Main Idea: Jesus died a horrible death so we could live for eternity.
Key Verse: Jesus “Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness…” (1 Peter 2:24 NKJV).
Illustration #1: A man was sentenced to a horrible death. He was to be buried up to his neck next to an anthill with honey poured over him. But the ruler of the city had mercy on him and offered to take his place. This is what God did for us. Jesus took our place so we would not have to die.
Illustration #2: Once there was a man who was very sick. Both of his kidneys stopped working. He was about to die. But he had a good friend. His friend offered to give him one of his kidneys. So the two friends went to the hospital and the doctor performed two operations. The doctor took a kidney out of one man and put it into the other man so that both of them could live. When Jesus died on the cross, He shed his blood so that we could have a spiritual blood transfusion.
Illustration #3: Once there was house that caught fire. A firetruck came with sirens screaming and the firemen quickly hooked up their water hoses to the firetruck in order to fight the fire. Suddenly, they heard a cry from a mother, “My child is still in the house.” Without hesitation, one fireman grabbed an axe and used it to knock a hole in the front door. The fireman ran into the house. He heard the cry of a little boy. The sound was coming from the second story of the house. The fireman rushed up the stairs. The smoke was thick and it was hard for him to see. As he was feeling in the dark, his hand touched the head of the boy. He grabbed the boy and rushed to a window. He kicked a hole in the glass. Another fireman was down below ready to catch the boy. As the fireman threw the boy through the window, the roof of the house collapsed and the fireman was trapped inside. He died that day, but because of his heroic rescue, the boy lived. In the same way, Jesus risked everything by going into hell in order to defeat the devil. Jesus died spiritually so that we could be rescued from the fire of hell.
Illustration #4: Once there was a soldier who was proud to serve his country. He was a good solider. He learned to be disciplined. He learned how to shoot his gun. He learned how to obey orders. One day, the enemy attacked his nation. The soldier was scared but he wanted to protect his country. He went to battle and fought bravely. But the solider was hit by a bullet and he died. But, because of his bravery, the other soldiers were able to fight off the enemy. The soldier gave his life in battle so that his country could be free. In the same way, Jesus gave his life on the cross so you can be free.
Illustration #5: Once there was a mother chicken who had four little chicks. One day the farm caught on fire and the barn burned to the ground. Afterwards, the farmer walked through the barn with tears in his eyes. He saw the mother hen burned to death on the floor of the barn. He touched the feathers of the hen with his toe and to his surprise the four little chicks ran out from underneath the mother. When the mother hen felt the danger of the fire she spread out her wings and gathered the chicks under her body. The fire killed her, but as she was dying she used her last breath to protect her children. In the same way, Jesus took our place in death so that we can live.
Illustration 5.2: Once there was a big forest fire. After the fire was finally put out, a fireman walked among the trees looking for hot spots. He saw the charred body of a bird at the foot of a smoking tree stump. The bird was burnt to a crisp. The fireman nudged the dead bird with the toe of his boot and to his surprise; three baby birds flew out from under the mother bird. When the mother bird saw the fire coming, she had gathered her three babies under her wings in order to keep them safe. She gave her life so that they could live. In the same way, Jesus gave His life so that you could live.
Illustration #6: Once there was a cute little dog who loved his master. One day the master went deep sea fishing. The water looked so refreshing he decided to go for a swim. Suddenly, a shark appeared. The man swam as fast as he could for the boat but the shark was about to bite him. The little dog saw his master in trouble and he jumped in the water in front of the shark. The dog saved his master’s life that day, but sadly, the dog was eaten by the shark. In the same way, Jesus sacrificed His life so you can live forever.
