The Story, we hear?

A hard conversation about the cross
Good Friday is an incredibly difficult day to explain. Even my seven year old, who has grown up hearing the story each year, has new questions every time we read the story of Jesus’ death on the morning of Good Friday. Each year the questions become more and more difficult to answer and we are both becoming comfortable with the grey areas of the narrative.

I am learning, as we parent our two little boys, that grey areas are easier for children than adults. They are more willing to accept the confusing sticking points and they are able to not get distracted by the details of the story. They often get right to the heart of why they are hearing a story when we are still confused by why certain things have happened. My oldest is growing up and he is totally focused on the details now. He had so many questions about Judas and Peter. He wanted to know about the King of the Jews, the crowd, and the religious authorities. It took us a long time today to read that section of Mark.

But I know that while he has many questions, he is thinking closely about how this drama plays out. He is beginning to make conclusions about people based on this story. Many of these conclusions are not how I want him to view the world. This is because of how our Scriptures tell the story of Jesus. It is easy to misplace the blame in this story. People have been doing that for centuries. This is why we read these stories together.

As we read the Scripture together, his questions give me an opportunity to talk to him about mob mentality. I have an opportunity to teach my child how sin works in the world and how it pulls us away from God. This morning we talked about the choices we make each day. I talk about how the authorities (both temple and Pilate) were afraid of losing their power. We discussed how Judas, Peter and all the disciples who left acted out of fear.

Finally we talk about how Jesus was also afraid but how he was different from the other because he acted out of love rather than fear. He was willing to suffer because he knew that his actions would save the whole world. That is the lesson I want my child to learn in Scripture; we all have choices and our decisions need to be based in Love.

Reading with our children shows us how they hear the story
Be comfortable with the hard questions! Live bravely in the grey areas! Search for the right answers together but mostly listen to what our children are asking because this reveals their understanding. These are the places where we get to teach and guide our children to a better understanding of God.

Today’s Scripture: John 18:1-19:42


Almighty God, we pray you graciously to behold this your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed, and given into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon the cross; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.


Conversation Starters:
  • What questions do you have about the story of Good Friday?
  • How would you have behaved if you were Pilate, Judas, Peter or part of the crowd? Why?
  • Who is missing from the story and why is that important?
  • What does this story teach us about Jesus?



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