Who are the "Nations?"

Praise the LORD, all nations!

Extol him, all peoples!

For great is his steadfast love toward us,

and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever.

Praise the LORD!
Psalm 117

Who Are the "Peoples," the Nations?

"Nations" and "peoples" in the Bible don't refer to political states like America, Spain, Brazil, China, but to ethnic or language or cultural groupings in these political states. For example, if you do a bit of research about Chine you will find the country is made up of at least sixty Chinese "peoples" (Hui, Dulong, Li, Lisu, Shui, Salar, Yao, etc.). And in the Bible you read about, "the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites, the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites, the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites" (Genesis 10:16-18).

So when Psalm 17:1 says, "Praise the LORD, all nations! Extol him, all peoples!" it means, "Praise the Lord, Hui of China! Praise the Lord Bahing of Nepal! Praise the Lord, Baluch of Pakistan! Praise the Lord, Maninka of Guinea! Praise the Lord, Bugis of Indonesia! Praise the Lord, Somali and Dakota of Minneapolis!" These are the kinds of groups Jesus was referring to when He said after his resurrection, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations" (panta ta ethne, same phrase in Psalm 117:1). These are the groups that Jesus meant when he said, "This gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come" (Matthew 24:14).

So a huge question for followers of Jesus today is - or should be - how many peoples are there and how many of them are still unreached with the gospel of the kingdom? How many still have no church who obey Psalm 117 and praise the Lord?

Joshuaproject.net is an organization that has done extensive research on unreached people groups in the world. This is their summary:

An overview of the people groups of the world

People Groups:	17,070
Unreached Groups:	7,098
% Unreached Groups:	41.6%
Population:	7.60 Billion
Popl in Unreached:	3.15 Billion
% Popl in Unreached:	41.5%

A great place to go to pray daily for an unreached people group is Unreached of the Day

The greatest obstacle to reaching the unreached is the obedience of the church. May we be obedient in prayer, giving and going!!!

Prayer for the Nations

When man works, man works; When man prays, God works.

The ministry of the children of God is not doing, but praying, not strategizing, but prostrate before God seeking His will, not clever strategies for manipulating people and events but trusting in God who moves in the hearts of even His most implacable enemies. Through prayer Nebuchadnezzar, and today’s dictators, get converted, Manassah, and today’s persecutors, repent and kingdoms of Babylon and Iron Curtains are torn down. We do not engage in ministry and pray for God’s blessing on it, prayer IS the ministry from which all other ministries must flow.

Psalm 2 reveals the Father’s Great Commission to His Son and how the destiny of nations is tied in with their rejection of or submission to His Kingly Son. Look at the command and promises of
Ps 2:8.

'Ask of Me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron, And dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.'

Operation World, a wonderful Christian organization which gathers information on every country in the world, including percentage of Christians, economic and political background and ways to pray, is  

an excellent resource to use to help you and your children pray for the nations. You can also purchase the Operation World book which provides greater insight into each country and its prayer needs. 

The content of the Operation World  website give something of the needs and challenges of our needy, sin-sick, doomed world. The nations are there for the asking. God is calling you and me into the ministry of intercession for them. Through these prayers much will happen – above all we could ask or expect.

Daniel heard God’s voice in Daniel 7:27:

'The kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; Their kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey them. 

The cost is great, for these words were preceded in verse 21-22 by:

As I looked, this horn made war with the saints, and prevailed over them, until the Ancient of Days came, and judgement was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints received the kingdom.'

The enemy will seek to frighten us and dangle allurements to distract us from the vision of a heavenly, eternal kingdom filled with people from every race, tribe, people and tongue. Yet Jesus offers us a share in His reign. We may look up to Him in agony at times, but we need to see our true position as looking down with Him exercising the authority bequeathed to us by Him in the Great Commission He has given to every Christian. 

May each of us become an intercessor with a world vision that prays Satan-defeating, kingdom-taking, people-reaching, captive-releasing, revival-giving, Christ-glorifying prayers.

Prayer not only changes people, situations and even the course of history, but also those who pray! 

It is dangerous for the enemy and also 'dangerous' for us. There is a price to pay to be a person who stands in the gap in prayer. That price may mean becoming an answer to our own prayers in giving time, finances and even going out as a witness in our Jerusalem (where we now live), our Judea (our own country), our Samaria (the other ethnic groups in our own country) or even to the ends of the earth. 

May each of us give our whole lives for this most noble of causes – to obey Jesus’ last command in making disciples of all nations and so ready the Church and the world for the grand climax of His glorious return!

Peace be with you!

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

John 20:19-22

Thoughts: 

The disciples, fearful of the Jews, were astonished when Jesus miraculously appeared amongst them. Expecting words of scolding or disappointment, imagine their surprise when the first words Jesus spoke to them after their desertion were: "Peace be with you!" These words were words of reconciliation...healing between God the Son and His closest followers. They are reminiscent of the words the angel spoke to the shepherds at His birth: "Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace and goodwill to all men." Then Jesus breathes on them the Holy Spirit. Many people see the connection between this breathing on the disciples and when God created man and breathed the breath of life in him. This is a work of re-creation, even as God breathed life into the first man. This is where the disciples are born again.

Prayer: 

Father God, we thank You that You are a God of reconciliation and peace. You do not treat us as our sins deserve. We thank you Jesus that You came to this earth and made a way for us to be reconciled to God. Thank you for the peace You bring. No matter what is happening around us, when we fix our eyes on You, You are our peace. We love You Jesus!

Open Our Eyes Lord

Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened.

As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.

He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?" 

They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?"

"What things?" he asked. 

"About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place.

In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning

but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see."

He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?"

And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther.

But they urged him strongly, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them.

When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.

Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.

They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"  Luke 24:13-32

Thoughts: 

These two men (historians believe that Cleopas was the brother of Joseph, thus he was Jesus' uncle) are examples of the typical followers of Jesus. They understood Him to be a great prophet. They had high hopes that Jesus would redeem Israel, but most of them did not see Jesus for who He really was. It wasn't until God "opened their eyes" that they recognized Him. All of us are like that too. God has to "open our eyes" - help us understand who He is, before we can recognize Him as our Savior. We can pray daily that God will continue to open our eyes to Him. We can also pray that He will open the eyes of people around the world so billions will come to a saving knowledge of Him.

Prayer: 

Father God, we thank You that You have given us our own "road to Emmaus" experience with You. We thank You that You daily open our eyes and help us see You and understand who You are. We pray the same for people all over the world, that they will see Jesus for who He really is and will accept Him as their Lord and Savior. We love You Jesus!

A Race to the Tomb

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.

So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!"

So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb.

Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.

He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in.

Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen.

Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)  John 20:1-9

Thoughts: 

The fact that John and Peter raced to the tomb, shows that in their hearts they still held out hope that all was not lost after Jesus' death, even though they did not understand His statements that He would rise from the dead. Peter, ever the leader and eager follower, pushes past John and enters the tomb. What do you think his thoughts were after he had, just two days before, denied ever knowing Jesus? Graciously, God allows Peter and John to see, with their own eyes, the empty, neat and orderly tomb. They believe even when they do not understand. We can learn a lesson from Peter and John. We may not always understand how or why God is doing something, but we can believe Him, have faith in Him and eagerly await the day when our faith will become sight.

In order to understand the significance that "The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen.", you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day. The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and every Jewish boy knew this tradition. When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it. The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating, and the servant would not dare touch that table, until the master was finished..
Now if the master were done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard, and would wad up that napkin and toss it onto the table. The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the wadded napkin meant, “I’m finished..” But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table, because The folded napkin meant, “I’m coming back!”

Prayer: 

Lord Jesus, thank you for rising from the dead! Thank you for giving us the Bible so that we can know this truth. Help us to have faith in You, even when we don't understand everything that is happening around us or to us. We celebrate your resurrection every day!

He is Risen!!!

Then the disciples went back to their homes, but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.
They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?" 
"They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put him."
At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.
"Woman," he said, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him."
Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher).
Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.' "
Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord!" And she told them that he had said these things to her.  John 20:10-18


Questions:
- Who was Mary Magdalene? (Jesus had cast seven demons from her-Luke 8:2, she was one of His followers and was at the cross-Mark 15:40; she saw Him buried-Mark 15:47)
- Why do you think Mary stayed at the tomb after Peter and John had left?
- What do you think she felt when she realized it was Jesus who was talking to her?
- What can we learn from Mary's example?

Thoughts:
We can only imagine what Mary's thoughts were that Sunday morning upon seeing her Lord alive! She had watched Him be killed and seen His dead body placed in the tomb. While all but one of the disciples (John) didn't dare show their faces at the cross out of fear, she stayed there, supporting Jesus' mother Mary, and showing her love and dedication to Jesus up to the bitter end. And for Mary, even His death was not the end of her devotion. She risked her life to return to the tomb that Sunday morning. Jesus rewarded her faithfulness by choosing Mary, a woman who had been possessed by seven demons (we can only imagine the horror she experienced), to be the first one to see Him after He rose. Oh praise You sweet Jesus! You reveal Yourself to children and women...the ones who society so often abuses and persecutes. What a wonderful Savior we serve!

Prayer:
Sweet Jesus...how precious You are! We can't wait to see you face to face the way Mary did in the Garden. Some day, we know, You will return and take us to live with You forever. Until that day, may we live our lives with all the devotion and love of Mary Magdalene. Thank You Jesus!

Song: Christ the Lord is Risen Today

Christ the Lord is ris'n today, Alleluia!
Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heav'ns, and earth reply, Alleluia!

Love's redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids Him rise, Alleluia!
Christ has opened Paradise, Alleluia!

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Dying once He all doth save, Alleluia!
Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!

Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia!
Foll'wing our exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!

Hail the Lord of earth and heaven, Alleluia!
Praise to Thee by both be given, Alleluia!
Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia!
Hail the Resurrection, thou, Alleluia!

King of glory, soul of bliss, Alleluia!
Everlasing life is this, Alleluia!
Thee to know, Thy power to prove, Alleluia!
Thus to sing, and thus to love, Alleluia!

Here is a video with the lyrics and music: song

Easter Lesson for Kids - The Grave Couldn't Hold Him

Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea and he was waiting for the kingdom of God.

Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body.

Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.

The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.  Luke 23:50-56

Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate's permission, he came and took the body away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy‑five pounds.

Taking Jesus' body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. John 19:38-40

The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate.

"Sir," they said, "we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, 'After three days I will rise again.'

So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first."

"Take a guard," Pilate answered. "Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how."

So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.

Matthew 27:60-66

Questions:

- Who was Joseph of Arimathea?

- What does this tell you about the Jewish religious leaders? (not all were against Christ)

- Can you think of another religious leader who came to believe in Jesus? (Nicodemus) read

John 19:38-40

- What did Joseph and Nicodemus do to Jesus' body? Why?

- Who was worried about Jesus' body being stolen? Why?

- How did Pilate respond to their request?

Thoughts: 

It is encouraging to read of Joseph and Nicodemus. Not every Jewish religious leader wanted to crucify Jesus. Most likely these men were not at the trial of Jesus or else their voices were drowned out by the crowd. Even though they could not prevent His death, they did what they could to provide for Jesus' burial, along with the women. In life and in death, Jesus was greatly loved by His followers. And even in death, He was feared by those who hated Him. That is why the Roman guard was posted...in case someone came to steal His body. We can only wonder at what point, before Sunday morning, Jesus left that tomb, but praise God, it is empty today!

Prayer: 

We thank You Jesus that You are alive today. Your tomb is empty and we rejoice. May we be loving, devoted followers of you like Joseph, Nicodemus and the women. We love you Jesus!

Song: Were You There?

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Oh sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?
Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?
Oh sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble
Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree?

Were you there when He rose up from the grave?
Were you there when He rose up from the grave?
Oh sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble
Were you there when He rose up from the grave?
Were you there when He rose up from the grave?

Here is a link to the song with great video from The Passion of the Christ: Were You There?

(it is in black and white but you may want to watch this first to make sure it is not too graphic for younger children)

Easter Lesson for Kids - Why is it Called Good Friday?

About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"--which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"  Matthew 27:46


Thoughts: (the below article was written by Joni Erickson Tada and Steve Estes)

The face that Moses had begged to see--was forbidden to see--was slapped bloody. The thorns that God had sent to curse the earth's rebellion now twisted around his own brow.... 

"On your back with you!" One raises a mallet to sink in the spike. But the soldier's heart must continue pumping as he readies the prisoner's wrist. Someone must sustain the soldier's life minute by minute, for no man has this power on his own. Who supplies breath to his lungs? Who gives energy to his cells? Who holds his molecules together? Only by the Son do "all things hold together". The victim wills that the soldier live on--he grants the warriors continued existence. 
The man swings. 

As the man swings, the Son recalls how he and the Father first designed the medial nerve of the human forearm--the sensations it would be capable of. The design proves flawless--the nerves perform exquisitely. "Up you go!" They lift the cross. God is on display...and can scarcely breathe. 

But these pains are a mere warm up to his other and growing dread. He begins to feel a foreign sensation. Somewhere during the day an unearthly foul odor began to waft, not around his nose, but his heart. He feels dirty. Human wickedness starts to crawl upon his spotless being...The apple of his Father's eye turns brown with rot. 

His Father! He must face his Father like this! 

From heaven, the Father now rouses himself like a lion disturbed, shakes his mane, and roars against the shriveling remnant of a man hanging on a cross. Never has the Son seen the Father look at him so, never felt even the least of his hot breathe. But the roar shakes the unseen world and darkens the visible sky. The son does not recognize these eyes. 

"Son of man, why have you behaved so??" You have cheated...stolen, gossiped--murdured, envied, hated, lied. You have cursed, robbed, overspent, overeaten...disobeyed...Oh the duties you have shirked, the children you have abandoned! Who has ever so ignored the poor, so played the coward, so belittled my name?? Have you ever held your razor tongue? Who gave you the boldness to rig elections, foment revolutions...and worship demons? Does the list never end! Splitting families...acting smugly...accepting bribes. You have burned down buildings, perfected terrorist tactics, founded false religions, traded in slaves--relishing each morsel and bragging about it all! I hate, loathe, these things in you! Disgust for everything about you consumes me. Can you not feel my wrath??" 

Of course the Son is innocent. He is blamelessness itself. The Father knows this...but the divine pair have an agreement, and the unthinkable must now take place. Jesus will be treated as if personally responsible for every sin ever committed. 

The Father watches as his heart's treasure, the mirror image of himself, sinks drowning into raw, liquid sin. Jehovah's stored rage against humankind from every century explodes in a single direction. 

"Father, Father, why have you foresaken me?!" 

But heaven stops its ears. The Son stares up at the One who can not, who will not, reach down or reply. 

The Trinity had planned it. The Son endured it. The Spirit enabled him. The Father rejected the Son whom he loved. Jesus, the God-man from Nazareth, perished. The Father accepted his sacrifice for sin and was satisfied. The Rescue was accomplished. 

Questions: 

- What are your thoughts after hearing that? 

- What did Jesus have to endure?  Why?

- Why is the day that He died on the cross called Good Friday?

Prayer: 

Lord Jesus, thank You! Thank You from the bottom of our hearts for rescuing us from sin, from rebellion, from eternal separation and hell. Thank You Jesus. Help us to remember, each day, each moment, what You did for us. Help us to tell other people so that they too, can believe and be saved. May our lives count for Your glory and for Your Kingdom. 

Song: How Beautiful

How beautiful the hands that served

The wine and the bread and the sons of the earth

How beautiful the feet that walked

The long dusty roads and the hill to the cross

How beautiful, how beautiful

How beautiful is the body of Christ

How beautiful the heart that bled

That took all my sin and bore it instead

How beautiful the tender eyes

That chose to forgive and never despise

How beautiful, how beautiful

How beautiful is the body of Christ

And as He laid down His life

We offer this sacrifice

That we will live just as he died

Willing to pay the price

Willing to pay the price

How beautiful the radiant bride

Who waits for her groom with His light in her eyes

How beautiful when humble hearts give

The fruit of pure lives so that others may live

How beautiful, how beautiful

How beautiful is the body of Christ

How beautiful the feet that bring

The sound of good news and the love of the King

How beautiful the hands that serve

The wine and the bread and the sons of the earth

How beautiful, how beautiful

How beautiful is the body of Christ

Here is a video of the song: How Beautiful

Easter Lesson for Kids - The Last Supper

When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me."

They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, "Surely not I?"

"It is one of the Twelve," he replied, "one who dips bread into the bowl with me.

The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born."

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take it; this is my body."

Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it.

"This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many," he said to them.

"I tell you the truth, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God."

When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.  Mark 14:17-26

Questions:

- What Jewish holiday were Jesus and His disciples celebrating?

- What did Jesus predict about one of His followers? How do you think that made Jesus feel?

- What represented Jesus body that would be crucified for our sins?

- What represented Jesus blood that would be spilled for our sins?

- What is this sharing of the bread and wine called in the Christian faith? Talk about the importance of communion. (If your children are believers, you may want to have communion with them at this time, to remember the sacrifice Jesus made for us).

Thoughts: 

"The wine and the matzot, or unleavened bread, were a very important part of the Passover celebration. Passover was the celebration of God's deliverance of the Jews from slavery in Egypt. When Jesus identified Himself with the bread and the wine, He was telling His disciples, and us, that it would be by His death that we would be delivered from sin." Ann Hibbard from Family Celebrations at Easter.

Prayer: 

Lord Jesus, thank you for the sacrifice you made on the cross for my sins. Whenever I take communion, may I be reminded of how much You love me and may I commit my life to You. I love You Jesus.

Song: Come to the Table by Michael Card

Come to the table

And savor the sight,

The wine and the bread that was broken.

And all have been welcome to come

If they might

Accept as their own these two tokens.

The bread is his body,

The wine is the blood

And the one who provides them is true.

He freely offers

We freely receive.

To accept and believe him is all we must do.

Come to the table

And taste of the glory

And savor the sorrow

He's dying tomorrow.

The hand that is breaking the bread

Soon will be broken.

And here at the table

Sit those who have loved him,

One is a traitor and one will deny,

Though he's lived his life for them all

And for all be crucified.

Come to the table he's prepared for you

The bread of forgiveness the wine of release.

Come to the table and sit down beside him.

The Saviour wants you to join in the feast.

Come to the table and see in his eyes

The love that the Father has spoken.

And know you are welcome

Whatever your crime,

Though every commandment you've broken.

For he's come to love you

And not to condemn.

And he offers a pardon of peace.

If you'll come to the table

You'll feel in your heart

The greatest forgiveness,

The greatest release

Come to the table

And taste of the glory

And savor the sorrow

He's dying tomorrow.

The hand that is breaking the bread

Soon will be broken.

And here at the table

Sit those who have loved him,

One is a traitor and one will deny,

Though he's lived his life for them all

And for all be crucified.

Come to the table he's prepared for you

The bread of forgiveness the wine of release.

Come to the table and sit down beside him.

The Saviour wants you to join in the feast.

Here is a website with the song and a great slide show: Come to the Table

For Further Study: 

There are many children throughout the world who are very bold in their faith in Christ, especially in nations where it is hard to be a Christian. Sharing their stories can encourage a bolder faith in your children. A wonderful resource is Kids of Courage

* Some of the content of this blog is based on the book Family Celebrations at Easter by Ann Hibbard.*

Easter Lesson for Kids - A Glimpse of Heaven

After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.

And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."

All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,

saying: "Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!"

Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes--who are they, and where did they come from?"

I answered, "Sir, you know." And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Therefore, "they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them.

Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat.

For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." Revelation 7:9-17

Questions:

- What is the book of Revelation about? (a vision John sees about the events going on in Heaven and on earth - some in the present, some in the future); these events seem to be taking place right now, pointing to the ongoing worship of Jesus Christ that occurs in Heaven

- How do you think John must have felt to see this worship of Christ after he had seen His crucifixion years earlier?

- How is the multitude described? Who are they?

- Who is the Lamb?

- Describe some of the things that John and we can learn about Heaven from these verses.

- What does it mean that the Lamb is their Shepherd?

Thoughts: 

Here, in Revelation, we can catch a small glimpse of what Heaven is like right now and what we can expect to see and do when we get there. It is centered on the worship of the Trinity (God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit) as we celebrate the Lamb. This will be beyond any wonderful experience we have ever had on earth because each of us was created specifically to worship God. In Heaven, we will be able to fully and completely carry out all that we were created to be. And Jesus will be at the center of it all. This is why we should do our best today, on earth, to make Jesus the center of our life. To ask Him to sit on the throne of our heart and to worship Him daily. This will bring both joy to us and to the Lord and prepare us for eternity in Heaven. Is He sitting on the throne of your life today?

Prayer: 

Lord Jesus, we so look forward to one day being in Heaven with You, worshipping You around the throne and entering ultimate joy and peace. Thank You for making a way for us. While we are here on earth, may we worship You with our lives. Show us how to do this Lord. We love You so much!

Song: Salvation Belongs to our God

Salvation belongs to our God

Who sits upon the throne

And unto the Lamb

Praise and glory, wisdom and thanks

Honor and power and strength

Be to our God forever and ever

Be to our God forever and ever

Be to our God forever and ever, Amen

And we, the redeemed shall be strong

In purpose and unity

Declaring aloud

Praise and glory, wisdom and thanks

Honor and power and strength

Here is a link with the music: Salvation belongs to our God

For Further Study: 

There are many children throughout the world who are very bold in their faith in Christ, especially in nations where it is hard to be a Christian. Sharing their stories can encourage a bolder faith in your children. A wonderful resource is Kids of Courage

* Some of the content of this blog is based on the book Family Celebrations at Easter by Ann Hibbard.*

Easter Lesson for Kids - Free in Jesus

Bible: read 2 Corinthians 5:21 and 8:9 first and then go to the questions

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.  2 Corinthians 5:21

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.  2 Corinthians 8:9

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.

Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!

For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!

Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.  Romans 5:6-11

For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin--because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.

Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.

For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.

The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.

In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.  Romans 6:6-11

Questions:

- What did God make Jesus become for us? What do you think that means?

- What is righteousness? (right living, living a life that is pleasing to God)

- What does it mean that we will become the righteousness of God? (we can't earn righteousness, it is a gift of God through Christ)

- Read Romans 5:6-11

- What were we when Christ died for us? So did we do anything to earn His forgiveness?

- Will Jesus forgive everything we do if we ask Him?

- Read Romans 6:6-11

- What are we no longer slaves to? What does that mean?

- Will Jesus ever have to die again for our sins?

- What does it mean to be dead to sin but alive to God?

Thoughts: 

Our sin was destroyed on the cross. All the wrong things we have done or will do in the future have been destroyed. Instead of being clothed in our sin, we are clothed in Jesus' white robes of righteousness. That means that when God looks at us, He no longer sees our sin. Instead, He see Jesus' goodness. We cannot do anything to earn it. This has already been done for us. All we have to do is receive God's perfect gift.

Prayer: 

Lord Jesus, I praise You and thank You for what You did on the cross. You became my sin. All the times I have been mean, or hateful, or cruel, or unloving, the times I've lied or disobeyed, You took all that sin away. Now I don't have to live under its weight but I am free to live in righteousness through You. I love You Jesus.

Song: Crucified with Christ

As I look back on what I thought was living

I'm amazed at the price I choose to pay

And to think I ignored what really mattered

Cause I thought the sacrifice would be too great

But when I finally reached the point of giving in

I found the cross was calling even then

And even though it took dying to survive

I've never felt so much alive.

Chorus

For I am crucified with Christ and yet I live

Not I but Christ that lives within me

His Cross will never ask for more than I can give

For it's not my strength but His

There's no greater sacrifice

For I am crucified with Christ and yet I live

As I hear the Savior call for daily dying

I will bow beneath the weight of Calvary

Let my hands surrender to His piercing purpose

That holds me to the cross but sets me free

I will glory in the power of the cross

The things I thought were gain I count as loss

And with His suffering I identify

And by His resurrection power I am alive

Chorus

Bridge

And I will offer all I have

So that His cross is not in vain

For I found to live is Christ

And to die is truly gain

Here is a link with the music and words: Crucified with Christ

For Further Study: 

There are many children throughout the world who are very bold in their faith in Christ, especially in nations where it is hard to be a Christian. Sharing their stories can encourage a bolder faith in your children. A wonderful resource is Kids of Courage

* Some of the content of this blog is based on the book Family Celebrations at Easter by Ann Hibbard.*

Easter Lesson for Kids - We are Pardoned, He was Condemned

Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him.

Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death.

Therefore, I will punish him and then release him."

With one voice they cried out, "Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!"

(Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)

Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again.

But they kept shouting, "Crucify him! Crucify him!"

For the third time he spoke to them: "Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him."

But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed.

So Pilate decided to grant their demand.

He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.  Luke 23:13-25

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.

We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.  Isaiah 53:5-6

Questions:

- Who deserved to be punished? What had he done?

- Who was punished instead? What had Jesus done wrong?

- How was Jesus a substitute for Barabbas?

- How do you think Barabbas felt when he realized that he was free and someone else would die in his place.

- What can we learn from this? (read Isaiah 53:5-6)

Thoughts: 

We are all like Barabbas. We have all committed sin that has condemned us to an eternity of punishment. "All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." Romans 3:12  We can't earn a pardon/salvation anymore than Barabbas could do anything himself to be released. All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. Isaiah 64:6 Yet, just as with Barabbas, Jesus stepped in and took our punishment. We are pardoned and He was condemned.

Prayer: 

Lord Jesus, how can we thank You enough for what You did for us? You took our punishment, our sins, and got rid of them on the cross. We love You and want You to be our Lord and Savior. Praise You Jesus.

Song: Amazing Love

I'm forgiven because you were forsaken

I'm accepted, You were condemned

I'm alive and well

Your spirit is within me

Because you died and rose again

Amazing love, how can it be?

That you, my king. would die for me

Amazing love, I know it's true

And it's my joy to honor you

Amazing love how can it be?

That my king would die for me

Amazing love I know it's true

And it's my joy to honor you

In all I do

I honor you

You are my king

You are my king

Jesus, You are my king

Jesus, You are my king

Here is a link to the song with words: Amazing Love

For Further Study: 

There are many children throughout the world who are very bold in their faith in Christ, especially in nations where it is hard to be a Christian. Sharing their stories can encourage a bolder faith in your children. A wonderful resource is Kids of Courage

* Some of the content of this blog is based on the book Family Celebrations at Easter by Ann Hibbard.*