Which crown?
Children's sermon
Object:
a paper crown and a crown of thorns (perhaps woven out of grapevines -- craft and hobby shops have inexpensive grapevine wreaths that work well)
The ruler asked Jesus if he was a king. Pilate thought of a king like many of us think of kings. He thought of someone who ruled a group of people, sitting on a throne in a castle and wearing one of these (show them the crown) all covered with gold and priceless jewels. But was Jesus this kind of king? (Let them answer.) No -- we know he was a very different kind of king. He was a king and is still a king in God's kingdom.
What if Jesus had been king of just the Jews? (Let them answer.) He would have been their king and not ours. What if he had gone to Jerusalem to set up his kingdom? (Let them answer.) Then he wouldn't be our king in this time and place. What if Jesus had decided not to obey God and go to the cross to suffer? (Let them answer.) Then we would still be lost in our sins!
Jesus could have had the gold crown (put the crown on your head). But instead he chose a crown of thorns (put the crown of "thorns" -- the grapevine crown -- on your head.) Since Jesus chose the crown of thorns and the cross, he died and was buried. If that were the end of the story, it would be a sad one. But it was not the end of the story. How does the story turn out? (Let them answer.) That's right -- Jesus rose from the grave on Easter.
I hope you can all be here next Sunday as we celebrate the victory of Jesus over death. Bring your moms and dads and aunts and uncles and grandmas and grandpas and neighbors and everyone you can think of to share this good news next Sunday. Jesus is our eternal king! Alleluia!
Dearest King Jesus: Thank you for being faithful to God and choosing the crown of thorns instead of the crown of gold. Thank you for being our king and savior. Amen.
What if Jesus had been king of just the Jews? (Let them answer.) He would have been their king and not ours. What if he had gone to Jerusalem to set up his kingdom? (Let them answer.) Then he wouldn't be our king in this time and place. What if Jesus had decided not to obey God and go to the cross to suffer? (Let them answer.) Then we would still be lost in our sins!
Jesus could have had the gold crown (put the crown on your head). But instead he chose a crown of thorns (put the crown of "thorns" -- the grapevine crown -- on your head.) Since Jesus chose the crown of thorns and the cross, he died and was buried. If that were the end of the story, it would be a sad one. But it was not the end of the story. How does the story turn out? (Let them answer.) That's right -- Jesus rose from the grave on Easter.
I hope you can all be here next Sunday as we celebrate the victory of Jesus over death. Bring your moms and dads and aunts and uncles and grandmas and grandpas and neighbors and everyone you can think of to share this good news next Sunday. Jesus is our eternal king! Alleluia!
Dearest King Jesus: Thank you for being faithful to God and choosing the crown of thorns instead of the crown of gold. Thank you for being our king and savior. Amen.
