Jesus’ Suffering and Dying: Grades K-4 Ask ...

Why did Jesus have to suffer so much?

For two reasons: First, God hates sin so much that He said that anyone who sins must die: “The soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Ezekiel 18:4, 20). “In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Gen. 2:17b). Read also Galatians 3:10. Thus, when Jesus took the place of sinners, He had to agree to suffer and die in their place, for God is holy and just.

Secondly, because His people have sinned so much Jesus had to suffer so much as their Substitute. Do you know what a substitute is? I will try to explain it by telling you a story; if you don’t understand it, ask your Dad or Mom.

One day a young boy — let’s call him Tom — was naughty at school. The teacher told Tom he had to stand in the corner of the classroom with his face to the wall for fifteen minutes. The teacher, who was new in the class, did not know that Tom could not stand that long because he was handicapped in his legs. In other words, he couldn’t walk, run, and play like most of you can.

But there was another boy — let’s call him Henry — in Tom’s class who realized that Tom couldn’t stand that long. So Henry raised his hand, and asked: “Teacher, may I stand in the corner for Tom?”

The teacher looked surprised: “But why, Henry, would you want to stand in the corner for Tom?” she asked. “You didn’t do anything bad!”

“Well,” Henry said, a bit shyly, “I love Tom, and I know that Tom can’t stand that long all by himself.”

You know what, boys and girls? The teacher let Henry stand in the corner for Tom! Tom could go free! Then she said to the class:

“Boys and girls, I want you to learn from what you have just seen that just as Henry is taking the place of Tom because Tom can’t bear his punishment and Henry loves him, so the Lord Jesus Christ takes the place of lost sinners because they can’t pay for the punishment of their sins and because Jesus loves them. When one person takes the place of another, we call this a ‘substitute.’ Just as I am here today as a substitute teacher for your regular teacher, and just as Henry is standing in the corner as a substitute for Tom, so the Lord Jesus stands in the corner, as it were, as a Substitute for all His people. This Jesus does in order to bear the weight of their sins, as well as the wrath of God and the curse of the law against those sins. Jesus, too, did nothing wrong. In fact, Jesus never did anything bad. Jesus never sinned.

“There is something else I have to tell you, too. In fifteen minutes, Henry can sit down again, but the Lord Jesus had to suffer for thirty-three years. He had to be nailed to a cross, and suffer lots and lots of pain also in His soul. No one in all the world ever had to suffer so much as Jesus. Oh, boys and girls, ask the Lord that you may bring your sins to Him, because He is also a Savior who is willing to stand in the corner to bear the sins of just the kind of children you are. Ask the Lord that He may make room in your heart for this only Savior by showing you your sins and your need for Him to be your only and perfect Substitute.”

Isn’t it sad, boys and girls, that Jesus had to suffer so much pain in His body and soul to save lost sinners like we are? Oh, dear children, I hope that you all will one day know what it means to be sad because you have hurt Him so much! Read Zechariah 12:10. God’s people come to feel that it is their sins that have nailed Jesus to the cross, and this makes them both very sad because of what they have done and very thankful for everything Jesus has done. They learn that if Jesus had not suffered so much, they would have to suffer in hell forever. But now, because Jesus suffered so much, the Lord is preparing them to be with Jesus in heaven forever.

Isn’t that wonderful? Isn’t the Lord good? We can never put into words how good the Lord is for sinners. He always treats us better than we treat Him.

What day of the week was “the Last Supper”?

Thursday — the evening before Jesus’ death on what we now call “Good Friday.” (We call the day of Jesus’ death “good” because His death is the only and good way by which sinners may be saved from all their sins.)

What was the last miracle Jesus did when He was on earth?

In the last moments of His life, Jesus converted the thief on the cross. Read Luke 23:39-43.

This last miracle of Jesus was one that also comforted Him very much. It is wonderful to receive a new heart from Jesus, but it is also wonderful for Jesus to feel the results of His work in the giving of new hearts. Don’t you think that when Jesus did this last miracle the nails of both the thief and Himself were forgotten for a few moments?

Every conversion, boys and girls, is a great miracle. Ask the Lord to work this miracle in your heart, too. Conversion is also possible for you, not because you are able to give yourself a new heart, but because the Lord is an almighty God who delights to work miracles.

Did the devil tempt Jesus more than three times?

Yes, Jesus was tempted by Satan and the devils all His life. Sometimes Satan tempted Him more powerfully than at other times, such as in the wilderness, and especially at the end of His life in Gethsemane, at Gabbatha, and on Golgotha. Can you think of other times when Jesus was tempted by Satan?

Does Jesus suffer and die for some boys and girls our age who also suffer and die?

No elect one is too young or too old for Jesus to suffer and die for. A little poem answers your question best:

Yes, there are little ones in heaven,
Who once were here below;
Their bodies died, but Christ has given
Their souls release from woe.

And now they see His lovely face
Who washed them from their sin;
They sing His free unbounded grace,
Which took young children in.

They needed cleansing in His blood—
The Lamb on Calvary slain;
Nor young nor old can go to God
Unless they’re born again.

Dear children, ask the Lord to make His sufferings and death of great value to you. May Jesus be your Substitute. Only in Jesus’ blood can your sins be forgiven. Pray much: “Forgive my sins, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.”

Forward questions intended for this department to:

Rev. J.R. Beeke, 2115 Romence St., N.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49503.

Questions will be published anonymously.

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