Good Friday - Words From The Cross Craft

The children helped me put up a cross of recycled packing paper, to surround with handwritten notes containing the seven phrases Jesus spoke, while He was on the cross.

I printed out the Old Testament prophesies the sayings fulfilled.  Or, when there wasn't a corresponding Old Testament passage, I found New Testament verses for further thought (see below for the verses, which are in NIV unless otherwise stated - emphasis mine).

Then, I rolled the printed out verses, so they would look like little scrolls, and taped them under each handwritten phrase, for the children to unroll, and discover.

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1.  Luke 23:34 Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."

John 15: 18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20 Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 21 They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father as well. 24 If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. 25 But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’12 For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.1 2 Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me.3 Since you are my rock and my fortress,  for the sake of your name lead and guide me. Keep me free from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge. Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord, my faithful God.

2. Luke 23:43 "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." 

Isaiah 53:12 
Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors.

3. John 19:26-27 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother."

Luke 1:46-47
And Mary said, “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me - holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their throne, but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good thing, but has sent the rich away empty.He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”

Luke 2:34-35

34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the fallingand rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

4. Matthew 27:46  And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

Psalm 22: 1-5 

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me,  so far from my cries of anguish?  My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer by night, but I find no rest.  Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One, you are the one Israel praises.  In you our ancestors put their trust they trusted and you delivered them. To you they cried out and were saved, in you they trusted and were not put to shame.

5. John 19:28 Jesus knew that everything was now finished, and to fulfill the Scriptures he said, "I am thirsty." 

Psalm 69:19-21

You know how I am scorned, disgraced and shamed;  all my enemies are before you. Scorn has broken my heart, and has left me helpless; I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found none. They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst.

6. John 19:30 ... he said, "It is finished!"

Psalm 22:31
They will tell people yet to be born about his righteousness— that he has finished it. (God's Word Translation)

7. Luke 23:46  Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last.

Psalm 31:1-5

1 1 In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;
    let me never be put to shame;
    deliver me in your righteousness.
2 Turn your ear to me,
    come quickly to my rescue;
be my rock of refuge,
    a strong fortress to save me.
3 Since you are my rock and my fortress,
    for the sake of your name lead and guide me.
4 Keep me free from the trap that is set for me,
    for you are my refuge.
5 Into your hands I commit my spirit;
    deliver me, Lord, my faithful God.