Who is God and what is He like? - A Criminal

Opening Question: What do you think should happen to criminals, and why?

Read Matthew 26:47-56

Word list:
the Twelve – the 12 followers of Jesus.
chief priests – the religious leaders of Israel
Rabbi – teacher
Scriptures – the part of the Bible that was written before Jesus.
prophets – men who spoke for God to the people of Israel.

Q: Why did Jesus not ask to help him, like he explained in verse 53?

The following is an example of some Scripture that the prophet, Isaiah, wrote about Jesus. This was written about 700 years before Jesus was born:

“All of us are like sheep. We have wandered away from God. All of us have turned to our own way. And the Lord has placed on his servant the sins of all of us. He was beaten down and made to suffer. But he didn't open his mouth. He was led away like a sheep to be killed. Lambs are silent while their wool is being cut off. In the same way, he didn't open his mouth. He was arrested and sentenced to death. Then he was taken away. He was cut off from this life. He was punished for the sins of my people. Who among those who were living at that time could have understood those things?” (Isaiah 53:6-8)

Q: According to the Scripture above, what was going to happen to Jesus at the end of his life on earth, and why?

Read Matthew 26:57-68

Word list:
teachers of the law, elders – the religious experts and leaders of Israel.
Sanhedrin – the supreme court of Israel, made up of 71 members.
Christ / Son of God / Son of Man – the future ruler of Israel and the world, Jesus!

Q: Why didn’t Jesus say anything to defend himself, as we read in verse 63?
Q: Why did the chief priests and the Sanhedrin treat Jesus like a criminal?
Q: Who was Jesus, and why did he let the religious leaders of Israel treat him like a criminal (see Isaiah 53:6-8)?