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GOD’S LOVE & JUSTICE INTERSECT, PART 1

“No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”   – John 10:18

“And so it came to pass, that Jesus, whom John called the Lamb of God, went up to Jerusalem, to observe Passover…Jesus gathered His disciples to celebrate Passover. Taking the Passover bread, Jesus broke it and said, “This is my body, which is given for you.” Then He took the wine, which represented the blood of the Passover lamb, which had been placed over the entrances of the Hebrew dwellings. And He said, “This is my blood which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.” – The HOPE, Chapter 10

Jesus walked resolutely into Jerusalem at the start of the Passover week knowing full well the mission he had come to accomplish. “From that time Jesus Christ began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day. And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You.” But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.” Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it.”  – Matthew 16:21–25

No one was forcing his hand.  “For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. “No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again.”
Throughout Hebrew history, God reiterated His promise to send a Deliverer who would one day free humankind from Satan, sin and death; who would one day secure the promised blessing for all nations. Jesus was now saying that the road to that blessing was charted through unthinkable suffering and loss.

BIG IDEA: Jesus chose to lay down His life.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THIS WEEK’S VIDEO (Start at the beginning and watch until 5:36.) Parents: There are some scenes in this portion of The Hope that are not appropriate for younger viewers.  You may consider simply reading the account to your child from Luke 23 or skipping some sections of the video as we did in Quest.)

MEDITATING ON THE WORD:

John 1:3   Isaiah 43:25    Colossians 1:16-17
Mark 14:61-62  John 8:58  Isaiah 43:10-11
John 5:17-18   Mark 2:5-7

SECTION VERSES:

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.’”   – John 14:6-7

LESSON VERSE:

“No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”   – John 10:18

PRAYER:

Thank God for his great love for us. That while we were still sinners His Son would die in our place.

DISCUSSION STARTERS:

• Why did Jesus enter Jerusalem that day?
• Why did people celebrate Jesus’ arrival into Jerusalem?
• What does Hosanna mean?
• How did Jesus control events?

LIVE IT OUT!

• Jesus chose to give His life for us.  What are some small ways we can give our lives (our time, our energy, our love) to others this week?

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ABOUT FAMILY QUEST: At Reston Bible Church, we firmly believe that parents are a child’s first and most important spiritual leader.  In order to support you that mission, we have created a parent devotional and some discussion starters to go along with each lesson your grade school age children are learning at Quest on Sundays. Our hope and prayer is that this material will help you to engage with your children around the topics they are learning on Sunday mornings, answer their questions, go deeper with them, and find real, day-to-day applications. We are honored to be able to partner with you in the critical task of sharing Christ with the next generation.