March 2024-Lesson 2: "The Sun Stops Shining"

     Hi to everyone! I am glad that you can join me for this, March’s second of three online Learning Together lessons.
     Children: This month’s story is called “The Sun Stops Shining” and can be found on pages 302-309 of The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones. To refresh your memory, please listen again to the story being read aloud to you. You could follow along in your own book and check out the book’s excellent pictures (illustrations) or draw your own illustrations as you listen.
     The Bible is divided into sections called “books.” Four of these books, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, include the story of Jesus’ trial, crucifixion, and His resurrection. (The good news resurrection is my next week’s lesson. Remember, I said things would end happily for everyone!)
     Not all four books agree on all the details of what happened that day. When people witness an event or series of events, today or two thousand years ago, not all would remember exactly the same details. All four gospels do agree with the main facts - that Jesus was on trial, was killed, and was laid in a grave on this particular Friday, and all four believe that Jesus rescued everyone in the world by dying on the cross for our sins.
    The church calls the day of Jesus’ death Good (meaning holy) Friday. Events of that day include Jesus’ trial ending about 6 am, His crucifixion began 3 hours later at 9 am, and He died 6 hours after that at 3 pm.
     If you have any questions or comments about this story, please feel free to submit them to Pastor Steve through this blog.
     Adults: The Biblical references for our Crucifixion story are Matthew 27, Mark 15, and John 19.
     The Romans knew that once the victim was finally hanging from the cross, it could take hours for him to die. As Jesus fought off suffocation, He was forced to take the next breath by laboriously pulling Himself up by His wounded hands and feet. “The pain was absolutely unbearable,” observes Dr. Alexander Metherell, PhD. “In fact, it was literally beyond words to describe; they had to invent a new word: excruciating. Literally, excruciating means out of the cross.”
     Adds Myers, “When air was so precious, and each breath so painfully won, Jesus still used that breath to communicate with people who were near. The first sentence, looking down at the Roman soldiers throwing dice for His garment, is ‘Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.’ In my mind, this is one of the most remarkable statements in all of Scripture.”
     Jewish law prohibited a crucified person from hanging on the cross during Sabbath, which is Saturday for them. So to hurry the process, Roman soldiers could decide to break the leg bones of the victim. The Bible tells us that the legs of the two thieves crucified with Christ were broken, but the soldiers did not need to break Jesus’ legs because they observed that He was already dead (John 19:32-33). Scripture tells us that it took Jesus six hours to die after being put on the cross.
     Pilate demanded certification of Jesus’ death before allowing His body to be removed from the cross. Only after four Roman executioners certified that Jesus was indeed dead, did Pilate give the order for His body to be removed. The executioners felt certain that Jesus was dead because when a great spear was thrust into Jesus’ side, both blood and water flowed out (John 19:34). Had Jesus been alive when the spear entered His body, strong spouts of blood would have emerged with every beat of His heart.
     As with the children, please feel free to ask questions or make comments to Pastor Steve on this blog. He would welcome them!
~This Week’s Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for suffering and dying on the cross for my sins. Amen
     Join me next week for the third and final on-line lesson about “The Sun Stops Shining.” Sunday School will meet on the fourth Sunday of this month, March 24, for story reading, a discussion, and a fun craft. Treats will be provided. All are welcome!
Have a great week,
Margo Greer