Walking through Holy Week: The Crucifixion

Today, Good Friday, we come to the story of Jesus being crucified. Let's read.

³² Two other men were also led out with Jesus to be killed. Both of them had broken the law. ³³ The soldiers brought them to the place called The Skull. There they nailed Jesus to the cross. He hung between the two criminals. One was on his right and one was on his left.

³⁴ Jesus said, "Father, forgive them. They don't know what they are doing." The soldiers divided up his clothes by casting lots.

³⁵ The people stood there watching. The rulers even made fun of Jesus. They said, "He saved others. Let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One."

³⁶ The soldiers also came up and poked fun at him. They offered him wine vinegar. ³⁷ They said, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself."

³⁸ A written sign had been placed above him. It read, -this is the king of the jews.-

³⁹ One of the criminals hanging there made fun of Jesus. He said, "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself! Save us!"

⁴⁰ But the other criminal scolded him. "Don't you have any respect for God?" he said. "Remember, you are under the same sentence of death. ⁴¹ We are being punished fairly. We are getting just what our actions call for. But this man hasn't done anything wrong."

⁴² Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."

⁴³ Jesus answered him, "What I'm about to tell you is true. Today you will be with me in paradise."

Jesus Dies

⁴⁴ It was now about noon. The whole land was covered with darkness until three o'clock. ⁴⁵ The sun had stopped shining. The temple curtain was torn in two. ⁴⁶ Jesus called out in a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my very life." After he said this, he took his last breath.

Luke 23:32-46 (NIrV)

Discussion

• When Jesus was crucified, was He crucified alone?
• Of those who were crucified that day, who deserved to die?
• Who recognized that Jesus did not deserve to die?
• What did he receive for believing this?
• What reaction did the people who crucified Jesus have?
• Do you think they felt like they had finally beaten Jesus?
• Do you think they felt better about themselves by making fun of Jesus?
• How do you think they would have felt if Jesus had saved Himself?
• Would Jesus have been doing God's will if He had saved Himself?
• We read that it was dark for three hours - during the daytime!
• Does this remind you of what Jesus said to those who arrested Him?
• Does this mean that the forces darkness and evil have won?
• What was the significance of the temple curtain being torn in two?
• The temple curtain was what separated the people from the holy of holies in the temple. This is where the high priest would only be allowed to go one day a year to make a sacrifice for the people. It was the most sacred place in the temple.
• The tearing of the curtain when Jesus died signifies how His death gives us access to the holiness of God.
• When Jesus died, was it willingly?
• He committed His soul to God.
• He took His last breath
• It sounds like He died exactly when He wanted to die.

Walking through Holy Week: Jesus' Arrest

It had to happen. Jesus knew it would. He was arrested. He was out praying and His closest disciples were with Him (although they were having trouble staying awake).

⁴⁷ While Jesus was still speaking, a crowd came up. The man named Judas was leading them. He was one of the Twelve. Judas approached Jesus to kiss him.

⁴⁸ But Jesus asked him, "Judas, are you handing over the Son of Man with a kiss?"

⁴⁹ Jesus' followers saw what was going to happen. So they said, "Lord, should we use our swords against them?" ⁵⁰ One of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear.

⁵¹ But Jesus answered, "Stop this!" And he touched the man's ear and healed him.

⁵² Then Jesus spoke to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders. They had all come for him. "Am I leading a band of armed men against you?" he asked. "Do you have to come with swords and clubs? ⁵³ Every day I was with you in the temple courtyard. And you didn't lay a hand on me. But this is your hour. This is when darkness rules."

Discussion

• Did Jesus let the fact that He was about to be arrested keep Him from what He was doing?
• Did the people who wanted to arrest Jesus finally think they had the advantage?
• Who led the crowd that was arresting Jesus?
• How did Jesus disciples react?
• Did Jesus approve of a violent reaction by His disciples?
• Did Jesus go with the people who arrested Him willingly? Why or why not?
• Why did Jesus say they arrested Him at night? What did He mean by this?

Walking through Holy Week: It's time to eat!

Today, as we continue walking through Holy Week, we come upon the Last Supper. Jesus is sharing a Passover meal with His disciples and as part of it they share the bread and the cup - a tradition that we remember when we have Communion in church.

¹⁴ When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles took their places at the table. ¹⁵ He said to them, "I have really looked forward to eating this Passover meal with you. I wanted to do this before I suffer. 16 I tell you, I will not eat the Passover meal again until it is celebrated in God's kingdom."

¹⁷ After Jesus took the cup, he gave thanks. He said, "Take this cup and share it among yourselves. ¹⁸ I tell you, I will not drink wine with you again until God's kingdom comes."

¹⁹ Then Jesus took bread. He gave thanks and broke it. He handed it to them and said, "This is my body. It is given for you. Every time you eat it, do it in memory of me."

²⁰ In the same way, after the supper he took the cup. He said, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. It is poured out for you. ²¹ But someone here is going to hand me over to my enemies. His hand is with mine on the table. ²² The Son of Man will go to his death, just as God has already decided. But how terrible it will be for the one who hands him over!"

Luke 22:14-22 (NIrV)

Discussion

• One of the first things that I notice in the passage is that Jesus was looking forward to sharing this meal with His disciples. Why do you suppose He was looking forward to it?
• Do you remember what the Passover was?
• What three things did Jesus say were going to happen that His disciples may not have been very happy about?
• He would suffer (v 15)
• One of them would betray Him (v 21)
• He would die (v 22)
• Did those bad things dampen Jesus' enthusiasm for the Passover meal?
• Despite the bad things coming, did Jesus still do what God wanted Him to do?
• If you were looking forward to doing something and you knew that something bad was going to happen afterwards, would you find it hard to enjoy it or even do it?
• Does knowing that Jesus was obedient to God even though He knew bad things were coming soon help you to look forward to being obedient to God?
• Does knowing that Jesus was looking forward to this communion with His disciples help you to look forward to the next time you celebrate communion?

Walking through Holy Week: Hiding in plain sight

When Jesus arrived in Jerusalem, he knew that He was going to die on the cross. We saw yesterday how the Pharisees felt threatened by Jesus and how they wanted Jesus' followers to shut up. Let's see what Jesus did after He got to Jerusalem.

⁴⁵ Then Jesus entered the temple area. He began chasing out those who were selling there. ⁴⁶ He told them, "It is written that the Lord said, 'My house will be a house where people can pray.'—(Isaiah 56:7) But you have made it a 'den for robbers.' "—(Jeremiah 7:11)

⁴⁷ Every day Jesus was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests and the teachers of the law were trying to kill him. So were the leaders among the people. ⁴⁸ But they couldn't find any way to do it. All the people were paying close attention to his words.

Discussion

• Where did Jesus go first?
• When Jesus was 12 and went to Jerusalem for Passover and didn't leave with Mary and Joseph, where did they find Him then?
• What did
  Jesus do in the temple in vv 45-46? Why?
• What did Jesus do in the temple in vv 47-48?
• Did Jesus hide from those who wanted to arrest Him?
• Did Jesus stop preaching and teaching because people wanted to arrest Him?
• Why didn't the people who wanted to arrest Jesus arrest Him in the temple?
• Where could they easily have found Jesus to arrest Him?
• Do you think they still feared that they couldn't control the people who were following Jesus?
• Do you think Jesus' actions in this passage show how the people in the temple had lost sight of what should be done in the temple? Do you think these people were disobedient to God?
• Do you think Jesus' actions in the temple showed how He remained obedient to God even when He knew He was going to be arrested?
• Are there times when you are not doing what God wants you to do or doing something God doesn't want you to?
• Is it hard sometimes for you to be obedient when others around you are making it hard to do so?
• Can you trust Jesus to help you be more obedient?

Walking through Holy Week: Making a little noise

Yesterday was Palm Sunday a day that we remember and celebrate Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

³⁷ Jesus came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives. There the whole crowd of disciples began to praise God with joy. In loud voices they praised him for all the miracles they had seen. They shouted,

³⁸ "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! May there be peace and glory in the highest heaven!"

³⁹ Some of the Pharisees in the crowd spoke to Jesus. "Teacher," they said, "tell your disciples to stop!"

⁴⁰ "I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."

Luke 19:37-40 (NIrV)

Discussion

• A crowd was gathered along the road where Jesus was coming in to Jerusalem. What does this remind you of?
• Is there anyone that, if they were coming to town, you'd want to see? Who? Why?
• The people were praising Jesus "in loud voices." Why were they excited?
• Have you ever been told you were too loud?
• How did this make you feel?
• If you're excited, don't you like to express that excitement loudly?
• Why did the Pharisees think that the people were too loud?
• Were the Pharisees threatened by Jesus?
• Did the Pharisees think they were losing control over the people?
• Do you think the Pharisees thought that if the people would quiet down they would be "in control"?
• Why did the Pharisees ask Jesus to tell his followers to "shut up"?
• What did Jesus say would happen if the people were quiet?
• Have you ever heard a stone crying out?
• If the people were quiet and the stones cried out, do you think the stones would have been louder than the people?
• How do you think the Pharisees would have felt if the stones started crying out?
• Were the people right in praising Jesus?
• Was it appropriate to do so loudly?
• What are some times you can think of that it is good to praise God in a loud voice?
• Do you enjoy times like those?