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Transfiguration

Children's sermon
Matthew 17:1-9
Transfiguration Sunday - A
John Jamison
Object: A bright flashlight. We will use the light to shine on faces to show how Jesus’ face might have shined on the mountain. For the best effect, I usually hold the light up high in front of the head and shine it down to the forehead, rather than directly into the face. When you use the light, you might shine it on yourself first, and then ask for volunteers to light up one at a time as well.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are we all ready to hear today’s story? (Let them respond.)

One day, Jesus called Peter, James, and John and said, “Hey, let’s go for a walk.” They followed Jesus up a trail in the hills and ended up on top of a big mountain. Peter, James, and John stood just there looking around. Have you ever been on top of a mountain or a big hill before? (Let them respond.) Sometimes you can see a really long way from up high like that, can’t you? (Let them respond.) Well, Peter, James, and John could see all the way across the sea from there. They could look down and point at their hometown from there, and even their houses. But then they saw something they did not expect to see at all on that mountain. When one of them turned to tell Jesus that they could see their house, they saw that two more people were standing next to Jesus. And they saw that Jesus’ clothes were really bright, and it looked like his face was shining. They were really surprised. And then they heard a voice from somewhere say that they shouldn’t be afraid and that Jesus was God’s own son. That would be a big surprise, wouldn’t it? (Let them respond.) After a few minutes, the two other people left, and Jesus looked like Jesus again. Then Jesus said, “Let’s go back home.”

We have a special name for this story. We call it the Transfiguration story. Does anyone have an idea what transfiguration means? (Let them respond.) If something is transfigured, it means it looks like something different. It changes what it looks like. So, why do you think we call this story the Transfiguration story? (Let them respond.) Yes! Because Jesus changed and looked like something else, didn’t he? His clothes got all white and bright, and his face shined. He was transfigured because God had come to be with him on that mountain. He looked different because God was with him.

Let’s see if we can imagine what that might have looked like. (Show your flashlight.) The story said that Jesus’ face shined, so let’s see what a shining face might look like. (Shine the light on as many faces as you want.) The light sure made us look different, didn’t it? (Let them respond.) We were transfigured, weren’t we? (Let them respond.) But just by a flashlight, and not by God. But wouldn’t it be cool if there was a way we could tell if God was with us like that? (Let them respond.) If somehow, when we were afraid or hurt, or lonely, we could know for sure that God was right here with us, that would be great, wouldn’t it? (Let them respond.)

Well, let me ask you a question. Have you ever been afraid, or hurt, or lonely, or sick, and someone came to take care of you and help you feel better? (Let them respond.) Maybe they brought you something, or just stayed with you and talked with you, or hugged you. Has anyone ever helped you feel better like that? (Let them respond.) And, it felt really good, didn’t it? (Let them respond.) When they did that, did their face get all bright and light up? (Let them respond.) No, probably not. Their clothes and faces didn’t get all lit up and bright, but they showed us that God was with them because of they way they took care of us.

Jesus was transfigured to show Peter, James, and John that God was there with him. But if we want to show people that God is with us, we don’t need lights or bright clothes, do we? (Let them respond.) Just like those people who helped us when we were afraid, or hurt, or sick, or lonely, we might not glow when we help take care of each other, but they will see that God is with us.

Let’s pray and thank God for sending those people who take care of us, and ask God to remind us that Jesus loves every one of us and wants us to follow him and take care of each other the way God takes care of us.

Prayer
Dear God, thank you for reminding us how much you love us, and for forgiving us when we forget that. And please help us remember that you love all of the people you have created, and help us let the people around us know that we love them just like Jesus loves us. Amen.
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