The Rope
Children's sermon
Speaking With Signs
Children's Object Lessons for Lent And Easter
Object:
A rope
Do you remember where we left our story last week? Do you remember that the soldiers had arrested Jesus in the olive grove when it was late at night, and the only light they had was a lantern to see by? If you remember that, then you will know right where our story begins today.
Jesus was thought to be a dangerous man because he had chased all of the robbers and greedy people out of the Temple. The priests and Pharisees thought He was dangerous because He taught new things about God that they didn't know and were afraid to learn. They were afraid that the people would listen to Jesus instead of to them. That made them afraid and angry.
The soldiers were told that He was dangerous, and they did not want to take any chances. He did not look like a dangerous man who would hurt anyone, but when you are a soldier, you are trained to follow orders. Their orders were to arrest Him and bring Him to the house of Annas, the Chief Priest. The soldiers did with Jesus what they always did with someone they arrested. They tied Him up. Jesus was told to put His hands behind Him, and one of the soldiers took a strong rope and bound His hands. A rope can burn your wrists if it is tight. It cuts right through the skin. Jesus felt the soldier jerk the rope to pull it tight and then knot it in place.
Out of the garden the soldiers came with their captive between them. Back down the hill and across the Kidron Valley they went until they came to the giant wall that surrounded the city of Jerusalem. The sentries who were posted at the huge gates swung them open and allowed the soldiers and their prisoner to pass through. It had been only a few days before that when Jesus had ridden through the same streets on the back of a donkey colt and had heard the cheers of the people who lived in this city. Now He was led like a criminal to the house of the chief priest, Annas. It is hard to walk well when your hands are tied behind you, and I suppose that Jesus got a few commands like, "Hurry up" and "Watch where you are going." But Jesus never said a smart thing back. He went because He knew that the soldiers were doing what they were told to do and what they thought was right.
The soldiers took Him into the house of Annas. Remember that it was still dark outside, but when they came into the room it was like entering the house of a king. There sat Annas looking down on Jesus as if He were something dirty. He asked Jesus about His disciple friends and what He had taught them. Jesus told the chief priests that He taught them the same thing that He taught in the temple. All of the Jewish leaders had heard Him teach, and many of them were present that night in Annas' house. One of the soldiers who liked to be a bully grabbed Jesus who was still tied with the rope, hit Him in the face with his fist and screamed, "Is that the way to answer the High Priest?"
Jesus looked at the soldier and said to him, "If I lied, prove it. Should you hit a man for telling the truth?"
Annas knew what Jesus taught. He had heard people talk about Jesus and the things He said and the good things He did. How do you punish a man for doing good and teaching love? It was a hard question, and one that Annas found hard to answer. But still he hated Him because the people loved Jesus instead of him. Somehow Annas had to get rid of Jesus or he would lose his position and power.
But Annas knew that he was not the only one who was in trouble. Maybe someone else could do what he did not want to do. So Annas told the soldier to take away the man tied with a rope to his son-in-law, Caiaphas. Maybe he would find the words to make Jesus look bad and the Jewish leaders look good. Jesus stood, hands tied, listening to the threats and questions of the chief priest. His courage never lessened even when the soldier hit Him in the face. Jesus knew that God was with Him and that everything would be made right in the end.
I have a picture of a rope for you to keep to help you remember the night that Jesus went to the chief priest's house and kept His courage. I hope that this sign will give you courage also.
God bless you. Amen.
A rope
Do you remember where we left our story last week? Do you remember that the soldiers had arrested Jesus in the olive grove when it was late at night, and the only light they had was a lantern to see by? If you remember that, then you will know right where our story begins today.
Jesus was thought to be a dangerous man because he had chased all of the robbers and greedy people out of the Temple. The priests and Pharisees thought He was dangerous because He taught new things about God that they didn't know and were afraid to learn. They were afraid that the people would listen to Jesus instead of to them. That made them afraid and angry.
The soldiers were told that He was dangerous, and they did not want to take any chances. He did not look like a dangerous man who would hurt anyone, but when you are a soldier, you are trained to follow orders. Their orders were to arrest Him and bring Him to the house of Annas, the Chief Priest. The soldiers did with Jesus what they always did with someone they arrested. They tied Him up. Jesus was told to put His hands behind Him, and one of the soldiers took a strong rope and bound His hands. A rope can burn your wrists if it is tight. It cuts right through the skin. Jesus felt the soldier jerk the rope to pull it tight and then knot it in place.
Out of the garden the soldiers came with their captive between them. Back down the hill and across the Kidron Valley they went until they came to the giant wall that surrounded the city of Jerusalem. The sentries who were posted at the huge gates swung them open and allowed the soldiers and their prisoner to pass through. It had been only a few days before that when Jesus had ridden through the same streets on the back of a donkey colt and had heard the cheers of the people who lived in this city. Now He was led like a criminal to the house of the chief priest, Annas. It is hard to walk well when your hands are tied behind you, and I suppose that Jesus got a few commands like, "Hurry up" and "Watch where you are going." But Jesus never said a smart thing back. He went because He knew that the soldiers were doing what they were told to do and what they thought was right.
The soldiers took Him into the house of Annas. Remember that it was still dark outside, but when they came into the room it was like entering the house of a king. There sat Annas looking down on Jesus as if He were something dirty. He asked Jesus about His disciple friends and what He had taught them. Jesus told the chief priests that He taught them the same thing that He taught in the temple. All of the Jewish leaders had heard Him teach, and many of them were present that night in Annas' house. One of the soldiers who liked to be a bully grabbed Jesus who was still tied with the rope, hit Him in the face with his fist and screamed, "Is that the way to answer the High Priest?"
Jesus looked at the soldier and said to him, "If I lied, prove it. Should you hit a man for telling the truth?"
Annas knew what Jesus taught. He had heard people talk about Jesus and the things He said and the good things He did. How do you punish a man for doing good and teaching love? It was a hard question, and one that Annas found hard to answer. But still he hated Him because the people loved Jesus instead of him. Somehow Annas had to get rid of Jesus or he would lose his position and power.
But Annas knew that he was not the only one who was in trouble. Maybe someone else could do what he did not want to do. So Annas told the soldier to take away the man tied with a rope to his son-in-law, Caiaphas. Maybe he would find the words to make Jesus look bad and the Jewish leaders look good. Jesus stood, hands tied, listening to the threats and questions of the chief priest. His courage never lessened even when the soldier hit Him in the face. Jesus knew that God was with Him and that everything would be made right in the end.
I have a picture of a rope for you to keep to help you remember the night that Jesus went to the chief priest's house and kept His courage. I hope that this sign will give you courage also.
God bless you. Amen.
