Jesus was sad
Children's sermon
Object:
a box of tissues
Jesus began to weep. (v. 35)
Good morning, boys and girls. Today we are going to talk about Jesus and the way he feels about us. I read a story in the Bible about Jesus and two sisters, Mary and Martha, and their brother, Lazarus. Do you remember Mary, Martha, and Lazarus? (let them answer) They were good friends of Jesus and many times when he was traveling he would stay at their house for a couple of days. Do you ever have friends stay at your house? (let them answer) I like to have good friends stay at my house, also.
How do you think Jesus feels about you? (let them answer) Is Jesus happy when you are happy? When you pray at your table before you eat, do you feel special because you have invited him to be with you? (let them answer) When you have had a bad day is Jesus angry with you or does he quietly make you feel better? (let them answer) Do you think that Jesus ever cried while you cried? (let them answer)
These are really hard questions. Mary and Martha lived with their brother, Lazarus. None of them were married, so they looked after each other. One day, Lazarus got really sick. Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus, who was a long way from their home, that Lazarus was sick. They wanted Jesus to heal Lazarus, but they also just wanted Jesus to be near them. You know how you feel when you are sick. If your mom is close by, you feel better. If someone else is staying with you, it is not the same. Before Jesus arrived, Lazarus died.
Mary and Martha were heartbroken. They knew that if Jesus had arrived before he died, that Lazarus would still be alive. Even more important to them was having Jesus be there with them to share their unhappiness. Mary and Martha cried a lot that day. Finally, Jesus arrived and he went to talk with Mary and Martha. There were a lot of other friends there at the same time. Some had brought food, others were cleaning up the house, but most of them were just standing and talking to one another about what a wonderful person Lazarus was in life.
When Jesus saw Mary and Martha and could see how much they cared, he was touched. The tears came down the faces of Mary and Martha. And the Bible says that Jesus cried tears, also. He really wanted to help them but he needed some time to shed his tears. I suppose someone gave him a cloth, like a tissue, to wipe his tears and I think Jesus used it. Of course, Jesus did something else. He called into the grave and asked Lazarus to come out. Sure enough, Lazarus was brought back to life and Mary and Martha were really happy.
I brought something along today to pass out so that you will not forget this story. I brought each of you a tissue so that you will always remember the day Jesus cried tears with Mary and Martha. Amen.
Good morning, boys and girls. Today we are going to talk about Jesus and the way he feels about us. I read a story in the Bible about Jesus and two sisters, Mary and Martha, and their brother, Lazarus. Do you remember Mary, Martha, and Lazarus? (let them answer) They were good friends of Jesus and many times when he was traveling he would stay at their house for a couple of days. Do you ever have friends stay at your house? (let them answer) I like to have good friends stay at my house, also.
How do you think Jesus feels about you? (let them answer) Is Jesus happy when you are happy? When you pray at your table before you eat, do you feel special because you have invited him to be with you? (let them answer) When you have had a bad day is Jesus angry with you or does he quietly make you feel better? (let them answer) Do you think that Jesus ever cried while you cried? (let them answer)
These are really hard questions. Mary and Martha lived with their brother, Lazarus. None of them were married, so they looked after each other. One day, Lazarus got really sick. Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus, who was a long way from their home, that Lazarus was sick. They wanted Jesus to heal Lazarus, but they also just wanted Jesus to be near them. You know how you feel when you are sick. If your mom is close by, you feel better. If someone else is staying with you, it is not the same. Before Jesus arrived, Lazarus died.
Mary and Martha were heartbroken. They knew that if Jesus had arrived before he died, that Lazarus would still be alive. Even more important to them was having Jesus be there with them to share their unhappiness. Mary and Martha cried a lot that day. Finally, Jesus arrived and he went to talk with Mary and Martha. There were a lot of other friends there at the same time. Some had brought food, others were cleaning up the house, but most of them were just standing and talking to one another about what a wonderful person Lazarus was in life.
When Jesus saw Mary and Martha and could see how much they cared, he was touched. The tears came down the faces of Mary and Martha. And the Bible says that Jesus cried tears, also. He really wanted to help them but he needed some time to shed his tears. I suppose someone gave him a cloth, like a tissue, to wipe his tears and I think Jesus used it. Of course, Jesus did something else. He called into the grave and asked Lazarus to come out. Sure enough, Lazarus was brought back to life and Mary and Martha were really happy.
I brought something along today to pass out so that you will not forget this story. I brought each of you a tissue so that you will always remember the day Jesus cried tears with Mary and Martha. Amen.
