Dear parents,
LifeWire has launched a new, four-week series tackling four topics that can be struggles for middle schoolers. In this first lesson, we examined the dangers of lying by discussing a story found in Acts 5:1-10.
Ananias and Sapphira brought a donation to the early church leaders, claming that it was the full amount of money they earned from the sale of some property. But it was a lie-and God struck them dead for their deception. Obviously, God doesn't kill all of us when we lie, but we do pay the price for our lies through damaged friendships and a wounded relationship with God.
We encouraged our students to recognize how much God loves honestly but hates lies, how our lies can affect our lives, and the value of confession and forgiveness.
Here are some questions you might want to use as you talk with your teenager about this week's lesson:
I pray that this is a blessed week for you and your family.
In Him,
Pastor Josh
Why did Jesus have to die?
Political Reasons:
So let’s do a little time travel here and go back into history roughly 2,000 years. Living in Israel back then had this kind of flavor going on:
People had a “Messiah fever”. In our current culture we have an end times fever going on; we are looking at everything as it being the end of times. Back in Jesus’ time they had a Messiah fever. The Jewish people were anxiously awaiting the Messiah, thinking that He would arrive in glory, remove the burden of Roman occupation on their land, and establish the “Kingdom” rule in Jerusalem. Every day there were new rumors that the Messiah was near.
Various men aspired to become that person, and gathered their own disciples, but were discredited by the entrenched Jewish authorities or arrested by the Roman police. Still, the anticipation could be felt everywhere.
“Pax Romana” was the overriding rule. Roman authorities were working hard to maintain the “Roman Peace” (Pax Romana is Latin for Roman Peace) throughout their empire. The situation in the MIddle East was then as it is today; touchy and unruly, and Pilot was under great pressure from Rome to keep the peace in the city of Jerusalem.
“Theocracy” continued to control daily life. Israel prided itself on being God’s representatives on earth. Their laws (given by Moses and expanded upon by Teachers and Pharisees) governed not only the people’s religious beliefs, but their civil life too. Rome allowed the local customs of the area they took over to continue to continue to under Roman rule; however this type of rule was a blessing and frustration for the Jewish authorities. The Jewish leaders, from the High Priest down to the Rabbis, Saddles and Pharisees, were feeling that their positions had been compromised by the inclusion of Roman rule. Meaning, the leaders in the Jewish faith felt that the Roman’s took their power from the people. In response, the Jewish leaders elevated themselves in the eyes of the people.
So Jesus’s actions and his ministry threatened each of those three facts of life back in the day. Let’s look at a couple of passages that talk about this.
Matthew 21:1-11; 23:1-4; 26:3-5
Luke 22:1-2
John 11:45-53; 12:17-19
Messiah Fever: Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and His teachings about the “kingdom of God” being close, fed the fever. However, when He was arrested and then seemed incapable of overcoming His arrest, His reputation as the Messiah flopped.
Pax Romana: His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and His overturning moneychanger’s tables in the Temple, could have been the spark to light off the powder keg that was Jerusalem during the holy festival. Roman authorities needed to maintain order and keep the emotions of the people in check.
Theocracy: Jesus’ prior actions and teachings hit at the core of the theocracy: ritual cleanliness and elitism. His actions in the Temple underscored His growing boldness, and HIs popularity.
Spiritual Responses:
Looking back on these events from this end of history we know that no amount of political pressure could have forced Jesus to death by cruifixation. At any amount He could have called a halt to the entire process. Therefore, something else must have been goong on in Jerusalem back then.
Jesus’ death was voluntary--Is 50:6; Matthew 26:51-54; John 10:17-18, 19:11, 28-30; Philippians 2:8
Jesus was not arrested, tied, beaten and cruifixed against His will. Those things happened to Him because of His will. His wounds did not kill Him. Loss of blood did not kill Him. The nails in His hands and feet did not kill Him. He did not die of suffocation (as most victims of crucifixion did). He “gave up His spirit!”
Jesus’ death was payment--As awful, painful and tortuous as Jesus’ death was, He endured the experience He was God’s sacrifice for our sin. His great love for us is shown in His death on the cross. He was completely innocent of any sin, and in dying on the cross. He pain the penalty for the sin of humankind. Our sin put Jesus to death. Romans 4:25; 5:6-11; Gal 3:13.
Jesus’ death was temporary--By dying on the cross, Jesus paid the penalty for our sin. But we do not worship a dead Savior--Jesus did not stay in the tomb. By coming back from the dead He proved that He is God, that His payment was accepted, and that His claims are true. Acts 13:26-31; Romans 8:11; 10:9.
Jesus is ALIVE. Jesus had to die for our sins; he had to become a sacrifice for the sins of the world. The political system of the time put Jesus to death; however, it was the sins of us that put Jesus on the cross.
Why did Jesus have to die? He had to die so He could spend eternity with you! He had to die so you could have life.
Hebrews 12:2-3
Lesson adpated from Interlinc Resources.
(c) 2012 Joshua Shelton and Interlinc Resources
Parents, over the next few days and weeks I will be posting some articles that I feel might be some good discussion starters for you and your family. I know that the articles might hit close to home for some of you. All I ask is that you read the articles and have a discussion with your spouse and your children. Then if you need to meet with any of the pastors here at the church let us know. 
The articles are not meant to make you feel guilty by any means. I just want to give you some things to think about.
Keep checking this post for updated links.
Enjoy!
~PJ~
Wednesday, February 15
http://www.youthministry.com/articles/families/spiritual-maturity-note-parents
If you were at LifeWire on Wednesday night I talked about a homework lesson I wanted you to work on.
Please take some time to study this paper. It will not take you long but it will help you as you learn what it means of Jesus being the Living Water.
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