No illusion here!
Children's sermon
Object:
an optical illusion (such as two equal lines side by
side. The top one has > on each end and the bottom one has < .
The bottom line looks longer even though it is not)
I want to show you something here. (Show them the optical
illusion.) Which line is longer? (Allow them to respond.) It
sure looks like that line is longer, but it is not. In fact,
both lines are the same length. This is called an "optical
illusion" and it's fun to see how our eyes play tricks on us.
(Here, if you choose, show the children other optical illusions.
There are books of optical illusions available at most public
libraries. Also check under "Illusion" or "Perception" in an
encyclopedia.)
When the disciples were behind locked doors, Jesus suddenly appeared to them. The doors were locked and yet Jesus came in anyway. They thought they were seeing an optical illusion! They couldn't believe their eyes. They must have rubbed their eyes wondering about this! Not only did Jesus appear behind locked doors, but they knew he had been killed just two days earlier! When a person dies, you never, ever expect to see that person in the same way you saw him when he lived like you and me.
One of the disciples was not present when Jesus appeared behind the locked doors. Who knows his name? (Let them answer.) His name was Thomas and even today people often talk about a "doubting Thomas."
You see, Thomas thought all the others who saw Jesus really saw an optical illusion. He said, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe." He wouldn't believe what he didn't see -- AND FEEL!
One week later, Jesus appeared to Thomas and invited him to see his hands and side and to believe. This was clearly no optical illusion. This was not a trick. This was real! Jesus had risen from the grave!
We also believe that Jesus' resurrection was real. We believe Jesus is with us now.
Dearest Lord Jesus: Thank you for dying and rising again from the dead. Amen.
When the disciples were behind locked doors, Jesus suddenly appeared to them. The doors were locked and yet Jesus came in anyway. They thought they were seeing an optical illusion! They couldn't believe their eyes. They must have rubbed their eyes wondering about this! Not only did Jesus appear behind locked doors, but they knew he had been killed just two days earlier! When a person dies, you never, ever expect to see that person in the same way you saw him when he lived like you and me.
One of the disciples was not present when Jesus appeared behind the locked doors. Who knows his name? (Let them answer.) His name was Thomas and even today people often talk about a "doubting Thomas."
You see, Thomas thought all the others who saw Jesus really saw an optical illusion. He said, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe." He wouldn't believe what he didn't see -- AND FEEL!
One week later, Jesus appeared to Thomas and invited him to see his hands and side and to believe. This was clearly no optical illusion. This was not a trick. This was real! Jesus had risen from the grave!
We also believe that Jesus' resurrection was real. We believe Jesus is with us now.
Dearest Lord Jesus: Thank you for dying and rising again from the dead. Amen.
