Easter Talk Part 2 - Garden to Cross

EASTER TALK - PART 2 JESUS’ FINAL DAY – Props: Artificial plants to have a “Garden” area Logs and tissue paper to have a campfire Cross for final section Last week we put ourselves into the story of Jesus’ final days and celebrated the special meal called the Passover with Jesus and his 12 disciples. At the end of that meal, Jesus and his 12 friends left Jerusalem and walked through the Kidron Valley and into the Garden of Gethsemane. Tonight, the story continues. I want to divide us into 3 teams – the Garden team, the courtyard team, and the cross team. Our story will begin in the Garden, then move to the Courtyard where Jesus is tried, and finally to the hill where Jesus dies. Together, we’re going to piece together what happens next, and I am going to ask us to read from the Bible, but to save us a bit of time, the passages are on these pieces of paper. Each team will read out loud their part of the story in order, beginning with the Garden Team. Please read out loud just one section from the pages and then pass the paper on to someone else on your team, and we’ll stop 3 times to be sure we know what’s going on. Garden Team: Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." While he was still speaking, Judas arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs. Now Judas had arranged a signal: "The one I kiss is the man; arrest him." Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed him. Jesus replied, "Friend, do what you came for." Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. One of Jesus' companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. "Put your sword back in its place," Jesus said to him, Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once send more than twelve thousand angels? But how then would God’s word be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?" Then the soldiers with its commander and the officials arrested Jesus. They bound him and brought him to the high priest. COURTYARD TEAM: Peter followed at a distance. But when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, "This man was with him." But he denied it. "I don't know him," he said. A little later someone else saw him and said, "You also are one of them." "Man, I am not!" Peter replied. About an hour later another said, "This fellow was with him, for he is from Galilea too." Peter replied, "Man, I don't know what you're talking about!" Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly. Pilate called together the leaders and the people, and said to them, "You brought me this man saying he was starting a rebellion. I have examined him and have found he has done nothing that deserves death. Therefore, I will punish him and then release him. " But they kept shouting, "Crucify him! Crucify him!" CROSS TEAM: Then Pilate took Jesus and had him whipped. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They put a robe on him that was purple, the color of kings. They went up to him over and over, saying, "Hail, king of the Jews!" And they hit him in the face. Finally Pilate handed him over to the soldiers to be crucified. So they took charge of Jesus. They made Jesus carry his own cross, and took him out to the place called the Skull. Then they nailed his hands and feet to the cross. Pilate had a message fastened to the cross. It read: This is Jesus of Nazareth, the king of the Jews. After much suffering, Jesus cried out in a loud voice and died. At that moment the heavy curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. When the Roman centurion in charge saw the earthquake and all that had happened, he was terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son of God!" As evening approached, a rich man named Joseph who had become a disciple of Jesus, went to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took Jesus’ body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in a new tomb cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. Several women who followed Jesus watched them busy Jesus and planned on coming back to care for Jesus’ body. And that is where we're going to stop for now. All of Jesus' friends felt so deeply sad, just like we feel right now. They all knew - when someone died, they stayed dead. (how to end? I urged the children to be sure to go to church on Easter to learn how God proved he was stronger than death. If you have lots of unchurched kids, I'd urge you to have another spot, away from your props, ready to tell the resurrection story)