The Death of Christ (adapted for combined script)

Did Jesus, the Christ, really die? Is the story of His death true? There is no doubt about this.

Many years before Jesus came, the prophet Isaiah said this about Him: "He has made His grave with the wicked." Yes indeed, the Christ died by the hand of men; but God sent Him for this purpose. He came to the earth to pay for the sins of the people. People who believe this and turn away from their sin will not have to pay for their sins, themselves. God said there is no salvation unless someone without any sin dies in our place. In that way, the payment could be made for our sins. We cannot make the payment, because we have sinned. Christ is the only One who is without sin. He is the only One Who could make this payment. He accepted the debt of our sin, and paid it with His death. He exchanged His life for our sins.

How did it happen that He died? At that time the chief man was Pilate. The others arrested Jesus and brought Him to Pilate. Pilate questioned Jesus and then decided, "I find no fault in this man. I will punish Him and let Him go." But the leaders answered, "Many people are following this man. If you let Him go, you will not be the king's friend." When Pilate heard these words, he was afraid that he would make the king angry. So he said, "Take Him yourselves and judge Him, because I find no fault in Him." Then He washed his hands and said, "I am not to blame for this man's death."

They took Jesus from the court of judgment and beat Him. He did not say a word. They made Him carry a big wooden cross to the place where they were going to put Him to death. All the people followed Him. Could He not save Himself from His enemies? Of course He could, but He knew the prophet had written about Him, "He was killed for the sins of my people."

They nailed Him to the cross with His arms stretched out. Then they lifted the cross up. Jesus hung there with nails through His hands and feet, and His back bleeding from the beatings. Listen to what He said. "Father, forgive them. They do not know what they are doing." He asked God His Father to forgive His enemies.

When Jesus died, the country was in darkness. There was an earthquake and many dead people came to life and went into the city. Many people saw them. Jesus' enemies thought they had conquered Him because He had died.

Friends used a cave to bury His body, and they put a great stone at the door. The people who crucified Him put soldiers there to guard it.

Jesus knew that God wanted Him to die so that He could take our punishment. He said, "I have the power to lay down my life and I have power to take it again."

Jesus did not stay dead. I told you that He did not deserve to die, because He had no sin. Death could not hold Him. On the third day after His death, God raised Him from the grave. Many people saw Him alive. At one time 500 men saw Him. He was not a spirit.

One of His friends named Thomas did not believe that he was really alive. One night, Jesus came to them and said to Thomas, "Put your finger into the holes in my hands where they nailed me to the cross, and do not doubt, but believe."

After He rose from death, Jesus was on earth for 40 days. He talked and ate with His friends. He gave them this instruction, "Go and tell all people everywhere what you have seen. Tell them that they need to turn away from their sin and accept my death for them." Then they saw Him rise up from the earth and go back to be with God.

From the beginning God promised that one day the Saviour would come, and that He would save the people from their sins. Now He has come, but many people did not know Him because He did not come as a great king. The person who receives Him and follows Him now is truly happy. Jesus will not refuse those who come to Him. Pray and ask Him to receive you. He will hear you if you talk to Him.

Jesus is alive forever. God said in His Book, the Bible, "He will not rot in the grave." Jesus arose from the place of the dead and later ascended into Heaven. Some day He will return from Heaven to judge the world. God's Book says that God has appointed Jesus to be the judge at the last day. If you refuse Him now, He will refuse you then. If you turn away from your sin and receive Him now, He will take away your sin. When you die, He will take you to live forever with Him. Believe in Him now.