Jesus' cup
Children's sermon
Object:
a favorite drinking cup or mug
Good morning, boys and girls. I brought my favorite mug with
me this morning. It's my favorite because (explain why here). I
like this mug so well that sometimes things I drink even taste
better when I use it instead of other mugs. Do any of you have a
favorite drinking cup? (Let them answer.) Do your parents have a
favorite cup? (Let them answer.) I brought my mug to help me tell
you the story about today's lesson. The story is about Jesus.
Jesus was walking with his disciples to Jerusalem. he knew that he was about to die. He knew that he was going to be put on trial. He knew that he would be crucified. He even knew that on the third day he would be raised from the dead. The disciples knew none of this.
One of the disciple's mother came to Jesus with a very unusual request. She thought Jesus was about to begin an earthly kingdom. She wanted her two sons to sit next to him on his earthly throne. Jesus told her that she didn't know what she was saying when she made her request. He answered: (hold up your cup at this point) "Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?" What do you suppose he meant when he said that? (Let them answer.) He meant, are you able to go through all the things with me that are about to happen to me -- a trial, crucifixion and death? Then he told them something very interesting. He told them not to wish to be first all the time. He was talking about the mother who wanted her sons to sit next to him on his throne. Instead of wanting to be first all the time, Jesus said we should want to serve others. That means we should be last, not first. That's what Jesus wants of us. If we want to be first, or the greatest person, then we must learn to serve others. A truly great person in God's kingdom is a person who serves others. That means the person helps others. That's what Jesus wants us to be -- persons who help others. When we serve others, we are drinking from his cup.
Jesus was walking with his disciples to Jerusalem. he knew that he was about to die. He knew that he was going to be put on trial. He knew that he would be crucified. He even knew that on the third day he would be raised from the dead. The disciples knew none of this.
One of the disciple's mother came to Jesus with a very unusual request. She thought Jesus was about to begin an earthly kingdom. She wanted her two sons to sit next to him on his earthly throne. Jesus told her that she didn't know what she was saying when she made her request. He answered: (hold up your cup at this point) "Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?" What do you suppose he meant when he said that? (Let them answer.) He meant, are you able to go through all the things with me that are about to happen to me -- a trial, crucifixion and death? Then he told them something very interesting. He told them not to wish to be first all the time. He was talking about the mother who wanted her sons to sit next to him on his throne. Instead of wanting to be first all the time, Jesus said we should want to serve others. That means we should be last, not first. That's what Jesus wants of us. If we want to be first, or the greatest person, then we must learn to serve others. A truly great person in God's kingdom is a person who serves others. That means the person helps others. That's what Jesus wants us to be -- persons who help others. When we serve others, we are drinking from his cup.
