Nailprints
Children's sermon
Object:
nails (old-fashioned square nails if possible), a hammer, and a board
Good morning, boys and girls. Today we are going to talk about a special moment for one of Jesus' disciples. His name was Thomas. When Jesus talked about being crucified or dying, Thomas always said that he would be right beside him and die with him. But of course he didn't and, like most of the other disciples, he was filled with fear when Jesus was arrested.
But one day the other disciples told him that Jesus was resurrected from the dead and they had seen him. Thomas wanted to believe this, but he just couldn't do it. So instead he challenged them and said, "Unless I see the mark that the nails made when he was crucified, I just can't believe that Jesus is alive." The disciples heard this and were discouraged that Thomas, their friend, would not believe what they told him.
Have you ever told someone something that was really true and they would not believe you? (let them answer) It hurts when someone tells you that they don't believe you. But that's the way it was.
I brought along some nails to show you what they may have looked like. (show them some of the nails) I want to pound them into a board so you can see what kind of a mark they make. (pound them into the board) The further you pound them into the board the bigger the mark gets. You will remember that the soldiers pounded these big nails into the hands and feet of Jesus while he was lying on the cross. After the nails were in, they lifted the cross up high. These are the kind of marks that Thomas wanted to see in Jesus' hands. If Jesus was really alive, the marks should still be there.
It was just one week later that the other disciples invited Thomas over to the place where they were staying. They were very excited to see each other. But then to their amazement and in spite of the fact that the doors were locked, Jesus stood right in the middle of them. Jesus said, "Peace be with you." I don't know if anyone said anything, but Jesus then told Thomas to look at his hands and see the marks that the nails made. Jesus really was alive. The marks were there but Thomas didn't care about the marks. He could only think of one thing to say: "My Lord and my God." That was it. Thomas really believed.
So what about you and me? Can we believe without seeing those nailprints? (let them answer) Jesus was thinking about people like you and me when he said to Thomas, "I am happy you have seen and now believe, but I am even happier to know that many will believe and will never see these nailprints." Jesus said that because of you and me.
But one day the other disciples told him that Jesus was resurrected from the dead and they had seen him. Thomas wanted to believe this, but he just couldn't do it. So instead he challenged them and said, "Unless I see the mark that the nails made when he was crucified, I just can't believe that Jesus is alive." The disciples heard this and were discouraged that Thomas, their friend, would not believe what they told him.
Have you ever told someone something that was really true and they would not believe you? (let them answer) It hurts when someone tells you that they don't believe you. But that's the way it was.
I brought along some nails to show you what they may have looked like. (show them some of the nails) I want to pound them into a board so you can see what kind of a mark they make. (pound them into the board) The further you pound them into the board the bigger the mark gets. You will remember that the soldiers pounded these big nails into the hands and feet of Jesus while he was lying on the cross. After the nails were in, they lifted the cross up high. These are the kind of marks that Thomas wanted to see in Jesus' hands. If Jesus was really alive, the marks should still be there.
It was just one week later that the other disciples invited Thomas over to the place where they were staying. They were very excited to see each other. But then to their amazement and in spite of the fact that the doors were locked, Jesus stood right in the middle of them. Jesus said, "Peace be with you." I don't know if anyone said anything, but Jesus then told Thomas to look at his hands and see the marks that the nails made. Jesus really was alive. The marks were there but Thomas didn't care about the marks. He could only think of one thing to say: "My Lord and my God." That was it. Thomas really believed.
So what about you and me? Can we believe without seeing those nailprints? (let them answer) Jesus was thinking about people like you and me when he said to Thomas, "I am happy you have seen and now believe, but I am even happier to know that many will believe and will never see these nailprints." Jesus said that because of you and me.
