Waiting out the storm
Children's sermon
Object:
a flashlight
"… but they kept shouting, 'Crucify, crucify him!' " (v. 23:21)
Good morning, boys and girls! How many of you have ever been afraid of something? (allow answers) What were you afraid of? (allow answers) There are lots of things that scare us. Many people are afraid of the dark. Some are frightened by scary stories. Sixty years ago, people in the US were afraid of bombs. In the 1950s, the US and Russia were in what we call the Cold War. Both countries were afraid the other country would send bombs over and explode them! In the US, people built bomb shelters. These were rooms underground or in the basement where they kept things like canned food, flashlights, and blankets. If a bomb was coming toward them, they hoped that by staying in the bomb shelter, they could stay safe. It was a scary time!
It wasn't always that way. In the 1940s, Americans felt good about things. World War II had just ended. Soldiers were coming home and buying houses and starting families. Things seemed really good for America! The American side had beat their opponents in the war, so Americans felt like everything was going their way. The future was bright!
Then the 1950s came around, and the US and Russia started having problems. All of a sudden, the perfect postwar world wasn't so perfect anymore!
Our gospel lesson is kind of like this piece of history. At the beginning of the reading today, Jesus rides into Jerusalem to cheering crowds! They are singing "Hosanna!" and acting like it is a parade! Everything looks good and happy for Jesus and his followers.
Then, like in the 1950s, things go wrong. Suddenly, people are shouting "Crucify him! Crucify him!" Just a short while ago, things looked rosy and bright; now they look dangerous and frightening. If people had bomb shelters in Jesus' time, they probably would have been going in and locking their doors! Jesus and his disciples must have been especially scared.
Despite all the fear, Jesus knew God would win the day. No matter how much suffering and pain he had to go through, Jesus trusted that God would see him through. So despite his fear, Jesus would be able to stand up to the officials and answer their questions -- go on trial as God's Son. Although on Good Friday he died on a cross, we know, too, the story will have a happy ending.
Although we aren't worried about bombs like we were in 1950, there are still things that frighten us. Thunderstorms and tornadoes make us close up the house and go to the basement to wait it out. And even though we might be scared, we, too, can trust in God that things will turn out all right. Like Jesus, we just have to wait out the storm. Amen.
Good morning, boys and girls! How many of you have ever been afraid of something? (allow answers) What were you afraid of? (allow answers) There are lots of things that scare us. Many people are afraid of the dark. Some are frightened by scary stories. Sixty years ago, people in the US were afraid of bombs. In the 1950s, the US and Russia were in what we call the Cold War. Both countries were afraid the other country would send bombs over and explode them! In the US, people built bomb shelters. These were rooms underground or in the basement where they kept things like canned food, flashlights, and blankets. If a bomb was coming toward them, they hoped that by staying in the bomb shelter, they could stay safe. It was a scary time!
It wasn't always that way. In the 1940s, Americans felt good about things. World War II had just ended. Soldiers were coming home and buying houses and starting families. Things seemed really good for America! The American side had beat their opponents in the war, so Americans felt like everything was going their way. The future was bright!
Then the 1950s came around, and the US and Russia started having problems. All of a sudden, the perfect postwar world wasn't so perfect anymore!
Our gospel lesson is kind of like this piece of history. At the beginning of the reading today, Jesus rides into Jerusalem to cheering crowds! They are singing "Hosanna!" and acting like it is a parade! Everything looks good and happy for Jesus and his followers.
Then, like in the 1950s, things go wrong. Suddenly, people are shouting "Crucify him! Crucify him!" Just a short while ago, things looked rosy and bright; now they look dangerous and frightening. If people had bomb shelters in Jesus' time, they probably would have been going in and locking their doors! Jesus and his disciples must have been especially scared.
Despite all the fear, Jesus knew God would win the day. No matter how much suffering and pain he had to go through, Jesus trusted that God would see him through. So despite his fear, Jesus would be able to stand up to the officials and answer their questions -- go on trial as God's Son. Although on Good Friday he died on a cross, we know, too, the story will have a happy ending.
Although we aren't worried about bombs like we were in 1950, there are still things that frighten us. Thunderstorms and tornadoes make us close up the house and go to the basement to wait it out. And even though we might be scared, we, too, can trust in God that things will turn out all right. Like Jesus, we just have to wait out the storm. Amen.
