Lesson Two: Discerning the Truth

Memory Verse

He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Matthew 28:6

Studying God’s Word

Easter is all about Christ's resurrection from the dead. Today, we’re going to find evidence, or proof, that Jesus really died and rose from the dead. The best place to look is the Bible. The Bible is God’s Word to us, so we know that it’s true. God would never lie to us because he is holy and perfect.

Proof of Jesus’ Death

The Bible tells us that Jesus was crucified on a cross to save sinners. Crucifixion was a way the Romans killed criminals, such as murderers and thieves. The person was nailed by the hands and feet to a wooden cross and left there until he died. It was a slow and extremely painful death.

The Bible also tells us that Jesus never did anything wrong. So how did he end up being punished on a cross like a criminal? You see, the Jewish religious leaders were jealous of Jesus because the people listened to him and because he could perform miracles. They arrested Jesus and put him on trial. They said he should die for saying he was God.

But the Jews weren’t allowed to put anyone to death because they were ruled by the Romans. So, the Jewish leaders brought Jesus to the Roman governor Pontius Pilate. He knew Jesus had done nothing wrong, but he was afraid the Jews would cause trouble if he let Jesus go. So, Pilate ordered that Jesus be crucified.

All four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, give us the facts about Jesus’ death. Let’s read what John says happened there that day.

After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water.

What a horrible scene! As Jesus hung on the cross, he became thirsty. The soldiers offered him sour wine to drink. Right before he died, Jesus said, "It is finished." What do you think Jesus meant? What was finished?

Jesus was finished taking the punishment we deserve for our sins. He stayed on the cross until his work of salvation for sinners was completed, then he gave up his spirit to die. Jesus is God, so his death was his choice.

Since the next day was a special Sabbath Day, the Jews wanted all those who had been crucified to be taken down from the crosses quickly. So, the soldiers broke their legs to speed up their deaths. Let’s find out what happened when the soldiers came to Jesus. In verses 33-34, the Bible tells us the soldiers didn't break Jesus' legs because they saw he was already dead. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear. When the soldier stabbed a spear into Jesus’ side, blood and water came out, which showed without a doubt that Jesus was already dead.

Let's look at John 19:35.

He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe.

John was a disciple and close friend of Jesus who watched the crucifixion and wrote down what he saw. When you tell what you know about something, it’s called a testimony. John knows Jesus' testimony is true because he was there at Jesus' crucifixion. He saw how Jesus died and then was pierced with a spear. John also wrote about other people, like Jesus’ mother, who were there at Jesus’ death and about the two men who took Jesus’ body and buried it in a new tomb.