Luke 23–24:12
The cross and the empty tomb
Ages 8 to 11
The account
Jesus was brought before Pilate, the Roman governor. People accused him, but Pilate said he found no fault in him. Jesus was also sent to Herod, who sent him back. Even though Pilate wanted to release Jesus, the crowd called for Barabbas to be released and for Jesus to be crucified. Pilate finally gave Jesus over as they asked.
Jesus was led away. Simon of Cyrene was made to carry the cross behind him. At the place called Calvary, Jesus was crucified between two criminals. Jesus prayed for forgiveness for those responsible. One of the criminals asked Jesus to remember him, and Jesus told him he would be with him in paradise.
Darkness covered the land for about three hours. The veil of the temple was torn in two. Jesus cried to his Father and died. A Roman centurion praised God and said Jesus was a righteous man.
Joseph of Arimathaea asked Pilate for Jesus' body. He wrapped it in linen and laid it in a new tomb. Women who had followed Jesus saw where he was laid.
On the first day of the week, the women came with spices. The stone was rolled away, and Jesus' body was gone. Two men in shining garments told them that he had risen. The women told the apostles. Peter ran to the tomb, saw the linen clothes, and went away wondering what had happened.
Memory verse
He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,
Luke 24:6
Talk about it
- What did Pilate say about the accusations against Jesus?
- Who asked Pilate for Jesus' body and placed it in a tomb?
- What did the women find when they came to the tomb on the first day of the week?
Try this
Fold a sheet of paper in half. On one side, draw the tomb when Jesus was laid there; on the other, draw the tomb as the women found it, then write three details from the account beside your pictures.
What can we learn?
We can learn that the hardest part of an account is not always the end of it. Luke moves from Jesus' death and burial to the news that he had risen.
Ages 12 to 15
The account
Jesus was brought before Pilate, the Roman governor, and accused of misleading the nation and claiming kingship. Pilate questioned him and said he found no fault in him. When Pilate learned that Jesus was from Galilee, he sent him to Herod, who was in Jerusalem at the time. Herod questioned Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. After Herod and his soldiers treated Jesus with contempt and mocked him, Herod sent him back to Pilate.
Pilate again said he found no cause for death in Jesus and wanted to release him. The people instead called for Barabbas, a man imprisoned for rebellion and murder, to be released. They demanded that Jesus be crucified. Pilate spoke to them again, but their voices prevailed, and he gave the sentence they demanded.
As Jesus was led away, Simon of Cyrene was made to carry the cross behind him. A large group followed, including women who mourned. Jesus spoke to the women and warned them about difficult days ahead. At Calvary, Jesus was crucified between two criminals. Jesus prayed that the Father would forgive those responsible because they did not know what they were doing. Leaders mocked him, soldiers mocked him, and a written title identified him as the King of the Jews. One criminal mocked Jesus, while the other rebuked him, admitted that they deserved their punishment, and asked Jesus to remember him. Jesus answered him with a promise of being with him in paradise.
About the sixth hour, darkness came over the land until the ninth hour. The veil of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called to his Father and died. The centurion who saw what happened glorified God and said Jesus was a righteous man. The crowds who had gathered returned beating their breasts, while Jesus' acquaintances and women from Galilee watched from a distance.
Joseph of Arimathaea, a council member who had not agreed with the council's decision, asked Pilate for Jesus' body. He wrapped it in linen and laid it in a new tomb cut in stone. The women saw the tomb and how the body was laid, then prepared spices and rested on the sabbath.
Early on the first day of the week, the women came to the tomb with the spices. The stone was rolled away, and the body of Jesus was not there. Two men in shining garments told them that Jesus was risen and reminded them that he had said he would be delivered up, crucified, and rise the third day. Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and other women reported these things to the eleven and the others. The apostles did not believe them. Peter ran to the tomb, saw the linen clothes by themselves, and left wondering at what had happened.
Memory verse
He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,
Luke 24:6
Think about it
- Why does Luke record Pilate saying more than once that he found no reason for Jesus to be put to death?
- What does the other criminal's response to Jesus show about how differently people reacted to him at the crucifixion?
- Why was it important that the women saw where Jesus was laid and later returned to the tomb?
- What does the apostles' first refusal to believe the women's report show about the surprise of the resurrection news?
Going deeper
Earlier in Luke, Jesus had told his disciples that he would suffer, be killed and rise again, including in Luke 9:22 and Luke 18:31–33. At the empty tomb, the two men remind the women of what Jesus had already said. The account then leads into the rest of Luke 24, where the risen Jesus appears to his followers and helps them understand how his suffering and resurrection fit the Scriptures.
What can we learn?
People in this account respond in very different ways: some accuse, some mock, some help, some grieve, some report what they have seen, and some doubt. A lesson we can draw is to pay careful attention to evidence and to remember what has already been said when events are confusing.