On Epiphany Sunday, the pastor...
Illustration
On Epiphany Sunday, the pastor at a church we were visiting invited the children forward for the children's sermon. He began talking about the Wise Men who brought gifts to the baby Jesus. First he held up a gold ring, and asked why the Wise Men might have brought gold. One child volunteered that it was because Jesus was a king. Gold for a king, was right.
Next, he moved to frankincense. He had some on a dish, and with a match he lit it. The children saw the smoke rising and smelled the aroma. The pastor talked about the "aroma" of good deeds and prayers that rise to heaven.
Then the myrrh. He had some and let the kids rub it and discover the oily feel it left on the fingers. He explained that in Bible times, people put myrrh on the bodies of people after they died. He talked to the children about how the death of Jesus would change the world.
Next, he moved to frankincense. He had some on a dish, and with a match he lit it. The children saw the smoke rising and smelled the aroma. The pastor talked about the "aroma" of good deeds and prayers that rise to heaven.
Then the myrrh. He had some and let the kids rub it and discover the oily feel it left on the fingers. He explained that in Bible times, people put myrrh on the bodies of people after they died. He talked to the children about how the death of Jesus would change the world.
