Lifted up
Children's sermon
Object:
picture of a caduceus (the symbol of the medical
profession)
People who are doctors and nurses and medical professionals
often have this sign on their diplomas and you can see it on the
walls of clinics, hospitals, and medical offices. It is a sign
of healing. It's got a fancy name. It's called a "caduceus" and
it is a pole with two snakes wrapped around it. It's kind of
funny looking in a way. But it means healing from sickness and
relief from pain for many people.
There is a story about one of the first caduceus ever in the Old Testament. We read about it in today's first lesson (Numbers 21:4-9). In that reading we hear about God's people who are in the wilderness or desert. There is not much food or water in a desert. The people complained to God.
Have any of you been to the desert? (Let them answer.) What is it like? (Let them answer.) The desert also often has poisonous snakes. Have any of you ever seen a poisonous snake? (Let them answer.)
When God's people were in the wilderness, many were bitten by poisonous snakes. God told Moses to take a pole and make a brass snake and put it on the pole and set it high so that everyone could see it. "Whenever someone is bitten by a poisonous snake," God said, "all they have to do is look up to the pole with the snake on it and they will be fine."
Many years later Jesus, God's own son, was crucified on the cross. The cross doesn't save us from snakebite, but it saves us from our sins and from death itself. The cross does so much more than the brass caduceus of Moses. That is why we put our crosses high up so that everyone can see them. We know that the cross is a sign for us that God has saved us and that we shall live forever.
I'm glad to know Jesus and I really appreciate the fact that he went to the cross to die for you and for me. The cross is my sign of eternal life -- just like the caduceus is a sign of healing for the medical profession. The cross tells me that God loves me so much that he sent his only son to die for me -- and for you! (v. 16)
Dearest Jesus: Thank you for saving us and giving us the cross to look up to. Amen.
There is a story about one of the first caduceus ever in the Old Testament. We read about it in today's first lesson (Numbers 21:4-9). In that reading we hear about God's people who are in the wilderness or desert. There is not much food or water in a desert. The people complained to God.
Have any of you been to the desert? (Let them answer.) What is it like? (Let them answer.) The desert also often has poisonous snakes. Have any of you ever seen a poisonous snake? (Let them answer.)
When God's people were in the wilderness, many were bitten by poisonous snakes. God told Moses to take a pole and make a brass snake and put it on the pole and set it high so that everyone could see it. "Whenever someone is bitten by a poisonous snake," God said, "all they have to do is look up to the pole with the snake on it and they will be fine."
Many years later Jesus, God's own son, was crucified on the cross. The cross doesn't save us from snakebite, but it saves us from our sins and from death itself. The cross does so much more than the brass caduceus of Moses. That is why we put our crosses high up so that everyone can see them. We know that the cross is a sign for us that God has saved us and that we shall live forever.
I'm glad to know Jesus and I really appreciate the fact that he went to the cross to die for you and for me. The cross is my sign of eternal life -- just like the caduceus is a sign of healing for the medical profession. The cross tells me that God loves me so much that he sent his only son to die for me -- and for you! (v. 16)
Dearest Jesus: Thank you for saving us and giving us the cross to look up to. Amen.
