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Jesus Predicts His Death
Jesus said to them, “The time has come for the Son of Man to receive his glory. I tell you the truth. A grain of wheat must fall to the ground and die. Then it makes many seeds. But if it never dies, it remains only a single seed. The person who loves his life will give up true life. But the person who hates his life in this world will keep true life forever. Whoever serves me must follow me. Then my servant will be with me everywhere I am. My Father will honor anyone who serves me.
Jesus told a story about a seed planted in the ground to illustrate His death. It will grow and create lots of food. Jesus’ death on Easter is like the seed. It will help many people to come to God.
This reminds me of when God told Ezekiel to go to a valley with many dry bones. It looked hopeless, but God showed them he could bring life back. A good reminder that even when things look scary and hopeless, we can remember that God promised never to leave us or forget us. Just like in the valley with the bones, God can do amazing things! (Ezekiel 37:10).
Even when things seem bad, we can still have hope. God will help us in any situation.
Today, we planted some flowers and vegetables to celebrate Good Friday. We talked about how Jesus died on the cross and rose again. This is important because it means that Jesus saved us from our sins. He is the center of our hope as Christians.
A Living Hope
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God has great mercy, and because of his mercy he gave us a new life. He gave us a living hope because Jesus Christ rose from death. Now we hope for the blessings God has for his children. These blessings are kept for you in heaven. They cannot be destroyed or be spoiled or lose their beauty. God’s power protects you through your faith, and it keeps you safe until your salvation comes. That salvation is ready to be given to you at the end of time. This makes you very happy. But now for a short time different kinds of troubles may make you sad. These troubles come to prove that your faith is pure. This purity of faith is worth more than gold. Gold can be proved to be pure by fire, but gold can be destroyed. But the purity of your faith will bring you praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ comes again.
This planting lesson is about having hope. It will help kids understand how to do what God wants us to do and work with Him to make the world a better place.
The Harvest Is Plentiful, the Laborers Few
Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages. He taught in their synagogues and told people the Good News about the kingdom. And he healed all kinds of diseases and sicknesses. He saw the crowds of people and felt sorry for them because they were worried and helpless. They were like sheep without a shepherd. Jesus said to his followers, “There are many people to harvest, but there are only a few workers to help harvest them. God owns the harvest. Pray to him that he will send more workers to help gather his harvest.”
This Good Friday, I invite you to breathe in God’s grace, mercy, and forgiveness and remember that Jesus died for you because He loves you. Paul says in his prayer for the Ephesians about grasping that love,
I ask the Father in his great glory to give you the power to be strong in spirit. He will give you that strength through his Spirit. I pray that Christ will live in your hearts because of your faith. I pray that your life will be strong in love and be built on love. And I pray that you and all God’s holy people will have the power to understand the greatness of Christ’s love. I pray that you can understand how wide and how long and how high and how deep that love is. Christ’s love is greater than any person can ever know. But I pray that you will be able to know that love. Then you can be filled with the fullness of God.
Sunflower in the field at sunset. Sunflower cultivation in Guadalajara, Castilla la Mancha, Spain
“What appeared to be a defeat was actually the greatest victory of all.”
Eugene Peterson
A sunflower has a lot of seeds inside it, up to 2,000. When the sunflower is done growing, you can harvest the seeds. Just like a sunflower, if we follow Jesus and sacrifice ourselves for Him, we can make lots of good things happen in His kingdom!
I do not live anymore—it is Christ living in me. I still live in my body, but I live by faith in the Son of God. He loved me and gave himself to save me.
Jesus, thank you for this living hope I have in you. Thank you for loving and saving me and showing me I can trust your unfailing promises. Be the foundation of my life today and every day. Please help me to live in light of this eternal hope in every circumstance.
