Matthew 27:45-56 DEATH OF JESUS
LOOKING INTO THE SCRIPTURE/25 Minutes. Read Matthew 27:45-56 and
discuss.
1. If you were the editor of the Jerusalem Times, what headline would you pick to describe the events of the Scripture passage the next day?
a. strange darkness descends
b. earthquake rocks city
c. temple curtain ruined
d. dead people reported seen
e. spiritual leader killed
f. three thieves crucified
2. How would you describe Jesus in his obituary?
a. prominent civic leader
b. controversial teacher
c. troublemaker
d. failure
e. innocent victim
f. the so-called Messiah
g. mysterious miracle worker
3. Of Jesus' own followers, how many do you think understood what was happening to Jesus on the day he died?
a. not one
b. maybe the women
c. the centurion
d. only his disciples
4. Why did darkness cover the land for three hours?
a. just a coincidence
b. an eclipse of the sun
c. God was mad at the world
d. the darkness of sin reigned
5. What caused Jesus to cry out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
a. the physical pain he was suffering
b. the feeling that God had deserted him
c. God really did turn his back on him at that moment
d. God did not send his angels to rescue him as he expected
e. he thought the whole world had turned against him
f. he was angry at God
6. What is so significant about the curtain in the temple being torn in two?
a. the barrier between God and man was taken away
b. everyone can approach God directly now
c. no more need for mystery
d. fellowship restored between God and mankind
MY OWN STORY/20 Minutes.
1. When you think about the death of Jesus, what person in this story best describes you?
a. the temple crowd - detached, cynical
b. the one who brought the sponge - hostile jokester
c. one of the people raised from the dead
d. the centurion - terrified but awed
e. women followers-sympathetic and caring
2. What remains a mystery to you about the death of Jesus?
a. why it ever happened
b. how God could let it happen
c. why nobody came to his rescue
d. why the disciples didn't understand
e. how the earthquake and the darkness happened
3. At what point in your life did you come to realize that Jesus died for you?
a. as a child
b. years ago
c. just recently
d. don't know that I have
4. How would you describe the way the death of Jesus has impacted your life, lifestyle and whole system of values?
a. a little bit
b. a whole lot
c. not as much as it should
d. a lot more than it used to
e. I'm not sure
Scripture taken from the
HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL
VERSION.
Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society.
Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.