God's time
Children's sermon
Object:
a calendar
... after having heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the
place where he was ... When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been
in the tomb four days ... Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of the
dead man, said to him, "Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead
for four days." (vv. 6, 17, 39)
Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you know what day of the week it is? (let them answer) It's Sunday! How long is a day? (let them answer) Some of you know a day is 24 hours long. Tomorrow is what day? (let them answer) That's right, it is Monday. How many days is Sunday and Monday? (let them answer) That's right, it is two days. And what is the next day and the next day? (let them answer) Very good, the next day is Tuesday and the next day is Wednesday. How many days are there when you have Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday? That is four days.
Time is pretty important to us and certain things happen on certain days. I brought with me a calendar so that I could show you the date for today and for three more days. (give a demonstration)
Days were important in the time of Jesus, also. In the Bible lesson for today, we learn that Jesus left Jerusalem on day one. When he arrived in the next town, he was delivered a message that his friend, Lazarus, was very sick and the people who sent him the message wanted him to come right away. Instead, Jesus stayed in this town for two more days before telling his disciples he was going back to Bethany, the place where his sick friend lived. When he returned to Bethany, he learned that his friend Lazarus had died four days ago. Many people thought that Jesus should have come when he first received the message that Lazarus was sick, because Lazarus would not have died if Jesus had been there.
But Jesus really loved this family and he went to where Lazarus was buried and despite the fact that he had been dead for four days, Jesus commanded Lazarus to wake up and come out of the tomb. Lazarus did. He looked just like the day he was buried in a special robe. Everyone was amazed. Many believed that day that God was in Jesus.
Sometimes we think that God is too late for what we want. It doesn't happen just when we want it to. God has his own calendar, and he keeps his own time. The next time you look at a calendar remember how everyone thought Jesus was too late, but even after four days he brought a dead man back to life. Amen.
Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you know what day of the week it is? (let them answer) It's Sunday! How long is a day? (let them answer) Some of you know a day is 24 hours long. Tomorrow is what day? (let them answer) That's right, it is Monday. How many days is Sunday and Monday? (let them answer) That's right, it is two days. And what is the next day and the next day? (let them answer) Very good, the next day is Tuesday and the next day is Wednesday. How many days are there when you have Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday? That is four days.
Time is pretty important to us and certain things happen on certain days. I brought with me a calendar so that I could show you the date for today and for three more days. (give a demonstration)
Days were important in the time of Jesus, also. In the Bible lesson for today, we learn that Jesus left Jerusalem on day one. When he arrived in the next town, he was delivered a message that his friend, Lazarus, was very sick and the people who sent him the message wanted him to come right away. Instead, Jesus stayed in this town for two more days before telling his disciples he was going back to Bethany, the place where his sick friend lived. When he returned to Bethany, he learned that his friend Lazarus had died four days ago. Many people thought that Jesus should have come when he first received the message that Lazarus was sick, because Lazarus would not have died if Jesus had been there.
But Jesus really loved this family and he went to where Lazarus was buried and despite the fact that he had been dead for four days, Jesus commanded Lazarus to wake up and come out of the tomb. Lazarus did. He looked just like the day he was buried in a special robe. Everyone was amazed. Many believed that day that God was in Jesus.
Sometimes we think that God is too late for what we want. It doesn't happen just when we want it to. God has his own calendar, and he keeps his own time. The next time you look at a calendar remember how everyone thought Jesus was too late, but even after four days he brought a dead man back to life. Amen.
