gift will erase the debt and provide a fresh start. That kid will no longer owe lunch money. Remind kids that Jesus took on our debt—the punishment for sin that we owed—and He gives new life to all who believe in Him.
STEP 2. WORSHIP!
- Sing and have fun while worshiping then pray. Take a moment here to thank God for your family and your time together!!
STEP 3. BIBLE!
Watch the Bible story video or read Matthew 26:57–27:26; Mark 14:53–15:15; Luke 22:66–23:25; and John 18:12-40
Bible Story Video
Use these questions and points to have a conversation with your children about the Bible story.
STEP 4. DISCUSSION!
Use these questions and points to have a conversation with your children about the Bible story.
REVIEW THE BIBLE STORY
Judges have a tough job. They take an oath, or promise, to uphold justice and fairness. During a trial, if a person is found guilty, the judge must decide on the appropriate sentence, or punishment. It is the judge’s responsibility to be impartial and fair in her decision.
The Bible teaches us that God is just, which means He is perfect in His judgments and His punishments are always fair. Because God is holy, sin must be punished. He can’t overlook it or give a lighter sentence to some people–that wouldn’t be fair. That’s bad news for us because we’re all guilty of sin and deserve to be punished.
But the good news of the Bible is that Jesus came to take the punishment we deserve. Though He was innocent, He took the guilt that belonged to us and faced God’s justice for us. Sin had to be punished and the sentence was death, but Jesus gave His life to save ours.
Jesus was unfairly sentenced to die although He did no wrong. Jesus was the perfect substitute for us, dying on the cross for our sins and rising from the dead. Everyone who trusts in Jesus has forgiveness and life with God forever.
Mission Moment
Luther Rice was born in Northborough, Massachusetts, on March 25, 1783. He helped
Churches in the United States work together to support missions in places outside of the country.
Play the missions video. Tell kids that while Luther Rice never returned to the foreign mission field, he continued helping foreign missionaries. Explain that he traveled to various towns and villages on horseback and that he formed several groups to support missions. Close in prayer, thanking God for the work of Luther Rice.
STEP 4. Pray!
Pray: God, we know that You are right and just to punish sin, but You showed us Your amazing love by giving Your Son to take on our punishment. Jesus was perfectly innocent, but He willingly took our punishment to offer us forgiveness and new life. Help us know Jesus, trust in Jesus, and share Jesus with others. Amen.