First Thoughts: This is the most difficult observance in the liturgical life of the church, and the reason we've been preparing for the past six weeks of Lent. It's time for us now to push past our fear and discomfort and do what most of the disciples couldn't do -- walk with Jesus to the cross. Although we are remembering a historical event, we're also recreating it in our worship together. Because the crucifixion isn't just something that happened one time to one person, it's an integral part of any ongoing spiritual walk. Each of us comes to a point where we're challenged to let go of our old life -- old expectations and plans, maybe even old relationships. We submit ourselves to the death of what has been, trusting that something new will grow in its place. This is the work we've been doing in Lent, discerning what needs to fall away and how we will submit ourselves in faith to the new life God is working in us. As you observe Jesus on the cross today, imagine putting those old life patterns on the cross as well. Feel free to mourn them and bless them and allow them to die. Remember, every seed that falls to the ground becomes growth for new life.
Teaching On Your Own: Hey everybody, it's nice to see you. But I have a question for you: Does anyone know why we're here on a Friday? We're here today to observe Good Friday. Does anybody know what makes it "good"? This is the day we remember that Jesus was crucified on a cross. But wait a minute. That doesn't sound very good, does it? It actually sounds pretty bad, and scary and sad. But we call it Good Friday because we know that when Jesus died on the cross he was making room for new life for each of us. Kind of like a few years ago when my dog died. Have any of you lost a pet you loved? It's hard, isn't it? He was my best friend, and I was so sad. But then we got a new puppy. He's not the same as my old dog, but he's fun in a different way. And that's what Good Friday teaches us. In life things are always changing, and sometimes that change can be really sad -- like when we have to let go of someone or something we love.
The disciples were sad when Jesus was killed, because he was their friend and they loved him. But the reason this is Good Friday is because it reminds us that even when things come to an end and we feel sad about it, God is bringing something new into our lives. A new story is being written. So when my dog died, the new beginning was the puppy. But what do you think is the new beginning when Jesus died? That's the story of Easter morning, but we have to wait two days before we get to that. When you're feeling sad two days can seem like a very long time, right? But that's the way things work. You can't just skip over the hard parts in life. The Bible also tells us that there's a time for every purpose in life -- a time to be born, a time to die, a time to laugh, and a time to cry. Now is the time to cry. I guess we can be grateful that we know the crying isn't going to last forever. As the psalm tells us: Weeping lasts through the night, but joy comes in the morning!
Teaching As A Team:
Leader 1: Hey (name), nice to see you.
Leader 2: Yeah, you too. But I'm a little confused. Why are we here on a Friday?
Leader 1: We're here today to observe Good Friday.
Leader 2: "Good Friday"? But what makes it good?
Leader 1: This is the day we remember that Jesus was crucified on a cross.
Leader 2: But that doesn't sound very good to me. Actually it seems pretty bad -- scary and sad.
Leader 1: You're right, it is scary and sad. But we call it Good Friday because we know that when Jesus died on the cross he was making room for new life to come in.
Leader 2: Kind of like when my dog died a few years ago. He was my best friend, and I was so sad. But then we got a new puppy. He's not the same as my old dog, but he's fun in a different way.
Leader 1: Exactly. The truth about life is that things are always changing, and sometimes that change can be really sad -- like when we have to let go of someone or something we love. The disciples were sad when Jesus was killed, because he was their friend and they loved him. But the reason this is Good Friday is because it reminds us that even when things come to an end and we feel sad about it, God is bringing something new into our lives. A new story is being written.
Leader 2: When my dog died, the new beginning was the puppy. But what's the new beginning when Jesus died?
Leader 1: That's the story of Easter morning, but we have to wait two days before we get to that.
Leader 2: Two days? Why do we have to wait so long?
Leader 1: Because that's the way things work. You didn't go straight from the death of your old dog to getting a puppy, right? That's because you can't just skip the hard parts in life. The Bible also tells us that there's a time for every purpose in life -- a time to be born, a time to die, a time to laugh, and a time to cry. Now is the time to cry.
Leader 2: I guess we can be grateful that we know the crying isn't going to last forever.
Leader 1: That's right. As the psalm tells us: Weeping lasts through the night, but joy comes in the morning!
Closing Prayer: Loving God, help us in our time of sorrow as we remember Jesus' death on the cross and the losses in our own lives. Even as we cry we ask you to fill us with hope, so our crying will end and new life is on the way. Prepare our hearts to receive the new story you're writing for us right now. In Christ's name we pray, Amen.
Follow-Up Lesson: To reinforce this message in a home or classroom environment, take your students through a timetable of events, beginning with Jesus' betrayal and completing with his burial. Following today's scripture you can include Judas' betrayal, the trial before the priests, Peter's denial, Pilate's judgment, Jesus' crucifixion and his words to his mother, and the burial. Describe each event on its own and give your students a chance to ask any questions or share any thoughts they have. Particularly encourage them to explore their feelings, helping them to engage the scripture in a personal way.
For a craft idea provide each student with a piece of sticky-backed foam cut out in the shape of a cross. Remove the backing to reveal the sticky part and cover that with aluminum foil, keeping the surface as smooth as possible. (If you have small children, you might want to complete this process in advance.) Give each child a ball point pen or pencil and invite them to emboss a picture or words on the cross. They will need to press down hard enough to make an impression on the foam below, but not so hard that they break through the foil. If they want to write words, you could suggest, "Joy comes in the morning" or "New things are coming" or something else that captures the hope within the crucifixion. When everyone is done decorating their crosses, invite them to share with each other what they came up with. The cross reminds us of Jesus' death, and yet decorating the cross in this way reminds us that even in death there is hope and beauty. Close with prayer.
