I don’t remember if I was like this in the beginning of my Christian walk, but I don’t recall ever being very emotional when considering the crucifixion. I recall being deeply grateful, especially when I learned that when people said “Jesus died for you” it actually meant that He died “instead of me.” I have been exposed now to nearly every portrayal of the crucifixion out there appropriate for kids to view. But I don’t think I ever was moved to tears.
When I watched the Passion of the Christ movie, which was rated R for it’s graphic portrayal of the beating and crucifixion, I almost felt guilty because I didn’t cry. I didn’t know what was wrong with me, even grown men cried during that movie, but I didn’t. I am a girl, after all. I would say it’s in my genetic makeup to be emotionally weaker than most. I do cry—I won’t reveal what can bring me there—ask my husband, he knows where all my buttons are.
I can say that, as a Christian, revelation is one thing that can often bring me to tears. I’ve seen revelation as having two main ingredients—knowledge and understanding. Knowledge can come from a depiction, but understanding comes from the Spirit of God’s explanation to your heart…and it overwhelms every aspect of you and your life. This year, while in the process of planning upcoming Children’s classes on the death and resurrection of Jesus, I was moved to tears. Not just for the revelation that I have received, but for what the Preschool through First Grade children of my church were about to experience.
During a meeting with my Pastor, we were discussing the curriculum for those areas of the Childrens Ministries for March. Since Easter was the first Sunday of April, I had been planning in March to cover all the traditional stories leading up to Resurrection Sunday—the last supper, Palm Sunday, His stripes/our healing, Judas’ betrayal, prayer in the Garden, etc. She wanted to keep the original format and make the month leading up to Easter the “Month of Miracles” instead—we would cover stories of Jesus’ growth and His great ministry of miracles, especially those that dealt with children. Then we would immediately go into the crucifixion and resurrection just in time for Easter. And so we did.
What a great month it’s already been—stories of Jesus’ trip to the temple, His miracle of raising a little girl from death, an old woman being healed by just reaching out to Him in faith, the loaves and fishes, Jesus’ blessing the children…it’s been wonderful. From observing the services and just listening to the teachers telling the stories, there has been a special sweet anointing in every class time. Every session has been just as it should be—filled with His presence and like we’re right there with Him. Thank God for anointed Pastors and teachers that seek God’s heart for their ministry.
The verse that was given for this month’s memorization is “…God loved us and sent His Son…” 1 John 4:10. It seems so simple, and perfect for the theme—the miraculous love of God shown through His Son, Jesus Christ.
And the best part about the kids experiencing all these stories is that, well, it makes everything they will learn about at the end of the month, and on Easter Sunday concerning His death and resurrection, so much more meaningful and powerful. The children will have seen all the wonderful things that Jesus did and they too will wonder with the disciples, why did people want to crucify Him? Then in answer to their sincere questioning and heartfelt grief, we will add, as Paul Harvey used to say “the rest of the story” and, the rest of the verse… “…God loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice for our sins.” 1 John 4:10.
Imagining what it would be like for them to hear how the Jesus that they have come to know and love in a deeper and more meaningful way, was terribly beaten and killed in their place…and knowing what that revelation would cause in their hearts, made me cry. God’s love is so overwhelming.
Please understand, I know that Childrens Ministry is not about evoking an emotional response. In fact, we try as much as possible to avoid teaching kids to be led by their emotions in any decision, especially those involving their commitment to Christ. But take a look back at what God has done in the past to illustrate truth to His people. He wanted His people to actually see that sin brings death and separation from the goodness and blessings of God and there must be a sacrifice given in order for us to experience restoration, so what did He do?
- He had the Jews keep the sacrificial lamb with them for 3 days prior to killing it on that very first Passover. They knew the lamb was THEIR substitute and they could personally experience the seriousness and separation as the time drew near for it’s slaughter.
- Later, as the true Passover lamb, He had Jesus developing very close relationships with the disciples for 3 years prior to His death on the cross. They personally felt the pain and injustice of His crucifixion and then the intense gratefulness when they realized that He was THE substitute for all mankind.
- Any Biblical “sacrifice” is a literal offering of oneself, one’s livelihood, one’s living. It has to be something that you will literally feel the pain of loss over, whether brought by command or freewill expression.
God knew it was necessary that the sacrifice be meaningful and this Easter will truly be more meaningful to these kids. The sacrifice will no longer be just a story, it will be an experience. It will be a personal revelation of, “God loved me and sent His Son to die for my sins.” WOW! It makes me want to cry, again.
