March 2024-Lesson 3: "The Sun Stops Shining"

     Welcome to the last of three lessons for the month of March about Jesus’ crucifixion.  Glad to have you along!
     Our story, “The Sun Stops Shining,” comes to us from The Jesus Storybook Bible, written by Sally Lloyd-Jones, and can be located on pages 302-309.
     Children: Reread the story out loud or silently. You could also choose to read the story to someone else in your family.
     Before we get to the good news that I promised, I would like to ask a few questions and make a couple of comments to get us all to think (ponder) a bit deeper about Jesus and His crucifixion:
           * If you were the only person alive, Jesus would have still died
for you!  
           * How does that make you feel, knowing an innocent person was
willing to die for your sins?
           * How does it make you want to respond? To live your life
differently?
     And now, after all of Jesus’ suffering, we are ready to hear the GREAT NEWS! After the crucifixion on Good Friday, He was laid to rest in a tomb and a huge stone was rolled in front of the opening. The following Sunday, the stone had mysteriously been rolled away and the body of Jesus was no longer in the tomb, but an angel was waiting there to explain that Jesus wasn’t dead anymore. He was alive again! He had conquered death for the sake of our sins, as He said He would! And that is the sweet joy of celebrating Easter.
     Questions or comments? Respond on this blog to Pastor Steve and he will enjoy a discussion with you.
     Adults: The Biblical references for the Crucifixion story are Matthew 27, Mark 15, and John 19.
     Here are some thoughts for my grown-up readers to ponder as this particular story ends:
           * By trying so hard to prevent any kind of fraudulent later claims  
              that Jesus was resurrected, His enemies did us the great favor of
            providing powerful evidence. In truth, the fact that Jesus was killed
            is as certain as any event recorded in history. 
         * Have you ever wondered if any of the Roman soldiers, Jewish
            leaders, or people in the crowd chanting for Jesus’ crucifixion were
            among those who saw Him in His resurrected form? Here’s one thing
            we do know, based on everything Jesus taught: If their paths did
            cross, Jesus offered them His unending forgiveness and grace. That,
            my friends, is the Good News! We can do nothing to separate
            ourselves from God — except choose to turn our backs on Him.
         * The deeper meaning for Christians is that Jesus Christ's crucifixion
            does not represent pain and suffering. Rather, because it was part of
            a divine plan to save humanity, Jesus' crucifixion represents    
            salvation and His miraculous resurrection. Christians believe that   
            through Jesus' death and resurrection, people are reunited with God
            and receive new joy and power in this life as well as eternal life
 
     If you wish to ask any questions or make any comments, please use this blog to online chat with Pastor Steve.
 
~This Week’s Prayer: I thank God for His gift of salvation and eternal life with Him. Amen
      This week, Sunday School will meet for this story’s reading, discussion, and a fun craft at 11 am after church services. Snacks will be available. I hope to see you!
Have a blessed Easter,
Margo Greer