God's Son Returns
Children's Liturgy and Story
Call to Worship:
When Jesus broke bread in a house in Emmaus, the eyes of his companions were opened, and they recognized him. Let us try to recognise Jesus in our worship today.
Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, sometimes I'm unable to see you or to discern your presence.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes I refuse to wait around long enough for you show yourself to me.
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes I find it easier to ignore you than to seek for you.
Lord, have mercy.
Reading:
Luke 24:13-35 (NRSV)
Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, [14] and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. [15] While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, [16] but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. [17] And he said to them, "What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?" They stood still, looking sad. [18] Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?" [19] He asked them, "What things?" They replied, "The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, [20] and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. [21] But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. [22] Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, [23] and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. [24] Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him." [25] Then he said to them, "Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! [26] Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?" [27] Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.
[28] As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. [29] But they urged him strongly, saying, "Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over." So he went in to stay with them. [30] When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. [31] Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. [32] They said to each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?" [33] That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. [34] They were saying, "The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!" [35] Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
Story:
This is an imaginary conversation between God and his son after the crucifixion but before the resurrection.
God's Son Returns
God's son was exhausted. He hadn't realised his mission would be quite so tough. Of course, when he and his father had discussed it aeons ago, he'd known it wouldn't be easy, but he had never expected this.
He had volunteered to go to Planet Earth to demonstrate his father's love for human beings. It seemed that some human beings had drifted away from God and some were actively hostile towards God, but both God and his son had figured that if someone could show them God's love in person, then they would return to him.
The plan had seemed so simple. God's son would be born as a human being and live a human life, but he would keep close to the father and show through his own life just how much the father loved every human being.
Of course, he had expected some opposition, but this! As he lay in the father's arms, battered and bleeding, still reeling from the shock of what humans had done to him, he was so glad to be home. He began to feel the healing warmth of the father's love as it poured into him and over him.
"I'm sorry," he muttered, when he could speak again. "I thought I could pull it off, but I failed."
God smiled. "You haven't failed yet," he said gently. "You did all that I asked of you. You went on loving them even when they crucified you. I don't ask any more than that."
"But it didn't work! How can they know your love for them when they're so vicious and cruel towards each other?"
"They need just a little more time," confided God. "They're coming round, but they are shocked and in despair at the moment. They think it's all over. I need you to go back and prove to them that what they call 'death' is but the transition into a new kind of life in a different dimension, and that I'll go on loving them whatever they do. I'm programmed to love them, I can't help it! Do you think you can do that?"
The son nodded. "But how will they see me? Planet Earth isn't in touch with this dimension."
"I don't want you to go back full time," explained God. "This is a kind of part time job. When you're better, you'll continue to live here with me but visit them from time to time for a few weeks. Until they really begin to believe that you're still alive."
"I'll have to make some careful decisions about who to visit," mused God's son. "And how will they recognise me? I shall be healed and well now that I've spent time with you and I know I won't look the same."
God laughed, and the sound of his laughter rocked Heaven. The angels smiled at each other relieved that God's son was healing so well, and the cherubs danced and played in delight.
"Those who know you and love you will recognise you," God declared. "Maybe not immediately, but they will know you eventually. And that will be so for ever and ever, because of what you have achieved on Planet Earth. Where will you start?"
"Well," said God's son, "there was a woman..."
God's eyes twinkled. "Perhaps that's where you should start, then," he suggested.
Activity:
You need:
A variety of pictures of famous music stars and sports stars, pasted onto large sheets of paper.
Paper and pen for each child.
Either in teams, pairs or singly, get the children to identify the pictures and provide a small prize for the best effort.
Ask the children how they recognized these people? Because they knew them well? Because they had seen them many times on television? Because they are in the news?
Ask the children how they recognize their parents from a distance. Is it what they look like? Or mannerisms such as the way they walk or stand? What about voice? Jesus was seldom recognized after he had risen, so must have looked different. But different people recognized him in different ways -- Mary Magdalen when she heard his voice, the couple at Emmaus by a familiar gesture, Thomas when he touched his hands and felt the wounds. Point out that the better you know someone, the easier it is to recognize them.
Ask how we can recognize Jesus today? Where do we see him? In other people? In our mind's eye? Through the pages of scripture? In pictures or films? Perhaps we know him through his actions -- when he responds to prayer, when he helps us in need, when good things happen etc.
Prayers:
Risen Lord, may we in your church constantly seek for signs of your presence. Help us to identify your actions in our midst and help us to recognise you in each other and in all those whom we meet.
Risen Lord, so fill our world with a sense of your presence that we all begin to respond to your love and goodness. Protect those who are vulnerable and teach the strong to stand up for the weak.
Risen Lord, in our daily lives help us to learn how to spot your activity. Draw us close to you and encourage us to take time to be with you so that we may be with you always.
Risen Lord, comfort the sick and the broken-hearted. Heal all who are damaged in body, mind or spirit and enable them to function well. We pray especially for ...
Blessing:
May you be so filled
with the spirit of the risen Lord
that you respond instantly
to his signals.
And may the blessing of God Almighty,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
Be with you, be in your homes
And in your families,
With those whom you love
And with those for whom you pray,
Both now and always. Amen.
When Jesus broke bread in a house in Emmaus, the eyes of his companions were opened, and they recognized him. Let us try to recognise Jesus in our worship today.
Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, sometimes I'm unable to see you or to discern your presence.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes I refuse to wait around long enough for you show yourself to me.
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes I find it easier to ignore you than to seek for you.
Lord, have mercy.
Reading:
Luke 24:13-35 (NRSV)
Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, [14] and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. [15] While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, [16] but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. [17] And he said to them, "What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?" They stood still, looking sad. [18] Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?" [19] He asked them, "What things?" They replied, "The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, [20] and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. [21] But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. [22] Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, [23] and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. [24] Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him." [25] Then he said to them, "Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! [26] Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?" [27] Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.
[28] As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. [29] But they urged him strongly, saying, "Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over." So he went in to stay with them. [30] When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. [31] Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. [32] They said to each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?" [33] That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. [34] They were saying, "The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!" [35] Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
Story:
This is an imaginary conversation between God and his son after the crucifixion but before the resurrection.
God's Son Returns
God's son was exhausted. He hadn't realised his mission would be quite so tough. Of course, when he and his father had discussed it aeons ago, he'd known it wouldn't be easy, but he had never expected this.
He had volunteered to go to Planet Earth to demonstrate his father's love for human beings. It seemed that some human beings had drifted away from God and some were actively hostile towards God, but both God and his son had figured that if someone could show them God's love in person, then they would return to him.
The plan had seemed so simple. God's son would be born as a human being and live a human life, but he would keep close to the father and show through his own life just how much the father loved every human being.
Of course, he had expected some opposition, but this! As he lay in the father's arms, battered and bleeding, still reeling from the shock of what humans had done to him, he was so glad to be home. He began to feel the healing warmth of the father's love as it poured into him and over him.
"I'm sorry," he muttered, when he could speak again. "I thought I could pull it off, but I failed."
God smiled. "You haven't failed yet," he said gently. "You did all that I asked of you. You went on loving them even when they crucified you. I don't ask any more than that."
"But it didn't work! How can they know your love for them when they're so vicious and cruel towards each other?"
"They need just a little more time," confided God. "They're coming round, but they are shocked and in despair at the moment. They think it's all over. I need you to go back and prove to them that what they call 'death' is but the transition into a new kind of life in a different dimension, and that I'll go on loving them whatever they do. I'm programmed to love them, I can't help it! Do you think you can do that?"
The son nodded. "But how will they see me? Planet Earth isn't in touch with this dimension."
"I don't want you to go back full time," explained God. "This is a kind of part time job. When you're better, you'll continue to live here with me but visit them from time to time for a few weeks. Until they really begin to believe that you're still alive."
"I'll have to make some careful decisions about who to visit," mused God's son. "And how will they recognise me? I shall be healed and well now that I've spent time with you and I know I won't look the same."
God laughed, and the sound of his laughter rocked Heaven. The angels smiled at each other relieved that God's son was healing so well, and the cherubs danced and played in delight.
"Those who know you and love you will recognise you," God declared. "Maybe not immediately, but they will know you eventually. And that will be so for ever and ever, because of what you have achieved on Planet Earth. Where will you start?"
"Well," said God's son, "there was a woman..."
God's eyes twinkled. "Perhaps that's where you should start, then," he suggested.
Activity:
You need:
A variety of pictures of famous music stars and sports stars, pasted onto large sheets of paper.
Paper and pen for each child.
Either in teams, pairs or singly, get the children to identify the pictures and provide a small prize for the best effort.
Ask the children how they recognized these people? Because they knew them well? Because they had seen them many times on television? Because they are in the news?
Ask the children how they recognize their parents from a distance. Is it what they look like? Or mannerisms such as the way they walk or stand? What about voice? Jesus was seldom recognized after he had risen, so must have looked different. But different people recognized him in different ways -- Mary Magdalen when she heard his voice, the couple at Emmaus by a familiar gesture, Thomas when he touched his hands and felt the wounds. Point out that the better you know someone, the easier it is to recognize them.
Ask how we can recognize Jesus today? Where do we see him? In other people? In our mind's eye? Through the pages of scripture? In pictures or films? Perhaps we know him through his actions -- when he responds to prayer, when he helps us in need, when good things happen etc.
Prayers:
Risen Lord, may we in your church constantly seek for signs of your presence. Help us to identify your actions in our midst and help us to recognise you in each other and in all those whom we meet.
Risen Lord, so fill our world with a sense of your presence that we all begin to respond to your love and goodness. Protect those who are vulnerable and teach the strong to stand up for the weak.
Risen Lord, in our daily lives help us to learn how to spot your activity. Draw us close to you and encourage us to take time to be with you so that we may be with you always.
Risen Lord, comfort the sick and the broken-hearted. Heal all who are damaged in body, mind or spirit and enable them to function well. We pray especially for ...
Blessing:
May you be so filled
with the spirit of the risen Lord
that you respond instantly
to his signals.
And may the blessing of God Almighty,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
Be with you, be in your homes
And in your families,
With those whom you love
And with those for whom you pray,
Both now and always. Amen.
