Jesus Knows the Future

## Welcome and Bible Story Read Matthew 20:17-19 together.

And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, 'See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.'

Jesus told His friends exactly what would happen before it happened. That shows He is a true Prophet, and He did it all because He loves us.

## Question 1: What did Jesus say was going to happen to Him in Jerusalem? Leader Note: Expected answers: He would be arrested by leaders, hurt, killed on a cross, and rise again on the third day. If a child goes off-topic, say: 'Let's look back at the Bible story. What did Jesus tell His friends?' Time: 3-4 minutes.

## Question 2: How do we know Jesus is a real Prophet who tells the truth? Leader Note: Expected answers: Everything He said came true / He knew the future before it happened / God showed He is trustworthy. If a child mentions magic or guesses, redirect: 'Jesus is not guessing—He is God and He really knows what will happen. How do we know He is telling the truth?' Time: 3-4 minutes.

## Question 3: Why did Jesus die on the cross for us? Leader Note: Expected answers: Because He loves us / to take our punishment / to save us from sin. If a child is off-topic, say: 'The sermon reminded us that Jesus died in our place. What does that show us about God's love?' Time: 3-4 minutes.

## Activity: Draw God's Love and Jesus' Words Give each child paper and crayons. Ask them to draw two things: 1) Jesus telling His friends what would happen in Jerusalem, and 2) a heart near a cross to show that Jesus did it because He loves us. Let each child share one thing from their picture. Leader Note: Expected outcome: Pictures include Jesus with disciples, a cross, and a heart. If a child draws unrelated things, affirm their art and ask: 'Can you add a heart or a cross to show the love we heard about today?' Time: 5-7 minutes.

## Closing Prayer Thank God that Jesus tells the truth and loves us enough to die in our place.