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Peter had a hard time believing that Jesus was going to die. One time, after Jesus predicted His death, Peter called out Jesus and said, “This will never happen, Lord!” But as much as Peter didn’t want it to happen, it had to happen. Jesus had to die to pay for our sin. It was for this very reason that He came to Earth: to live the perfect life that you could not live, and to die the death under the wrath of God that you deserve to die. He did this for you, for Peter, for everyone.
Jesus was beaten and whipped ruthlessly by Roman soldiers who were experts at torturing people. After Jesus was torn apart, He was forced to wear a crown of thorns and carry a wooden cross to His place of execution. Once He reached Golgotha, He was nailed to a cross. Not only did He suffer from excruciating physical pain from being on the cross, but also the emotional and spiritual pain of being separated from His Father. He was all alone and abandoned. He cried to God, “Why have you forsaken me?” Jesus said those words so that those who trust in Him would never have to. 
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Scripture from Mark 8:31-33 (NIV) 31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” |
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Look at the nail and crown of thorns and imagine how they feel.
Are they sharp? Do they hurt? Reflect on the pain of the cross. Think about how abandoned Jesus felt and how He bore God’s wrath for you. This was the kind of separation from God that you deserve because of your sin. As you reflect, find yourself being grateful and thankful that despite your sinfulness, Jesus died for you. |
Reflection for Kids
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