Sanctuary Sunday School Class

Next week is Easter, instead of looking at our lesson, we will take a break this week and discuss the greatest event that occured in history.

Though we celebrate the BIG day, Easter, the entire week leading to the resurrection of Christ is important to see and appreciate. So we will look at each day of the week leading to Easter Sunday and focus on something Jesus did in preparation to save the world.

What is your favorite part of the Easter story?

Sunday— Palm Sunday

Matthew 21:6–9 NKJV

6 So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. 8 And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Hosanna in the highest!”

Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey. He did this to fulfill Old Testament prophecy. The people hailed Him as king and celebrated what He did.

Though they did not know, they praised Jesus in a new way, preparing for the moment when He would reign as King forever.

What do you think it was like to be there on Palm Sunday?

Monday— Jesus Cleansed the Temple

Matthew 21:12–15 NKJV

12 Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. 13 And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ” 14 Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant

While in Jerusalem, Jesus went to the Temple. He noticed it was cluttered with ungodly activity. Therefore, He cleansed the Temple and revealed God’s desire for His church.

They took what was supposed to be holy and made it impure and greedy. Jesus cleansed the physical temple in preparation for the day when He would cleanse our lives so that we might become temples of the Holy Spirit.

Why does God want His house to be a house of prayer?

Tuesday— People Worship Jesus

Mark 14:3–9 NKJV

3 And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head. 4 But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted? 5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they criticized her sharply. 6 But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. 7 For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always. 8 She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. 9 Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”

Tuesday was a busy day for Jesus. He taught the disciples, He rebuked the Pharisees, but He also allowed people to worship Him.

A woman with a bad reputation came in to where Jesus was and fell at His feet. She opened a bottle of costly oil and poured it on His feet and began to wash His feet with her tears.

The religious crowd was offended, but Jesus was delighted. Her story is still told and serves as an example of how we are to give God everything in worship.

What is one thing we can thank Jesus for today?

Wednesday— Satan Enters Judas

Luke 22:1–6 NKJV

1 Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called Passover. 2 And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might kill Him, for they feared the people. 3 Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve. 4 So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them. 5 And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. 6 So he promised and sought opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of the multitude.

In order for Jesus to die, someone had to betray Him to the Jewish leaders. Many thought it might be one of the other religious leaders who would do that, but it was not.

Instead, it was someone very close to Jesus, Judas. However, he did not act alone, Luke tells us Satan entered him. He was overcome with evil and took his part in the death of Jesus.

Satan still wants to tempt people and enter their hearts and minds away from the Lord.

How can we overcome temptation?

Thursday— The Last Supper

Luke 22:19–20 NKJV

19 And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 20 Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.

Jesus told His disciples to meet in Jerusalem in an upper room, He wanted to have one final meal with them. Jesus knew how important this was, but the disciples thought it was another dinner.

When they came, they noticed Jesus acted more withdrawn and different. He was less focused on the past and more on the future. He spoke of the bread as His body and the cup as His blood. He told them to take communion together in remembrance of Him.

What does the body of Jesus provide for us?

Why is the blood of Jesus important?

Friday— The Crucifixion

Mark 15:37–41 NKJV

37 And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last. 38 Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 So when the centurion, who stood opposite Him, saw that He cried out like this and breathed His last, he said, “Truly this Man was the Son of God!” 40 There were also women looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joses, and Salome, 41 who also followed Him and ministered to Him when He was in Galilee, and many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem.

After being beaten beyond recognition for a crime He did not commit, Jesus breathed His last breath and died. Something remarkable happened when He died— the veil of the Temple tore in two.

When this happened, it was a sign from God that He was going to be available to anyone and everyone. No longer would He conceal His presence behind a veil in a temple, but He will live in the hearts and lives of people.

What does the presence of God mean to you?

Saturday— Silence

We have not record of what took place on Saturday. Instead, everything was silent. Satan thought he won and the followers of Jesus felt defeated.

What they did not see is Jesus was working on redeeming people and getting back the keys to death, hell, and the grave.

How do you think the disciples felt on Saturday?

Sunday— Jesus is Alive

Mark 16:1–7 NKJV

1 Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. 2 Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. 3 And they said among themselves, “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?” 4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away—for it was very large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6 But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. 7 But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.”

After three long days of waiting, Jesus arose from the dead. The women went to prepare His body for burial, but He was not there. The angel informed them that Jesus was live!

That moment changed the course of history. Everything is better because Jesus rose victorious over death, hell, and the grave.

How has your life changed because of the resurrection?