Celebrity Jesus
Children's sermon
Object:
As many pictures of Jesus mounted on posters as you can find with his name spelled out and words like Healer, Teacher, Miracle Worker, Friend of Fishermen, Revolutionary, Rabbi Jesus, and Are you the Messiah?
Good morning, boys and girls. Do you know anyone famous? (let them answer) Does anyone know President Bush? (let them answer) Does anyone know Brittany Spears? (let them answer) Many times famous people stay away from other people. They can't go to restaurants or walk in the park. Some of them have guards that keep people away from them. It is not an easy way to live. It is nice to be known by other people, but when you become a celebrity it is very difficult.
One day after working very hard and talking to a lot of people, Jesus was tired and needed time to rest and pray to his Father. So he told his disciples to get in a boat and cross the lake. The people on shore were unhappy that he was leaving. Some wanted him to heal people, perform miracles, and answer questions. Others were pressing against him with special requests. Others wanted to know why Jesus didn't heal their father like he healed someone else. Jesus was glad to be on the boat and heading for the other side. It was good to feel the fresh air blowing through their hair and watch the clouds in the sky drift by.
But soon they arrived at the other shore, and as they got out of the boat there was a big surprise. Hundreds of people came rushing to Jesus. Some were shouting, "Teacher" (hold up the teacher sign), others were shouting, "Healer" (hold up the healer sign), "Miracle Worker" (hold up a sign), "Friend of Fishermen" (hold up sign), "Rabbi Jesus" (hold up sign), and "Are you the Messiah?" (hold up sign) The people had watched the boat sail and had rushed around the sea to be with Jesus. There would be no rest for Jesus or the disciples.
Jesus was very touched. Even though he did not like being a celebrity, still Jesus was filled with the love of God, and he knew that the people really needed help. Most of these people were without a real leader and they wanted Jesus to help them. So he did! The Bible says that he reached out to them and healed them, talked with them and shared the love of God with them.
It was hard for Jesus and the disciples even to share a meal, because there were so many people gathered around him. But Jesus took the time to do what God wanted him to do. Jesus was a famous man in his own time, but he used his being famous to share God's love and Word with all of them.
One day after working very hard and talking to a lot of people, Jesus was tired and needed time to rest and pray to his Father. So he told his disciples to get in a boat and cross the lake. The people on shore were unhappy that he was leaving. Some wanted him to heal people, perform miracles, and answer questions. Others were pressing against him with special requests. Others wanted to know why Jesus didn't heal their father like he healed someone else. Jesus was glad to be on the boat and heading for the other side. It was good to feel the fresh air blowing through their hair and watch the clouds in the sky drift by.
But soon they arrived at the other shore, and as they got out of the boat there was a big surprise. Hundreds of people came rushing to Jesus. Some were shouting, "Teacher" (hold up the teacher sign), others were shouting, "Healer" (hold up the healer sign), "Miracle Worker" (hold up a sign), "Friend of Fishermen" (hold up sign), "Rabbi Jesus" (hold up sign), and "Are you the Messiah?" (hold up sign) The people had watched the boat sail and had rushed around the sea to be with Jesus. There would be no rest for Jesus or the disciples.
Jesus was very touched. Even though he did not like being a celebrity, still Jesus was filled with the love of God, and he knew that the people really needed help. Most of these people were without a real leader and they wanted Jesus to help them. So he did! The Bible says that he reached out to them and healed them, talked with them and shared the love of God with them.
It was hard for Jesus and the disciples even to share a meal, because there were so many people gathered around him. But Jesus took the time to do what God wanted him to do. Jesus was a famous man in his own time, but he used his being famous to share God's love and Word with all of them.
