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WisconsinChristianNews.com
Volume 27, Issue 3
What Can We Learn from the Crucified Body of Jesus?
By Carey Kinsolving Summer 2026
“When Jesus’ side was pierced, it showed that God’s promises were coming true,” says Leo, 10.
everything.”
Some people try to explain away the resurrection by saying Jesus didn’t actually die. But John, who was there, makes it clear: Jesus died. He saw the blood and water. He saw the spear. He saw it all, and he wrote it down so that we would believe.
“If someone poked me with a spear, I’d be mad,” says Jake, 8. “Jesus just let them do it. That’s amazing.”
John tells us that all of this happened to fulfill Scripture. “Not one of His bones shall be broken,” and “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.” God had already written this story through the Old Testament, and Jesus fulfilled every detail. The un-
Jake is right. What happened to Jesus’ body after He died on the cross reveals not just His suffering,
The crucified body of Jesus also shows us the seriousness of sin. If sin were no big deal, Jesus wouldn’t have gone through such pain. But because God is just, sin had to be paid for. Jesus took that payment on Himself.
but the depth of His love and the truth of who He is. In John 19:31–37, we read how Roman soldiers came to break the legs of the crucified men so they would die faster. But when they came to Jesus, they saw He was already dead. So instead, one soldier pierced His side with a spear. The request to break their legs came from the Jewish religious leaders. They didn’t want the crucified bodies left on the cross during Passover, so they asked Pilate to speed up their deaths. Their cruelty wasn’t just physical; it was spiritual blindness. In trying to protect their religious holiday, they were killing the very One the holiday pointed to.
“Jesus didn’t just take my place,” says Natalie, 11. “He took my punishment.”
That’s why Christians look to the cross not with sadness, but with thank- fulness. The cross shows us the cost of our salvation and the love of the one who paid it.
Think About This: The crucified body of Jesus shows His power, His love, and His complete obedience to the Father’s plan. It’s not just history. It’s the center of our hope. Memorize This Truth: “But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.” (John 19:34). Ask This Question: When you picture Jesus’ cru- cified body, do you see the depth of your sin or the greater depth of His love for you? KidsTalkAboutGod.org
broken bones point to the Passover lamb, whose bones were not to be broken. Jesus is the true Passover Lamb. And the piercing? It reminds us of Zechariah 12:10, where God says His people will look on the One they pierced and mourn. That moment came for some like the Apostle Paul, who later realized Jesus is the promised Messiah who allowed Himself to be sacrificed for our sins.
“Jesus was already dead because He chose to give up His life,” says Clara, 10. “He was in control the whole time.” When the soldier pierced Jesus’ side, blood and water flowed out. This wasn’t just a random event. It showed that Jesus was really dead, not just passed out or pretending. Some doctors say the blood and water could be signs that Jesus died from a broken heart, which is a real physical event caused by intense emotional and physical stress.
“The crucified body of Jesus proves He really died for us,” says Ava, 12. “It wasn’t a trick. He gave
When Children Mourn A New Grief Support Program Set to Begin This Fall In Waukesha
Loss is a part of life, and grief is a result of loss. With every major change some kind of loss occurs. We grieve after divorce, incarceration, deployment, abandonment, rejection, broken re- lationships, and even job loss. In one way or an- other, all of us are grieving in some way, though we likely absorb many lesser losses without in- terpreting it as grief. What we often do not know how to do well as a society is mourn. “Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted.” Matthew 5:4 Grief is what we feel internally after loss, but mourning is the outward expression of grief. Mourning allows emotions to be acknowledged and shared. When people are given space to mourn, they begin to discover that life can still exist beyond loss. In recent years, grief ministries have ex- panded as more churches recognize the impor- tance of supporting those impacted by loss. Unfortunately, many ministries overlook one of the most vulnerable groups among us: our grieving children. While working in a secular grief support pro- gram designed for families, Katie learned how differently children experience grief. Later, after facing personal loss herself, she discovered how deeply spiritual grief can become. Katie says she realized that many faith-based grief
programs offer little or no support specifically for children. SoulShare, creates a space for young people to walk the difficult road of grief alongside peers who have similar pain. Children learn how to
Loss can leave children feeling unstable, es- pecially disruptions such like moving or chang- ing schools is involved. Their behavior may sometimes confuse the adults around them, but these reactions are often part of the grieving process.
is to make peer grief support available, not only to children, but also to parents, grandparents, and caregivers, giving entire families an oppor- tunity to mourn together. There are several ways the community can become involved. The program will be offered free of charge to participants. SoulShare invites churches, small groups, and individuals to volunteer. Katie and Andrew Green, the organizers of the program, are also providing grief companion training free of charge. Free training sessions will be held: • August 24 and 31 • 6:00–8:30 p.m. • Waukesha Church of Christ • 2816 Madison St., Waukesha • Zoom links will be available for those who reg- ister in advance. Church groups and individuals are also invited to provide meals or help host special events. Most importantly, we invite the bereaved to SoulShare — A place where your story matters and your pain is seen. To apply for the training course or inquire about the program, contact Katie Green at Katie.SoulShare@gmail.com . The Website is at: www.SoulShareGrief.org
companion one an- other, express empa- thy, and break through the isolation that grief often creates. When children realize they are not alone, it can be a turning point for them in their grief ex- perience. Furthermore, by inviting Christ into that space, children have access to the greatest grief ally we can have
Children also tend to “puddle-jump” through grief. They may ex- press deep sadness one moment and play or laugh the next. While this can con- cern adults, it is a very normal way children process loss. Katie was trained by Melissa Minkley of The Grief Wellness Center. Melissa facili-
to help shoulder the burden. They discover they can grow closer to God through adversity rather than away from Him. During thirty years in children’s ministry, in- cluding eleven years serving in Ukraine, Katie says she and her husband witnessed both the profound faith children are capable of and the ways painful experiences can drive them from faith. Children need safe opportunities to bring their hardest questions to God.
tates grief support training at the Sienna Well- ness Center. Both Katie and Andrew have facilitation experience in other grief support pro- grams and are graduates of the Bible Training Program at the Midwestern School of Evangel- ism. SoulShare groups are divided by age and in- clude activities designed to help children ex- press what they are feeling while learning that all emotions are valid. The goal of the program
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