YEA Lesson Library
Who Will You Choose?
About This Lesson
This lesson describes the crucifixion of Jesus, who was without sin, so that anyone who believes in Him and turns from their sin can receive the gift of eternal life.
Scriptures
Joshua 24:15-16
Matthew 26:32-53
Matthew 27:26-61
Mark 15:1-47
Luke 23:1-56
John 18:28-40
John 19:1-:38
Ephesians 2:8
Words to Know
SANHEDRIN - the high court of the Jews
CYRENE - an important city in Libya in North Africa
SNEERED - to smile or laugh in a manner that means scorn
EXCRUCIATING - intense suffering; tormented
GRACE - God’s unmerited favor and love
The Lesson
Early in the morning the noisy crowd gathered in Jerusalem to watch the executions. The mob shouted louder and louder, “Crucify him! Crucify him! Crucify him!” They wanted blood. And they wanted it to be the blood of Jesus Christ, an innocent man.
Pilate, the Roman Governor, would have no more of it. So he washed his hands symbolically saying that he was not going to be responsible for Jesus’ death. “‘I am innocent of this man’s blood,’ he said, ‘It is your responsibility!’”
The mob shouted back, “Let his blood be on us and on our children!” What a chilling response from a bloodthirsty crowd!
It was a Passover season custom to spare a life and let one man go free. The mob chose Barabbas, a common criminal, and he was set free. Pilate sent Jesus to be flogged, and handed him over to the Roman Soldiers to be crucified. Flogging was so brutal that the victim sometimes died before they were crucified.
They stripped Jesus of His clothes and put a scarlet robe on Him. They made a crown from thorns, a prickly plant, and put it on His head. Then they placed a scepter in His hand and bowed down to Him and mocked Him. “Hail, King of the Jews” they yelled. This wasn’t humiliating enough, they thought. So they spat on Him. They took a stick and beat Him on the head.
They still weren’t satisfied. So they removed the robe that was put on Him. They put His own clothes back on Him before heading out to Golgotha which means, The Place of the Skull. On the way they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and forced him to carry the stake on which Jesus was to be crucified. Simon was probably a Jew who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover.
Two other criminals were led out to be crucified with Jesus – one on the right side and the other on the left. The three of them were nailed to their stakes to die. The mob must have looked upon this as a spectator sport. They came to watch, and the religious rulers sneered. The soldiers divided up Jesus’ clothes by casting lots. As Jesus hung on the stake in agony He said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
“He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One” they yelled. ‘If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.’”
Sometime in your life you’ve had someone make fun of you. Was it a maddening experience? But what if you were being executed to pay for the crime they had done. How would you feel? This is what Jesus was doing. The Roman soldiers, the mob, and religious leaders pulled out all stops to make Jesus’ dying the worst. They found every hurtful and humiliating thing they could do to Him. Then they placed a sign above Him. It said “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
At noon the earth became dark as night. About three o’clock in the afternoon, Jesus shouted “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani,” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Can you think of a more forsaken feeling than having your own father turn his back on you? But Jesus had to experience this. Why? Because our Savior had to suffer the full penalty for our sins – the penalty that you and I deserve.
Someone ran and dipped a sponge in vinegar, put it on a stick and held it up for Jesus to drink. When He tasted it, He wouldn’t drink it. Jesus cried out one more time and died. At that moment the curtain in the Temple split from top to bottom, and an earthquake shook the ground.
How did you feel when the crowd chose Barabbas, a common criminal to be set free instead of Jesus? How did you feel when you read about what the Roman soldiers and the religious leaders did to Jesus, a sinless man? Did it make you angry? Did you ask in your mind, “How dare you do such a thing to a completely innocent Man?”
When Pilot washed his hands, did that make him innocent of Jesus’ death? No, it didn’t. What about you? Just because you weren’t there that day, are you innocent of Jesus’ death? No one who has ever lived is innocent of Jesus’ death.
Jesus lived a perfect life. Yet, He died the most excruciating criminal’s death. Why? He did it because He loves you and me so much. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). All of us have sinned. “The wages of sin is death.” There was only way God could prevent you and me from dying eternal death and never living again. It is by the grace of God. He sacrificed His only Son to shed His blood for our sins. We all deserve the same death that Jesus died. But we don’t have to experience it. God provided a way – a free gift. To receive this gift you must not be like the crowd that chose Barabbas. You must choose Jesus Christ as your Savior, repent of your sins and be baptized. Won’t you accept this free gift of eternal life? Won’t you live a Christian life to show your love for Jesus who paid the supreme sacrifice for you?
Student Prayer
Almighty God and Father,
I am so humbled by what I have just read. Jesus, my Savior lived a perfect life. He willingly submitted Himself to an excruciating death so that I may live forever. Oh Father, help me to show my appreciation daily in the life I live. I accept Jesus as my Savior. Thank you for this wonderful gift.
I thank you in Jesus’ name.
Amen.
Daily Devotions
Sunday: Matthew 27:26-31
Monday: Mark 15:24-38
Tuesday: Matthew 26:32-37
Wednesday: Matthew 26:38-53
Thursday: John 18:28-40
Friday: Joshua 24:15-16
Saturday: John 19:14-24
Objectives
At the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
1. State that the mob chose Barabbas to be set free rather than Jesus.
2. Detail the events of the crucifixion.
3. Explain that Jesus had to suffer in every way to pay the full penalty for our sins.
4. Tell that grace is unmerited love and favor with God.
5. Choose Jesus as their Savior.
Topics & Themes
Baptism
Eternal Life
Forgiveness
God’s Love
Jerusalem
Jesus, Crucifixion of
Jesus, Savior
Jesus, Suffering of
Jesus, Without Sin
Passover
Pilate
Repentance
Materials Needed
Bible, YEA students’ and teacher’s books, attendance and memory verse charts, songbook, CD or music tape, music player, washable ink marker, soap, water, basin, towel, 3 x 5 cards, paper, pencils, award
How to Teach This Lesson
Greet the students warmly as they come in and ask them to go to the table and draw one of the cards without looking at what is on the other side. If you have more than six students, have them partner. If you have fewer than six students, have them draw two cards. Tell the class that today they will get to teach the class. They are to tell everything they know about the person or persons on their card when you call on them. Give them a piece of paper and pencil. Let them know they will have a few minutes to review their lesson and make notes of what this person or persons did or said in today’s lesson. Tell them that the one who tells the best, most accurate story will get a prize. Additional information not included in their books will increase their chances of winning.
You can be the judge as to how much time to give the students to look at their lesson and make notes. If your students are good about reading their lesson before class, they will probably need less time. This lesson, among other things, should help them see the importance of preparing for class.
Now ask for the person who has the card that says “Pilate” on it to tell everything he knows about Pilate – what he said and what he did. Then ask for the person who has “the crowd, or mob” on it to do the same thing. Then ask for the persons who have “the religious leaders,” “the Roman soldiers, Barabbas, and Jesus to do the same thing. Last, but not least, ask the person who has “grace” to tell everything they know about it.
Debrief - Ask: How did you feel when the mob chose Barabbas instead of Jesus? How did you feel when they flogged Jesus? How did you feel when God turned His back on His own Son? Why did He do it? Will you be like the mob and choose Barabbas, or will you choose Jesus? Have the students say with you three times, “I choose Jesus!”
Teacher-Directed Activity
Give each student a washable ink marker. Tell them to turn their back so no one can see what they are writing. They are to write one sin on their hand that they want God to forgive. Then make a very tight fist. They are to form a line and go to the basin with water and wash off that sin with soap. As they wash their hand, pray a prayer silently asking God to “please take this sin that I’ve been hanging on to so tightly and wash it away.” They should now dry their hands and pass the supplies to the next person. This activity is designed to help the students realize that they need to repent of specific sins, rather than just saying “forgive me of my sins.”
REACH Activity
Spotlight Memory Verse
Read the words to, or sing, “Amazing Grace.” How do the words parallel the YEA lesson memory verse? How does God’s unmerited favor and love affect your life? Write your thoughts in your Bible notebook. You do not need to share them. Find three supporting or connecting Scriptures relating to the memory verse.
Why did John Newton write “Amazing Grace”? Find out more about the story behind the words to this song.
Where in the World?
Jesus’ arrest took place in the Garden of Gethsemane, and He was crucified on Golgotha. Research the path that Jesus walked from the garden to Golgotha. Write the information in your Bible notebook and share it with the class or your family.
They Did What Back Then?
Jesus was taken to Golgotha and then crucified. Using your Bible and Bible tools research the history of crucifixion and present the information to the class or your family. In your Bible notebook, write your reactions to this ancient practice.
Making It Mine
Your YEA lesson, the printed prayer, and the activity in your Students’ book are all there to encourage you to make the decision to follow Jesus, to give your life to Him, to accept the free gift of salvation. You may be ready for that step. You may not be ready. If not, what can you do to get ready for that step?
If you are ready, be sure to talk to your parents, your pastor, or your Sabbath school teacher. They will want to make sure you understand what you are doing and that it comes from your entire being. They don’t want you to make that choice just because you think you ought to. If you don’t think you are ready, talk to your parents or Sabbath School teacher about why you don’t think you are ready. They will be very willing to help you develop a plan for learning more about Jesus, what He has done for you, and how to come to repentance.
When you are ready to make a lifelong commitment to Jesus, do it. The Holy Spirit will dwell in your heart and mind, helping you through every decision in life, if you truly allow Jesus to be Lord and Master of your life. It’s the most important choice you will make.
Worldview Collision
A false worldview says that once you are baptized you now must work very hard to become a better person. It is a dangerous trap to believe that you, by your efforts, are ever going to be good enough to gain righteousness.
A biblical worldview rests on the knowledge that Jesus Christ, who began a good work in you, will carry it on to completion (Philippians 1:6). God is creating a new creature in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). So, when you are baptized, your job is to bring every thought captive to Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5) and make Him truly Lord of your life, submitting your will to His (James 4:7).
Song
“Holy and Anointed One” is on page 96 of The Group Songbook.
Closing Prayer
Have the students form a circle and put the palm of their clean hands together. Read John 1:8-9 aloud. Ask for a volunteer to lead in prayer thanking God for the supreme sacrifice Jesus made by submitting to be crucified. Ask for forgiveness for all the sins they have committed. Ask God to keep drawing each student until they choose Jesus as their Savior and are baptized.
Printable Pages
