Why Jesus Died on the Cross: Sunday School Lesson for Ages 6-10
Ages 6-10 · 45 minutes · free lesson plan · John 19:16-30
Elementary children hear John 19:16-30, put the story in order, make a bookmark, and learn that Jesus finished the work God gave him out of love for us.
Memory verse
When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. (John 19:30, KJV)
Lesson objectives
- Retell the main events of Jesus' crucifixion in John 19:16-30 in order.
- Explain that when Jesus said "It is finished," he had completed the work God gave him.
- Respond with thanks to Jesus for loving us enough to die for us.
The full lesson plan
Welcome: The Finished Game (5 min)
Setup: Clear a small open space. Children stay in place.
Say: "Good morning! Today we will hear about the most important thing ever finished."
1. Call out a quick task: "Touch your toes!" "Spin around once!" "Clap ten times!"
2. When each task is done, everyone shouts "Finished!"
3. Ask: "What is something you were glad to finish, like homework or a big chore?" Take two or three answers.
Say: "Sometimes finishing is hard. Jesus finished something much bigger than homework. Now let's hear what happened."
Bible Story: The Cross (8 min)
Read or tell John 19:16-30 in order. Keep your voice calm and gentle. Pause at each point.
Say: "Jesus was led away and carried his own cross to a place called Golgotha. There they crucified him, with one man on each side of him." (vv. 16-18)
Say: "Pilate wrote a sign and put it on the cross: JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS. It was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin." (vv. 19-20)
Say: "The soldiers divided Jesus' clothes among them. For his coat they cast lots, so it would not be torn." (vv. 23-24)
Say: "Jesus' mother stood near the cross. Jesus asked the disciple he loved to take care of her, and that disciple took her into his home." (vv. 25-27)
Say: "Jesus said, 'I thirst.' Someone lifted a sponge of vinegar to him. Then Jesus said, 'It is finished.' He bowed his head and died." (vv. 28-30)
Say: "This is a sad part of the story. Now let's find out what 'It is finished' means."
Teaching: What Was Finished? (8 min)
Say: "Jesus did not say 'I am finished.' He said 'It is finished.' He meant the work God sent him to do was complete."
Point 1: Jesus stayed on the path. He carried his cross and did not turn back. Ask: "Why do you think he kept going?" (Because he loved us and God sent him.)
Point 2: Jesus is truly King. Pilate's sign called him King, and people argued about it. Pilate said, "What I have written I have written" (v. 22).
Point 3: Jesus cared for people even in great pain. He made sure his mother had a home (vv. 26-27).
Point 4: Jesus died for us. Say: "The Bible says Jesus died for our sins so we can be forgiven and be close to God (Romans 5:8). Jesus did the work, so we cannot add to it."
Background: Crucifixion was a cruel punishment used by the Romans. We tell this story because it shows how much God loves us.
Say: "Let's play a game to remember the story."
Game: Put the Story in Order (7 min)
Setup: Before class, write one event on each strip: (1) Jesus carries his cross. (2) Jesus is crucified between two others. (3) Pilate's sign in three languages. (4) Soldiers divide his clothes. (5) Jesus asks his friend to care for his mother. (6) Jesus says "It is finished." Make one set per team of 3-4 children.
Time: about 7 minutes.
1. Mix up each team's strips on a table or the floor.
2. Teams read the strips together.
3. On "Go!" they put the strips in story order, with an adult or older child helping readers.
4. Check by reading John 19 aloud, one event at a time.
5. Cheer for every team. This is not a race to win.
Say: "Great teamwork! Now let's make something to help us remember."
Craft: "It Is Finished" Bookmark (8 min)
Setup: Cut cardstock into strips. Put out crayons, safety scissors, and tape or glue. Safety: supervise scissors, and check for glue or marker sensitivities.
Time: about 8 minutes.
1. On one end, draw a simple cross and color it.
2. Write "IT IS FINISHED" in large letters down the strip.
3. On the back, write "John 19:30."
4. Decorate the edges with colors or a border.
5. Optional: fold a small paper strip over the top as a tab, and tape it.
Say: "Put this in your Bible or a book at home. When you see it, remember that Jesus finished the work out of love for you."
Say: "Let's talk about what we learned."
Talk About It (5 min)
Ask the group:
1. What did Jesus say right before he died? ("It is finished.")
2. Why did Jesus go to the cross? (Because God sent him and he loved us. He died for our sins.)
3. What did Jesus do for his mother, even while on the cross? (He asked his friend to take care of her.)
4. How can we show thanks to Jesus this week? (Pray, be kind, tell someone about him.)
Say: "Every answer helps us think about this big story."
Closing: Verse and Prayer (4 min)
Teach the memory verse in pieces, with a motion for each. Say it three times, one phrase at a time: "It is finished" (hands out, then together), "he bowed his head" (bow head), "gave up the ghost" (hands down). Explain that "gave up the ghost" means he died.
Say: "Let's pray together."
Prayer points: Thank you, Jesus, for loving us and carrying the cross. Thank you for finishing the work to forgive us. Help us to love others the way you love us.
Say: "Amen! Take your bookmark home and share the story."
Materials
- Bibles (KJV if possible)
- 6 paper strips or index cards for the story-order game
- Cardstock strips (about 2 x 8 inches), one per child
- Crayons or markers
- Safety scissors
- Tape or glue sticks
- Scrap paper for a practice cross
Teacher notes
- Keep a gentle, calm tone. Do not describe the crucifixion in graphic detail. Focus on Jesus' love and the finished work.
- Safety: the craft uses scissors and glue. Supervise closely, use safety scissors, and check for allergies or sensitivities.
- Adaptation: pair non-readers with readers in the game, and pre-cut or pre-draw the bookmark for children who find cutting hard.
- Some children may have questions about death. Answer simply, and tell the family or pastor if a child seems upset.
Send it home with parents
Today we studied John 19:16-30. Jesus was crucified, and just before he died he said, "It is finished." The work God sent him to do was complete. Jesus died for our sins out of love for us.
- What do you think Jesus meant when he said, "It is finished"?
- How did Jesus show love to his mother even on the cross?
- How can we thank Jesus for what he did?
Tell the story together. Take turns telling one event from John 19:16-30 in order. Then say the memory verse together and pray a thank-you prayer.
Each day, thank Jesus for one way he showed love to you. Show that same love to someone in your family.
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