King Jesus
Children's sermon
Object:
a sign that says "the King of the Jews"
Good morning! Today I brought a sign with me. Can someone tell me what it says? (Have one of the older children read it.) Now why do you think I brought this with me this morning? (Let them answer.) I brought this with me because it is very similar to the sign they put on Jesus' cross. (Here you can recap the Passion Sunday reading.)
When they put this sign on Jesus' cross, do you think they meant it? Do you think they really thought he was a king? (Let them answer.) No, if they really thought he was a king, they probably would have treated him like a king. They were making fun of Jesus when they put this sign on his cross. They did the same thing with the crown of thorns and the stick they put in his hands. They mocked him and spit on him and made fun of him. They treated him very badly!
They treated Jesus like a terrible person and he was really a very good person. They treated Jesus like a bad criminal but he really was the king -- the king of all who believe in him. He is our king. Today when we think of Jesus, we would never think to mock Jesus with a sign we didn't mean. Today we honor Jesus as our King.
Dear King Jesus: We are your people. Thank you for being our king. Amen.
Alternative (for Palm Sunday): Object: a band leader's baton. Have the children form a parade behind one of the more extroverted of the children (or yourself) and form a parade down the aisles of the sanctuary. After returning from the parade, ask, "Why do we have parades?" (To celebrate something important -- e.g. the Thanksgiving parade, Christmas and New Year's parades, as well as parades at festivals and ball games.) What is so important that we have a parade here today? (Jesus is why we have a parade. Jesus is our Lord and Savior. We want to celebrate with a parade.) (If you have processionals in your worship service, note how they are very much like a parade to honor "the King of kings" -- Jesus.)
When they put this sign on Jesus' cross, do you think they meant it? Do you think they really thought he was a king? (Let them answer.) No, if they really thought he was a king, they probably would have treated him like a king. They were making fun of Jesus when they put this sign on his cross. They did the same thing with the crown of thorns and the stick they put in his hands. They mocked him and spit on him and made fun of him. They treated him very badly!
They treated Jesus like a terrible person and he was really a very good person. They treated Jesus like a bad criminal but he really was the king -- the king of all who believe in him. He is our king. Today when we think of Jesus, we would never think to mock Jesus with a sign we didn't mean. Today we honor Jesus as our King.
Dear King Jesus: We are your people. Thank you for being our king. Amen.
Alternative (for Palm Sunday): Object: a band leader's baton. Have the children form a parade behind one of the more extroverted of the children (or yourself) and form a parade down the aisles of the sanctuary. After returning from the parade, ask, "Why do we have parades?" (To celebrate something important -- e.g. the Thanksgiving parade, Christmas and New Year's parades, as well as parades at festivals and ball games.) What is so important that we have a parade here today? (Jesus is why we have a parade. Jesus is our Lord and Savior. We want to celebrate with a parade.) (If you have processionals in your worship service, note how they are very much like a parade to honor "the King of kings" -- Jesus.)
