Lent Cross Challenge 2019

Jesus told his disciples that it would soon be time for him to leave them, but that God would send them a helper called the Holy Spirit, who would help them tell others about him.  (John 14:16)

Jesus told his disciples that he knew that one of them would betray him and hand him over to the Roman authorities to be killed.  (Matthew 26:20-25, Mark 14:18-21, Luke 22:21-23, John 13:21-30)

We call this the Last Supper because it was the last meal that Jesus shared before he was to die.

On the Thursday evening of Passover, Jesus shared the special meal with his 12 disciples.

Jesus knew that the Jewish religious leaders were plotting against him. He knew he would be handed over to the Roman authorities and that he would die.

The Jewish religious leaders paid Judas 30 silver coins to help them arrest Jesus. (Matthew 26:14-16)

Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus' disciples offered to help the religious leaders hand Jesus over to the authorities. (Matthew 26:14-16, Mark 14:10-11, Luke22:3-6)

The disciples felt this was a waste, but Jesus said it was preparation for his burial. (Matthew 26:8-13, Mark 14:4-9, John 12:1-11)

One day, while Jesus was in Bethany, a woman came with  a jar of very expensive perfume. She broke the jar, and poured the perfume on Jesus' head. (Matthew 26:6-7, Mark 14:3, John 12:1-3)

Many of the Jewish religious leaders didn’t like what Jesus was saying, so they decided to find a way to hand Jesus over to the Roman authorities to kill him. (Matthew 21:46, Mark 11:18, 12:12, Luke 20:19)

Jesus taught that people needed to turn away from the bad things that they were doing and turn back to God. (Matthew 21:28-22:14, Mark 12:1-11, Luke 20:9-18 and many other examples)

Over the next few days Jesus continued to teach his disciples and the crowds who came to listen to him.

Jesus told the market traders that the temple was meant to be a place of prayer. He overturned the tables and threw them out of the temple. (Matthew 21:12-13, Mark 11:15-17, Luke 19:45-46)

People were using the temple as a market place, selling all sorts of goods and exchanging money. This made it harder for people to worship God. Jesus became angry at this.

The next day Jesus went into the temple.

The crowd were pleased to see Jesus. They were expecting a new king of the Jews and hoped that he would save them.

People lined the streets shouting Hosanna (which means saviour). They took palm branches and waved them, some took their coats off and laid them on the ground. (Matthew 21:8-9, Mark 11:8-10, Luke 19:36-38, John 12:12-13)

Jesus entered into Jerusalem riding on the donkey.

Jesus sent two of his disciples ahead of him to fetch a donkey and told them that if anyone should ask you who needs it, say the Lord needs it. (Matthew 21:1-3, Mark 11:1-3, Luke 19:29-31)

The story of Easter's Holy Week begins with Jesus and his disciples travelling to Jerusalem. They were going there to celebrate the Jewish festival of Passover.

For three years Jesus had been going around the area with his 12 close friends, known as the disciples, telling people about God, performing all sorts of miracles, healing people, teaching and forgiving them for the bad things they had done wrong.

Lent is the time of preparation for Easter. Easter is the time when Christians all over the world celebrate new life through Jesus.

Thank you for joining the Lent Cross Challenge 2019 Each day during Lent you will receive an email with a short sentence forming part of the Easter story. The idea is you share this - along with your Lent Cross images, on your social media pages. The daily email will be sent at 6am each day (excluding Sundays) starting on Ash Wednesday. Keep us updated with your posts, tag us etc, and email us your most creative and unusual crosses for our gallery. We'd also love to hear about other ways you've been sharing the Easter story this Lent. Keep an eye on our social media pages too: Instagram: @stmarysbilli Twitter: @stmarysbilli Facebook:  @stmarysbillingshurst