The Gospel Project Family Devotion-Week of 4/20-4/26

Volume 7 Adult/Kids Connections (SPR 2014) 

Unit 20, Session 2: Jesus’ Crucifixion and Resurrection 
Matthew 26:36–28:10; John 18:1–20:18 

Christ Connection: The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus is the center of the gospel. We deserve to die because of our sin, but Jesus died in our place. He was the blood sacrifice made once and for all for the forgiveness of sin. God was pleased with Jesus’ sacrifice and raised Jesus from the dead to reign as King over all creation. We are forgiven only through Jesus. (Acts 4:12) 

Adult Connection Point: 
The ultimate point of the story about Moses striking the rock was to anticipate Jesus—the struck Rock, the Savior by whose death the living water of eternal life has been abundantly provided. Surely those of us who have come to Jesus are now called to point others to Him. 

“Had the Lord remained on His throne in glory, He would never have been our Savior. That exalted head could not save apart from the pierced throne-crowned brow. That hand that held the scepter and that holds the seven stars could never save us were it not nailed to the Cross. And that glorious body, clothed in the clouds of heaven, the shekinah glory of God could never have been our Savior had it not been submitted to the ignominious shame of being naked and broken and nailed to the tree. We are saved by the smitten rock. We are saved by the sufferings of the Son of God.”  
–W. A. Criswell (1909-2002) [W. A. Criswell, “And That Rock Was Christ,” W. A. 
Criswell Sermon Library [online], 23 October 1955 [cited 16 May 2013]. Available from 
the Internet: www.wacriswell.com.] 

Family Devotion: 

Materials: paper, pencil, basket or bowl 

Direct your family to pray silently asking God to reveal a sin in each one’s life. Family members should then print this sin on a piece of paper, fold it and place it in a basket. (Preschoolers could whisper this in a parent’s ear, and the parent could print.) Keep these in the bowl until the end of the devotional. 

Recall the death and resurrection of Jesus by asking your children to remember parts of the story. Ask, “Why did Jesus have to die on the cross?” Challenge your kids to think of several reasons. Some answers could be: Because God loves us. So our sins can be forgiven. So we can have a relationship with God. So we can have eternal life. 

Remind your kids that God’s plan was coming to pass. He planned to bring us back into relationship with Him after the fall of Adam and Eve. After all these years, king after king, sacrifice after sacrifice, only Jesus’ death and resurrection could satisfy God’s dealing with sin and death. 

Read Matthew 28:5-6. Ask, “What is the good news of this Bible story?” The good news is that Jesus died and then rose from the dead! He now rules as King over all creation. 

Lead your family in a time of prayer, asking for forgiveness for each of the sins written down earlier. Thank God for sending Jesus to die for your sins so you can have a relationship with Him.