Video
Even if you don’t have a Memorial password, you can watch the videos with an Amazon Prime account (of for $1.99 if you don’t have Prime). Just follow this link: Whirl Videos. The video for this week is “Tough Love”, season 2, episode 1, beginning at 19:20 into the episode.
Family Prayer
Dear God, thank you for sending your Son, Jesus, to us as a sign of your love. Please help us to remember his suffering and sacrifice. Amen.
Engage the Story
Luke 22:14-23; 23:26-56 Story Bible
Luke 22:14-23; 23:26-56 NRSV
When the hour came, he took his place at the table, and the apostles with him. 15 He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; 16 for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves; 18 for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.[b 21 But see, the one who betrays me is with me, and his hand is on the table. 22 For the Son of Man is going as it has been determined, but woe to that one by whom he is betrayed!” 23 Then they began to ask one another which one of them it could be who would do this.
Chapter 23
26 As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27 A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. 28 But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For the days are surely coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.’ 30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us’; and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ 31 For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
32 Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33 When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. [[34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”]] And they cast lots to divide his clothing. 35 And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah[o] of God, his chosen one!” 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, 37 and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 There was also an inscription over him,[p “This is the King of the Jews.”
39 One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah?[r Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45 while the sun’s light failed;[u and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this, he breathed his last. 47 When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent.” 48 And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts. 49 But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
50 Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph, who, though a member of the council, 51 had not agreed to their plan and action. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea, and he was waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God. 52 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid it in a rock-hewn tomb where no one had ever been laid. 54 It was the day of Preparation, and the sabbath was beginning.[w 55 The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how his body was laid. 56 Then they returned, and prepared spices and ointments.
On the sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
Family Discussion and Activities
Jesus ate his last meal with his disciples during the festival of Passover. Passover is when Jewish people remember God using Moses to rescue the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.
During Jesus’s time on earth, he felt everything we feel, like happiness, worry, love, sadness and suffering.
While death, in this case Jesus’s death, is scary and sad, we have hope because we know that death is not the end!
Family Discussion Questions
- What story were the disciples telling at the beginning of “The Last Supper”?
- How does Jesus ask us to remember him?
- What did Jesus say to the criminals?
- What do we do to remember Jesus in church?
- When you hear something sad, like the story of Jesus death, what gives you hope?
Family Activities
Here are a few ideas from our curriculum that you can use with your kids.
Prayer Places
Talk about all of the different places you and/or your family has prayed. How many can you think of? Find a new place to pray and offer a prayer for all who are suffering, or for healing in your own family.
Forgiveness
As you go through your day, try to think of things you need to be forgiven for. Write them down on slips of paper using water-based non-permanent markers. At the end of the day, fill a cup with grape juice–any dark liquid will work if you don’t have grape juice. Remember that we receive forgiveness through Jesus, and this is one of the main reasons we take Communion. Place the slips in the liquid and know your sins are forgiven as they are washed away. (If you allow the slips to soak, the writing should be harder and harder to see.)
Crown of Thorns Craft
If you are lucky enough to have palms, you can use them, but otherwise, green construction paper palms work just fine. If you don’t have pipe cleaners, you can use any material you want for the center ‘spine’.
Coloring Sheet
Worship Bulletin For Pre-Readers
Worship Bulletin for Readers
