In this lesson, children learn that Jesus was treated unfairly, died on a cross, and was laid in a tomb, and that He loves us even when things look hopeless. This lesson suits children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes.
Big Idea
Jesus was never afraid to be treated badly, because He was doing the hardest and kindest thing: taking the punishment we deserved so we could be forgiven. God is with us even in our saddest days.
Memory Verse
Mark 15:34
At the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is, being interpreted, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
(WEB)
Teach children to hold both hands over their hearts as they say the words slowly, then open their arms wide on the last word, showing that God’s love is bigger than our sadness.
The Story: Mark 15 for Kids
Early one morning, the chief priests and leaders gathered together. They tied Jesus up and took Him to a man named Pilate, who was the governor. Pilate asked Jesus if He was the King of the Jews. Jesus answered simply, “So you say.” Even when people told many false things about Him, Jesus did not argue back. Pilate was amazed at how quiet He stayed.
Every year at the feast, Pilate would set one prisoner free. This year there was a man named Barabbas, who had done terrible things. The crowd shouted for Pilate to free Barabbas instead of Jesus. Pilate asked, “What evil has Jesus done?” But the crowd only kept shouting, “Crucify Him!” So Pilate gave in and let the crowd have what they wanted.
Soldiers took Jesus inside, dressed Him in a purple cloth, and pressed a crown of sharp thorns onto His head. They mocked Him and called out, “Hail, King of the Jews!” They hit Him and spat on Him. After they were done making fun of Him, they put His own clothes back on Him and led Him out to the place where people were crucified.
At the place called Golgotha, which means “the place of a skull,” the soldiers nailed Jesus to a cross. Two robbers were crucified beside Him. Even while He was suffering, some people walked by and shook their heads at Him. For three hours the land was dark. Then Jesus called out loudly, “My God, my God, why have You left me?” Then He died.
When the Roman officer who stood guard saw how Jesus died, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” Some women who loved Jesus had watched from far away. In the evening, a kind man named Joseph asked Pilate for Jesus’ body. Joseph wrapped Him in a clean linen cloth and laid Him in a tomb cut out of rock, and then he rolled a big stone across the entrance. The women saw exactly where He was laid.
Read It Together
Mark 15:37
Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and gave up the spirit.
(WEB)
Point out that Jesus cried out with a loud voice before He died. Explain that He was not weak or defeated but was giving His life willingly, and that this shows how much He loved us.
Mark 15:38
The veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom.
(WEB)
Tell children that the thick curtain in the temple was torn from top to bottom. Explain that this showed people could now come close to God because Jesus made the way.
Mark 15:46
He bought a linen cloth, and taking him down, wound him in the linen cloth, and laid him in a tomb which had been cut out of a rock. He rolled a stone against the door of the tomb.
(WEB)
Point out how carefully Joseph cared for Jesus’ body. Let children notice that even when things seemed like the end, people who loved Jesus treated Him with honor and care.
Talk About It
- How do you think Jesus felt when His friends were not standing near Him?
- Why do you think Jesus stayed quiet when people said untrue things about Him?
- What is one way you can show someone kindness when they are being treated unfairly?
- How did the Roman officer change his mind about Jesus when he saw Him die?
- What does it mean to you that Jesus chose to suffer for people He loves?
Activity Ideas
Paper Cross Craft
You will need two strips of brown construction paper, glue, and crayons. Have children glue one strip across the other to form a cross. Ask them to draw a heart at the center and write the word “Love” on it. Talk together about how the cross reminds us of Jesus’ love.
Stone Roll Game
Gather a soft ball or a rolled-up sock to use as the stone. Have children stand in a circle and pass the ball around while you read a line from the story. When you say “tomb,” they roll the ball gently toward the center. Keep it lighthearted and talk about how the stone was rolled away later.
Take-Home Memory Card
Give each child an index card and a marker. Have them write Mark 15:34 on one side and draw a simple picture of a cross on the other. Encourage them to show the card to a family member at home and say the memory verse together during dinner or bedtime.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows Jesus going to the cross as an innocent man, willingly bearing the weight of sin and facing abandonment so that people could be reconciled to God. The torn curtain, the centurion’s confession, and the careful burial all point toward a story that is not finished at the tomb.
Avoid overstating the emotional details to children, such as describing the physical violence in graphic terms. Keep the focus on Jesus’ love and faithfulness, and let them know that God was not absent in the darkness, even when Jesus felt alone.
A Prayer to Close
Dear Jesus, thank You for loving us so much that You were willing to suffer and die for us. Help us remember that You are with us even when we feel sad or alone. Teach us to be kind to others, just as You were kind to everyone you met. We love You. Amen.
