LISTEN TO COME AND SEE! CHAPTER 19 – WHO TURNED OUT THE LIGHTS?
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Welcome to this special Easter edition of Redeeming the Chaos with Laurie Christine!
A FAMILY DEVOTIONAL FOR EASTER
For 30 days leading up to Easter, I will be reading to you from my easter devotional book, Come and See! 30 Family Bible Stories for Easter.
Today, I am reading Come and See! Chapter 19 – WHO TURNED OUT THE LIGHTS?
Come and See! invites families of elementary-aged children to experience firsthand the anticipation, the sorrow, the tragedy, the fear, and the ultimate triumph of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Through the eyes of six eye witnesses, you will be led on a journey through the busyness of the streets of Jerusalem, to the despair of Golgotha, and finally to the celebration of the empty grave.
This bookincludes 30 short devotional stories, each with accompanying Scripture references and questions for discussion and imagination.
We are going to be reading one story each day leading up to Easter. You’re welcome to grab the kids and listen together for your family Bible time. Or, if you would rather read to your kids on your own, you can DOWNLOAD A FREE COPY OF THE ENTIRE EBOOK HERE.
LISTEN TO COME AND SEE! CHAPTER 19 – WHO TURNED OUT THE LIGHTS?
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READ COME AND SEE! CHAPTER 19 – WHO TURNED OUT THE LIGHTS?
WHO TURNED OUT THE LIGHTS? – Told by Nicodemus, a Pharisee
“As I watched the warm blood pouring from the innocent animals, I couldn’t help but think about Jesus, hanging on the cross this very moment, shedding his own blood.”
NICODEMUS, A PHARISEE
Around noon that Friday, I was walking through the courtyard of the temple, carrying a stack of gold bowls that would be used to catch the blood of the sacrificial lambs. Suddenly, I could no longer see my shadow on the marble floor in front of me, despite the bright sunshine that had just been shining overhead. I looked up to see if maybe a cloud was covering the sun, or if perhaps a storm was rolling in. But no. What I saw when I looked up made my hands shake, and I nearly dropped the stack of bowls. There were no clouds in the sky, yet I could barely see the sun at all. It was as if someone had draped a dark curtain over the earth, blocking the rays of light from entering our world. The air suddenly felt chilly. I shuddered. What could this strange phenomenon mean? I asked myself. Was this darkness somehow connected with Jesus’ crucifixion that was taking place this very moment?
I continued with my duties until later that afternoon. We had lit lamps throughout the temple grounds, trying to continue our work, despite the mysterious darkness that had pervaded our city. At three o’clock, it was time for the sacrifices of the Passover lambs to begin. Thousands of men were lining up in the courtyard of the temple, bringing lambs with them to be slaughtered.
As each family killed their lamb in the courtyard, a priest would catch the blood from the lamb in a basin. This basin was then passed down a long line of priests, right up to the altar, where it would be poured out as an offering to God. As each man killed his lamb, he would be reminded that this animal was dying in his place, in the same way that the original Passover lambs had died to save the firstborn children of Israel.
My friend Joseph and I watched as men began to slit the throats of their lambs, born for the very purpose of being sacrificed on this day. As I watched the warm blood pouring from the innocent animals, I couldn’t help but think about Jesus, hanging on the cross this very moment, shedding his own blood. Was he still alive? Had they broken his legs? Had his suffering ended?
WANT TO GO DEEPER?
DOWNLOAD FAMILY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS AND SCRIPTURE PASSAGES HERE.
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