The Useless Water
Children's sermon
Alleluia!
Messages For Children On Lent And Easter Themes
All day Sam and Richard played football, sometimes simply fighting over the ball.
Later, that evening, Mother said, as she closed the front door, "We will only be gone a little while. Put the football aside now because it is too dark outside to play."
When Mother returned a little later, the lamp lay on the floor in pieces, an innocent football beside it. Mother called, "Sam! Richard!"
When the boys came, although she knew better than to ask, "Who did it?" that is exactly what she said. "Who did it? What happened?"
Sam volunteered, "Richard didn't catch it!"
Richard protested, "Sam threw it too high!"
They both "washed their hands" of the broken lamp, insisting they were innocent. It wasn't their fault.
In our sacred story for today Pilate knew Jesus was innocent, but he was afraid to say so, to take the blame, the consequences, and so he made an excuse. He "washed his hands" of the man, saying he, Pilate, not Jesus, was innocent.
"Washing hands" doesn't mean here actually using soap and water to get your hands clean, although in Jesus' time it did mean dipping your hands in water. Pilate used water for the wrong reason, just as Judas used the kiss for the wrong reason. Wrong reasons are called "excuses."
Things do happen because of what we do and say.
Later that night, when the boys were asleep, the thunder roared and lightning flashed. The mother said to the father, "Perhaps you could check on the boys, since they are afraid of thunder and lightning."
Dad went upstairs. He could hear Sam and Richard talking quietly. Not fighting! Dad asked, "Are you all right? Where are you?" Together the boys replied, "We're in the closet, forgiving each other."
Talk together: Have you ever had a fight with a friend or sister or brother? How do you forgive? The Bible tells us that God loves and forgives, even people like Pilate and Judas.
Prayer: Dear God, we thank you for your love and forgiveness. Help us be brave enough, when we make mistakes or accidents, to admit them, without making excuses. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Later, that evening, Mother said, as she closed the front door, "We will only be gone a little while. Put the football aside now because it is too dark outside to play."
When Mother returned a little later, the lamp lay on the floor in pieces, an innocent football beside it. Mother called, "Sam! Richard!"
When the boys came, although she knew better than to ask, "Who did it?" that is exactly what she said. "Who did it? What happened?"
Sam volunteered, "Richard didn't catch it!"
Richard protested, "Sam threw it too high!"
They both "washed their hands" of the broken lamp, insisting they were innocent. It wasn't their fault.
In our sacred story for today Pilate knew Jesus was innocent, but he was afraid to say so, to take the blame, the consequences, and so he made an excuse. He "washed his hands" of the man, saying he, Pilate, not Jesus, was innocent.
"Washing hands" doesn't mean here actually using soap and water to get your hands clean, although in Jesus' time it did mean dipping your hands in water. Pilate used water for the wrong reason, just as Judas used the kiss for the wrong reason. Wrong reasons are called "excuses."
Things do happen because of what we do and say.
Later that night, when the boys were asleep, the thunder roared and lightning flashed. The mother said to the father, "Perhaps you could check on the boys, since they are afraid of thunder and lightning."
Dad went upstairs. He could hear Sam and Richard talking quietly. Not fighting! Dad asked, "Are you all right? Where are you?" Together the boys replied, "We're in the closet, forgiving each other."
Talk together: Have you ever had a fight with a friend or sister or brother? How do you forgive? The Bible tells us that God loves and forgives, even people like Pilate and Judas.
Prayer: Dear God, we thank you for your love and forgiveness. Help us be brave enough, when we make mistakes or accidents, to admit them, without making excuses. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
