The Betraying Kiss
Children's sermon
Alleluia!
Messages For Children On Lent And Easter Themes
(The following questions are rhetorical questions, not requiring an answer):
Have you ever been kissed?
One night a man, it might have been your father, said to a woman, "I love you. Will you marry me?" She smiled and said, "Yes," and they sealed their love, showed their love, with a kiss. Was that kiss real love?
One day a child, it might have been you or your friend, drew a picture for their grandmother and added "x x x" to show they loved the grandmother. Was that kiss real love?
When Anne woke up that morning, Rufus was on her bed, licking her face. It was the way her puppy showed Anne that he loved her. It was called a "dog's kiss." Was that kiss real love?
One night a man, called Judas, walked into a dark garden, leading a large crowd with swords and clubs. When he found Jesus, he kissed him. Then the men with swords and clubs put chains on Jesus and led him away to prison where they beat him. Was that kiss real love?
Those were real stories, even if all of them did not show real love, yet let's hear one more story, a pretend story.
There once was a kiss who wore a big "X" on his chest. It was like the ones you make on your letters and drawings to say, "I love you."
The kiss was happy because it showed love, just as we are happy when we show love.
It giggled when the man kissed the woman.
It laughed when the child made an "x" on his drawing.
It was joyful when the puppy licked the girl's face.
But when Judas kissed Jesus, the kiss felt betrayed, just as Judas betrayed Jesus, using the kiss for the wrong reason.
Talk together: Young children are "concrete" in their thinking: a hole is to dig, a chair is to sit in, a kiss is to say, "I love you."
Choose one of the following themes to discuss. To use both is overload for children:
1. A kiss is a symbol, a sign, of love.
Draw a red light. Show the children and ask, When you see this, what do you think? It can't talk, but it says ... (STOP!).
When your mother or father kisses you, or you draw an "x" on your letter or drawing, or your puppy licks you, a kiss can't talk, but it says ... (I LOVE YOU!).
Who kisses you? Why? Whom do you kiss? Why?
2. The meaning and example of "betrayal" through a kiss.
To betray means you trust someone, care about him or her, and that person uses that trust and friendship to hurt you. Judas' kiss is called a "betraying kiss."
Talk together: Why did Judas kiss Jesus? (Unless children know the story that precedes Judas' kiss, this question may confuse them. Choose your questions to talk about on the basis of the age group of the children.)
Prayer: Dear God, because a kiss is a sign that says, "I love you," thank you for Jesus, your "kiss" for us. Amen.
Have you ever been kissed?
One night a man, it might have been your father, said to a woman, "I love you. Will you marry me?" She smiled and said, "Yes," and they sealed their love, showed their love, with a kiss. Was that kiss real love?
One day a child, it might have been you or your friend, drew a picture for their grandmother and added "x x x" to show they loved the grandmother. Was that kiss real love?
When Anne woke up that morning, Rufus was on her bed, licking her face. It was the way her puppy showed Anne that he loved her. It was called a "dog's kiss." Was that kiss real love?
One night a man, called Judas, walked into a dark garden, leading a large crowd with swords and clubs. When he found Jesus, he kissed him. Then the men with swords and clubs put chains on Jesus and led him away to prison where they beat him. Was that kiss real love?
Those were real stories, even if all of them did not show real love, yet let's hear one more story, a pretend story.
There once was a kiss who wore a big "X" on his chest. It was like the ones you make on your letters and drawings to say, "I love you."
The kiss was happy because it showed love, just as we are happy when we show love.
It giggled when the man kissed the woman.
It laughed when the child made an "x" on his drawing.
It was joyful when the puppy licked the girl's face.
But when Judas kissed Jesus, the kiss felt betrayed, just as Judas betrayed Jesus, using the kiss for the wrong reason.
Talk together: Young children are "concrete" in their thinking: a hole is to dig, a chair is to sit in, a kiss is to say, "I love you."
Choose one of the following themes to discuss. To use both is overload for children:
1. A kiss is a symbol, a sign, of love.
Draw a red light. Show the children and ask, When you see this, what do you think? It can't talk, but it says ... (STOP!).
When your mother or father kisses you, or you draw an "x" on your letter or drawing, or your puppy licks you, a kiss can't talk, but it says ... (I LOVE YOU!).
Who kisses you? Why? Whom do you kiss? Why?
2. The meaning and example of "betrayal" through a kiss.
To betray means you trust someone, care about him or her, and that person uses that trust and friendship to hurt you. Judas' kiss is called a "betraying kiss."
Talk together: Why did Judas kiss Jesus? (Unless children know the story that precedes Judas' kiss, this question may confuse them. Choose your questions to talk about on the basis of the age group of the children.)
Prayer: Dear God, because a kiss is a sign that says, "I love you," thank you for Jesus, your "kiss" for us. Amen.
