Jesus had many friends. There were also people who hated him. A few of the religious leaders did. They were angry at what he said about God. They believed they were the experts in telling people how to live as God wanted. Yet Jesus told people the wrong they did was forgiven.

They had a plan. Many of Jesus’ own people, the Jews, wanted him to lead an army of his followers against the Romans. Jewish rebels had done so before. If they could get the Roman governor to believe Jesus was that sort of rebel, he would be sentenced to death.

On Thursday night after the special meal, one of Jesus’ friends, Judas, told the religious leaders where to find Jesus. They came and took him. They told lies about him to the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate.

He was sentenced to be nailed to a cross of wood and left to die, crucified.

The Roman soldiers who were ordered to kill him made fun of him first. They made a crown of thorns for his head. Jesus didn’t fight back. Later, as he hung dying on the cross, he asked God to forgive those who were killing him.

Bible Verse: Matthew 27:27-31

The governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the palace, which was called the Praetorium. All the rest of the soldiers gathered around him. They took off his clothes and put a purple robe on him. Then they twisted thorns together to make a crown. They placed it on his head. They put a stick in his right hand. Then they fell on their knees in front of him and made fun of him. “We honour you, king of the Jews!” they said. They spit on him. They hit him on the head with the stick again and again. After they had made fun of him, they took off the robe. They put his own clothes back on him. Then they led him away to nail him to a cross.

Something to think about: Jesus’ death seemed very unfair. I wonder if something has happened to you that seemed unfair.

Prayer: Thank you, God, for sending Jesus. And thank you Jesus, for obeying your Father, God. Your love for Him is what nailed you to a cross – and your love for us is what kept you there. Help us to love you and love others like you do. Amen

Cross

Because Jeus was crucified (nailed to a cross) on Good Friday, Christians often make a cross on Good Friday to remember how much Jesus suffered because of his love for us.