LISTEN TO COME AND SEE! CHAPTER 20 – WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?
[powerpress]
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 20 – WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?
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 20 – WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?
[powerpress]
READ COME AND SEE! CHAPTER 20 – WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?
WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? – Told by John, A Disciple of Jesus
I clenched my fists in fury. How dare they talk to him this way! Do they have no respect for him at all? But I must admit, I did have questions and doubts of my own.
JOHN, DISCIPLE OF JESUS
As is common with Roman crucifixions, two other criminals had been condemned to die alongside Jesus. I hated that my Lord had to be identified with these two scoundrels as if he had committed a crime or something.
One of the criminals hanging on the cross beside Jesus began to mock him. “Who do you think you are? Somebody special, I guess? You think you’re actually a king?”
Even the Roman guards joined in with the ranting: “Come on, Jesus, if you’re really the Messiah, why don’t you save yourself? Prove to us who you are!”
I clenched my fists in fury. How dare they talk to him this way! Do they have no respect for him at all?But I must admit, I did have questions and doubts of my own. I had seen Jesus perform many miraculous signs. I believed that he was the Messiah, the Son of God. I knew he had the power to heal the sick, control the weather, and even bring the dead back to life! So why was he hanging here on this cross? Why did he allow the Roman soldiers and Jewish leaders to arrest him without a struggle? If Jesus was truly the Messiah, how was he going to save us if he was dead?
As the rude chanting continued, the second criminal called out to the first. “Hey, don’t you fear God at all? You and I are dying here because of crimes we committed against the State of Rome. We deserve the punishment we are getting. But this man…” — he nodded toward Jesus — “has done nothing wrong. He is innocent.”
Laughter and curses erupted from the guards as they picked up clumps of dirt and hurled them at the second thief. Turning his head to avoid dirt in his eyes, the man looked at Jesus. “Lord, please…” His voice was desperate as he struggled to catch his breath. “Please remember me when you enter into your Kingdom.”
Jesus’ response to the man was one I will never forget. I almost expected him to say something like, “Oh, I’m sorry, it’s too late for you…” or, “After what you’ve done, you don’t really deserve to be part of my Kingdom.” But no. Jesus looked at the thief, a wicked man who deserved every minute of his punishment, and said to him:
“I promise you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
* * *
The darkness of the afternoon seemed to drag on forever. It was as if the sun itself was mourning the death of its Creator. It was agonizing, sitting there, waiting for Jesus to die. Around three o’clock, Jesus called out in a strained and tired voice, “My God! My God! Why have you abandoned me?”
His face contorted in pain as he desperately searched the dark sky for any sign that God was still with him. A cold chill ran up my spine, and I shivered. Had God really abandoned his Son? It didn’t make any sense to me at all.
Suddenly, Jesus let out another loud cry. “It is finished!” he shouted. I looked up to see Jesus’ head falling down onto his chest, exhaling for the last time. It was finished. It was over. Jesus was dead. I felt like someone had sucked every last ounce of hope and life out of my soul.
WANT TO GO DEEPER?
DOWNLOAD FAMILY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS AND SCRIPTURE PASSAGES HERE.
0 Comments