March 2024 Lesson 1: "The Sun Stops Shining"

     Welcome to the first of three March Learning Together lessons. As always, you and your whole family are invited to listen and read and create and pray around one particular story.
     This month’s story is called “The Sun Stops Shining” and is found on pages 302-309 of The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones. (This book can be ordered online, or a free copy can be found at our church.)
     Children: It is time to listen to the new story being orally read to you. The story is a sad one but remember that all turns out well for everyone in the end! It is the reason that Jesus was born into this world. It is all part of God’s plan and the Big Rescue.
     Many people in the world such as ourselves use a calendar that starts counting on the year of the birth of Jesus, which is called year 1. (This is because His birth was such an important event.) At that time, the Romans were a large group of people living in Italy who came to rule very large parts of Europe, the near East (where Jesus lived), and North Africa. The Romans, who ran the government, did not believe that Jesus was the Son of God, and they treated people (early Christians) who did believe with incredible cruelty, as our story describes.
     Adults: The Biblical reference for our Crucifixion story is Matthew 27, Mark 15, and John 19.
     Crucifixion was not only one of the most disgraceful and painful forms of death, but it was also one of the most dreaded methods of execution in the ancient world. Accounts of crucifixions are recorded among early civilizations, most likely originating with the Persians, and then spreading to the Assyrians, Scythians, Carthaginians, Germans, Celts, and Britons. Crucifixion as a type of capital punishment was primarily reserved for traitors, captive armies, slaves, and the worst of criminals. Crucifying criminals became common under the rule of Alexander the Great (356-323 BC).
     In the Bible story of the Crucifixion of Jesus, the Jewish high council accused Jesus of blasphemy and decided to put him to death, but first, they needed Rome to sanction their death sentence. Jesus was taken to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, who found him innocent. Pilate had Jesus flogged and then sent to Herod, the Roman Jewish client King of Judea, who sent Him back.
     The Jewish high council demanded that Jesus be crucified, so Pilate, fearing the Jews, turned Jesus over to one of his centurions to carry out the death sentence. Jesus was publicly beaten, mocked, and spit on. A crown of thorns was placed on His head. He was stripped of His clothes and led to Golgotha.
     A mixture of vinegar, gall, and  myrrhwas offered to him, but Jesus refused it. Stakes were driven through Jesus' wrists and ankles, fastening him to the cross where he was crucified between two convicted criminals. The inscription above his head read, "The King of Jews.”
     Jesus Christ, the central figure of Christianity, died on a Roman cross. Christian theology teaches that Christ's death provided the perfect atoning sacrifice for the sins of all humankind, thus making the crucifix, or cross,one of the defining symbols of Christianity.
~This Week’s Prayer: I give unending thanks for Jesus’ once-for-all sacrifice. Amen
     There will be two more online lessons in the next two weeks about the story of the death of Jesus. Sunday School will meet on the fourth Sunday of this month, March 24th, for story reading, a discussion, and a fun craft. Treats will be provided! All are welcome.
 Enjoy the beautiful weather,
Margo Greer