When Friends Betray Us
Children's sermon
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First Thoughts: This is probably one of the darkest lessons we will have to teach our children -- the betrayal and arrest of Jesus. We want to be true to the text and explain what's happening, but in a way that reminds the children that God is still with Jesus, and Jesus is still being faithful to God. What happens to Jesus here happens to each person of faith; we all experience those moments when someone we think supports us suddenly fails us. Perhaps they even oppose us when we are taking a step of faith. How have we responded to these betrayals in the past? How were we able to maintain our faithfulness even as our hearts were breaking? Most importantly, could we see how God was with us in those dark times? Those of us who have passed through this season of Lent and Easter several times before can speak this story truthfully and with confidence, helping our children understand that the journey of faith, though sometimes dark and scary, always leads us to God. Prepare for this lesson with some extra space for prayer and reflection.
Props You Will Need: none
Teaching As A Team:
Leader 1: Today's story is a sad one. Today in our scripture we read that Jesus was out praying with his friends, when one of his friends came up to him and gave him a kiss.
Leader 2: That doesn't sound so bad.
Leader 1: Usually a kiss is nice. But this time the kiss was a sign to some soldiers, so they would know which person was Jesus and then they could arrest him. Leader 2: You mean Jesus' friend helped them arrest him?
Leader 1: Yes.
Leader 2: But why did he do that?
Leader 1: We don't know. Maybe he was scared or confused or angry. We don't know why he did what he did, but we do know that people do all kinds of bad things when they're not living in God's love.
Leader 2: I don't understand -- isn't today called Good Friday? That doesn't sound so good.
Leader 1: No, that part isn't, but there is still good news here. Because even though people mess up, even though people can hurt or betray each other, God never does. Here in the story, even though bad things are happening to Jesus, God was with Jesus, and Jesus still knew God loved him.
Leader 2: How do we know that?
Leader 1: Because when Jesus was arrested, his friend Peter tried to defend him. Peter pulled out a sword to fight. But Jesus told him to stop. Jesus said that, even though other people might get scared and hurt others, that was not what God wanted. Even though they were arresting him, Jesus still loved those soldiers and didn't want them to be hurt.
Leader 2: So even though Jesus was probably scared and hurt at what his friend did...
Leader 1: He was still full of God's love. God promises us that even in the darkest, scariest places, God will be with us too. And that's the good news for Good Friday.
Teaching On Your Own: Today's story is a sad one. Today in our scripture we read that Jesus was out praying with his friends, when one of his friends came up to him, and gave him a kiss. Now usually a kiss is nice, right? But this time the kiss was a sign to some soldiers, so they would know which person was Jesus and then they could arrest him. So Jesus' friend helped the soldiers find and arrest him. What do you think about that? It's sad, right? Why do you think Jesus' friend would do that to him? We don't really know. Maybe he was scared or confused or angry. We don't know why he did what he did, but we do know that people do all kinds of bad things when they're not living in God's love. So today is called Good Friday. But so far we have Jesus' friend betraying him, and Jesus arrested. Those aren't good things, huh? But there still is some good news here. Do you know what it is? Even though people mess up, even though people can hurt or betray each other, God never does. Here in the story, even though bad things are happening, God was with Jesus, and Jesus still knew God loved him. You know how we know that? Because when Jesus was arrested, his friend Peter tried to defend him. Peter pulled out a sword to fight, but Jesus told him to stop. Jesus said that wasn't what God wanted. Even though they were arresting him, Jesus still loved those soldiers and didn't want them hurt. Even though Jesus was probably scared and hurt at what his friend did, he was still full of God's love. God promises us that even in the darkest, scariest places, God will be with us too. And that's the good news for Good Friday.
Closing Prayer: God, we ask for you to be especially present with us in this dark day, when we remember Jesus' sadness and fear. Help us also to learn about Jesus' faithfulness, in his willingness to live in your love even when it was really hard. Help us to grow in your love too, so we can always shine with your light, even in the dark. In Christ's name we pray, Amen.
Follow-Up Lesson: A good way to follow up this lesson at home or in a classroom setting is to help the children think about other times in our lives when times feel dark. Help them brainstorm times when they've been frightened, sad, confused, or lost. Help them think for a bit of how they can speak to God in those times, and how God might help them. For a craft project give each child a sheet of paper and crayons, and ask the children to cover their sheet with lots of different colors. Then have them color their sheet with a thick layer of black crayon. Once their papers are black remind them that, even though the black is what we see now, we know that beneath the black are all the colors they used. Give each child a paper clip and allow them to etch away the black, drawing pictures or writing words about God's love. As the colors emerge, remind them that God's love is at the bottom of every situation in our lives, and that God's love is always breaking through the blackness, just like in their picture. Faith means remembering that God is there even when we can't see God at this moment and being a community of faith means helping each other when things get difficult. Close with a prayer together, dedicating ourselves to looking for God in each situation, and in helping each other look for God.
Props You Will Need: none
Teaching As A Team:
Leader 1: Today's story is a sad one. Today in our scripture we read that Jesus was out praying with his friends, when one of his friends came up to him and gave him a kiss.
Leader 2: That doesn't sound so bad.
Leader 1: Usually a kiss is nice. But this time the kiss was a sign to some soldiers, so they would know which person was Jesus and then they could arrest him. Leader 2: You mean Jesus' friend helped them arrest him?
Leader 1: Yes.
Leader 2: But why did he do that?
Leader 1: We don't know. Maybe he was scared or confused or angry. We don't know why he did what he did, but we do know that people do all kinds of bad things when they're not living in God's love.
Leader 2: I don't understand -- isn't today called Good Friday? That doesn't sound so good.
Leader 1: No, that part isn't, but there is still good news here. Because even though people mess up, even though people can hurt or betray each other, God never does. Here in the story, even though bad things are happening to Jesus, God was with Jesus, and Jesus still knew God loved him.
Leader 2: How do we know that?
Leader 1: Because when Jesus was arrested, his friend Peter tried to defend him. Peter pulled out a sword to fight. But Jesus told him to stop. Jesus said that, even though other people might get scared and hurt others, that was not what God wanted. Even though they were arresting him, Jesus still loved those soldiers and didn't want them to be hurt.
Leader 2: So even though Jesus was probably scared and hurt at what his friend did...
Leader 1: He was still full of God's love. God promises us that even in the darkest, scariest places, God will be with us too. And that's the good news for Good Friday.
Teaching On Your Own: Today's story is a sad one. Today in our scripture we read that Jesus was out praying with his friends, when one of his friends came up to him, and gave him a kiss. Now usually a kiss is nice, right? But this time the kiss was a sign to some soldiers, so they would know which person was Jesus and then they could arrest him. So Jesus' friend helped the soldiers find and arrest him. What do you think about that? It's sad, right? Why do you think Jesus' friend would do that to him? We don't really know. Maybe he was scared or confused or angry. We don't know why he did what he did, but we do know that people do all kinds of bad things when they're not living in God's love. So today is called Good Friday. But so far we have Jesus' friend betraying him, and Jesus arrested. Those aren't good things, huh? But there still is some good news here. Do you know what it is? Even though people mess up, even though people can hurt or betray each other, God never does. Here in the story, even though bad things are happening, God was with Jesus, and Jesus still knew God loved him. You know how we know that? Because when Jesus was arrested, his friend Peter tried to defend him. Peter pulled out a sword to fight, but Jesus told him to stop. Jesus said that wasn't what God wanted. Even though they were arresting him, Jesus still loved those soldiers and didn't want them hurt. Even though Jesus was probably scared and hurt at what his friend did, he was still full of God's love. God promises us that even in the darkest, scariest places, God will be with us too. And that's the good news for Good Friday.
Closing Prayer: God, we ask for you to be especially present with us in this dark day, when we remember Jesus' sadness and fear. Help us also to learn about Jesus' faithfulness, in his willingness to live in your love even when it was really hard. Help us to grow in your love too, so we can always shine with your light, even in the dark. In Christ's name we pray, Amen.
Follow-Up Lesson: A good way to follow up this lesson at home or in a classroom setting is to help the children think about other times in our lives when times feel dark. Help them brainstorm times when they've been frightened, sad, confused, or lost. Help them think for a bit of how they can speak to God in those times, and how God might help them. For a craft project give each child a sheet of paper and crayons, and ask the children to cover their sheet with lots of different colors. Then have them color their sheet with a thick layer of black crayon. Once their papers are black remind them that, even though the black is what we see now, we know that beneath the black are all the colors they used. Give each child a paper clip and allow them to etch away the black, drawing pictures or writing words about God's love. As the colors emerge, remind them that God's love is at the bottom of every situation in our lives, and that God's love is always breaking through the blackness, just like in their picture. Faith means remembering that God is there even when we can't see God at this moment and being a community of faith means helping each other when things get difficult. Close with a prayer together, dedicating ourselves to looking for God in each situation, and in helping each other look for God.
