GOOD FRIDAY
AT HOME 

Have your communion elements ready, and start by reading through the devotionals together. Make sure to take some time answering the questions and helping to make each section apply personally. 

What Is Good Friday?

Today is Good Friday. Good Friday is a special day that we celebrate because, over 2000 years ago, on this very day, Jesus died for us on the cross. That doesn’t sound very good, does it? But because of what Jesus did on the cross, we get to have new life, freedom, and forgiveness! Doesn’t that sound good?

But why did Jesus have to die? 

Well, all of us do wrong things sometimes, don’t we? Can you think of anything that we get wrong sometimes?

Give your kids a chance to answer.

Yeah, that’s right. Sometimes we don’t listen to mom and dad. Sometimes we don’t tell the truth. Sometimes we hit our brothers and sisters. Sometimes we just disobey. We get selfish. We hurt people with our words and actions.

Well, the Bible calls those wrong things sin. Sin is really serious because it separates us from God. Think of it this way: sin creates a really long bridge between God and us, and there is nothing we can do to cross that bridge on our own.

Ask your kids:

  • When we do something wrong, how does it affect others?
  • How do you feel inside when you do something wrong?
  • Why do you think sin creates distance between God and us?

Jesus Took Our Punishment

Remember how sin creates a bridge between God and us that we have no way of getting across on our own?

Well, God did not want us to stay separated from Him. He loved you, me, and the whole world so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to make a way across that bridge for us.

Jesus took all the sin that separated us from God and placed it on Himself so that we would no longer carry it.

Jesus never sinned. He never did anything wrong. But because He loves us, He chose to take the punishment for our sin.

When Jesus died on the cross, He made a way for us to be brought back to God. It’s like He built a bridge so we could be close to Him again.

Because of what Jesus did, we don’t have to be punished for our sin; we can be forgiven and have a relationship with God.

Ask your kids:

So if Jesus didn’t do anything wrong, why did He go to the cross?

What does it mean when we say Jesus “took our punishment for us”?

Why do you think Jesus was willing to do that for you?

Because of Jesus, We Are Forgiven

Because Jesus took our punishment, we do not have to be separated from God anymore. Because of Jesus, we can be forgiven.

To be forgiven means that God does not hold our sin against us anymore. It means the punishment has already been paid by Jesus. Jesus took what we deserved so that we could receive love, forgiveness, and a new life.

Because of Jesus:

  • Our sins can be forgiven
  • We can be close to God
  • We can be part of God’s family
  • We can know that God loves us

That does not mean sin is not a big deal. It means Jesus loved us enough to do something about it. When we trust in Jesus, we do not have to wonder if God wants us near. Because of Jesus, the answer is yes. He made a way for us to come close to God again.

So on Good Friday, we remember that Jesus was punished on the cross so that we could be forgiven and brought back to God.

Ask your kids:

  • What does it mean to be forgiven?
  • How do you think it makes Jesus feel when we trust Him and thank Him?

Communion

On the night before Jesus went to the cross, He shared a special meal with His friends. During that meal, He gave them a way to remember what He was about to do for us. We call it communion. 

He took bread and a cup of juice and told them we could use them to remember Him and what He did for us on the cross.

The Bread

This bread reminds us of Jesus’ body. Jesus gave His body for us. He was hurt and nailed to the cross. He did that because He loves us and because He was taking the punishment for our sin.

When we eat the bread, we remember: Jesus gave His body for me.

The Cup

This cup reminds us of Jesus’ blood. Jesus’ blood was poured out on the cross so our sins could be forgiven. Because of what Jesus did, we can be made clean, forgiven, and brought close to God.

When we drink the cup, we remember: Jesus forgives me.

Before You Take Communion

Before we take communion, let’s take a quiet moment.

You can say: “Let’s talk to Jesus quietly in our hearts.”

Think about:

  • Is there anything I want to say sorry for?
  • What do I want to thank Jesus for?

(Pause for a few moments, then take the bread together, followed by the cup.)

Closing Prayer 

Jesus, thank You for giving Your body for us. Thank You for shedding Your blood for us. Thank You for forgiving us and bringing us close to God. We remember You tonight with thankful hearts. Amen.

Looking Ahead

Today is Good Friday, the day we remember that Jesus died for us. It can feel like a sad day, but we know the story isn’t over.

In just a few days, we will celebrate something amazing: Jesus didn’t stay in the grave. He came back to life!

Because Jesus died and rose again, we can have forgiveness, new life, and be close to God forever.