Jesus Dies

I haven't posted the last few stories, as we've considered trying to publish some of them.  But this one was/is a struggle.  Talking about death with kids is never easy and though this story has a happy ending in awhile, we have to talk about the sad, scary part of being the disciples in the midst of death.  It hit closer to home than I expected. I thought as we passed the 1-year anniversary of Jaime's death, it would get easier.  You know what?  It didn't.  The expectation coupled with the reality of not feeling better actually has made the past week tougher than the anniversary itself...and here I'm talking about the pain of a friend dying from the disciples' perspective, and I need your help, I think.  Am I missing `anything that should be said?  Do I need to say less about the pain or shorten the story?  

Jesus Dies (Drawn from Spark bible pp. 474-481)

Narrator:  Do you remember what was happening to Jesus last week?  That’s right!  We snuck up to listen to people talk with Peter while he said he didn’t know Jesus—and Jesus had been taken away by the soldiers.  We’re still disciples this week, and we’re listening to hear more about what’s happening to Jesus!  It looks like he’s in some sort of court room—and there’s the judge!

Pilate:  Are you king of the Jews, Jesus?

Narrator:  What does that even mean?  The jews have no king—they’re not a country! I don’t understand what they are asking him about!  And Jesus is saying nothing!

Pilate:  There are some people who don’t like you very much, Jesus.  They want me to kill you, but I can’t find any good reason to do it.  I don’t want anything to do with this, and I don’t want any trouble—Here, people!  Priests!  Take him.

Narrator: Well, it looks like the judge won’t say Jesus should be killed, but he’s not stopping them, either!  They’re going to kill Jesus!  I’m so shocked and sad.  Are you sad?  I don’t want Jesus to die!  Look!  They’re taking his robes and making him walk with a big heavy cross. They put a circle of thorns on his head—ouch!  That would really hurt!  He’s so tired and sad—I don’t know if he can carry it all by himself.  They’re making him walk down the street with that heavy cross.  Let’s follow him. Oh! He fell down!  His knees are scraped, and his head is bruised. 

Wait—listen!  The soldiers just asked a man named Simon to carry the cross for Jesus! It’s very heavy, but he is not complaining—he is helping Jesus to the hill. He made it.

But that’s only the beginning.  Look!  (take out a red marker and start marking on each of the kids’ hands) They’re putting nails into his hands, and one into his feet! They are hanging him on that cross, between thieves and murderers—what did Jesus do to end up dying between thieves and murderers?  I can’t believe this!  It’s so very horrible!

People are still angry—they’re shouting at Jesus that if he’s such a powerful king, he should save himself.  I don’t understand why he won’t save himself! They’re spitting on him—I can’t believe how sad and horrible this is!

What an amazing thing!  The man next to him on a cross said to the others to stop spitting—that he knows Jesus is God’s son! He said that Jesus shouldn’t be here, and asked Jesus to take him to heaven when they die.

Jesus: Today, we will be in heaven together

(turn off the lights)

Narrator:  It’s so dark!  There’s a rain storm coming!  I’m scared.  Listen—I think I hear Jesus:

Jesus:  God, please forgive them because they don’t understand what they are doing.  (pause) God, the work you gave me to do here is finished. (loud, long, slow breath).

Narrator:  I—I think Jesus died.  Jesus forgave us for everything we had done, and he died.  I am so sad.  But I know the end of the story—do you?  Jesus doesn’t stay dead because he was sent to save us, and God will raise him up and then take him to Heaven!  He died for our sins, but God raises him to new life!