Luke 20:27-38 

 

Script:

Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Welcome! Let’s say good morning to our friend Sammy. Ready? One, two, three: Good morning, Sammy! 

Sammy: Hey Pastor! What is the special theme this week? 

Pastor: What do you mean, Sammy? 

Sammy: Well, two weeks ago we celebrated Reformation Sunday, and last week we celebrated football Sunday– 

Pastor: No, Sammy. We celebrated All-Saints Day. 

Sammy: That’s what I meant. So we had two big weeks in a row at church. What is the big event or theme this week? 

Pastor: Well, this week we are talking about Resurrection. 

Sammy: Happy Resurrection Day, Pastor! 

Pastor: Not quite, Sammy. It’s not really a feast day or a holiday or a celebration. We are having worship together during ordinary time. 

Sammy: Pastor, these times are anything but ordinary. Have you read the newspaper lately? Watched the news? 

Pastor: Let’s get back to our topic for today: Resurrection. Boys and girls, what does “resurrection” mean? 

[Allow time for responses] 

Sammy: These are great answers.  

Pastor: Jesus did rise from the dead. But we also look forward to our resurrection. 

Sammy: What do you mean, Pastor? 

Pastor: One day, Sammy, after we die, we are going to wait for Jesus to come back. When he comes back, the dead will rise and will see his glory. 

Sammy: Is that going to be a scary day? Like a Halloween day? 

Pastor: No, it’s going to be like Easter Sunday. 

Sammy: Oh I love Easter! We get to sing Alleluia songs to God and there’s an egg hunt and Bartholomew the Bunny comes to worship.  

Pastor: That’s the spirit, Sammy. There’s nothing scary about resurrection. Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me will not die, but will have eternal life.” That’s a gift from God. 

Sammy: Yes it is. 

Pastor: Let’s pray. Boys and girls, will you please fold your hands and bow your heads? Dear Jesus, thank you for resurrection. Thank you for your gift of new life. Thank you for your love. Amen. 

Sammy: Bye, everyone! 

Pastor: Bye, Sammy! 

“Then His mother and His brothers arrived, and standing outside they sent word to Him and called Him.  A crowd was sitting around Him, and they said to Him, “Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are outside looking for You” (Mark 3:31-32).

We are born in a time and place.  We are born into a family.  There is deep connection with this world.  Some see their identity in family.  Others in position or status.  Others still make up their own idea of what their identity is.  Who are you?  You are a child of the Most High God, created in His image, made with great purpose, born in a fallen world, but offered redemption through God’s only-begotten Son who showed up in time and place.

Lord, the world tells me to choose my identity.  It is telling me all kinds of things.  If my skin is one color, it tells me that my identity is tied to that.  I am told that my identity is tied to my age, financial status, circumstances, or lineage.  I have bought into these lies and sometime espoused them.  Open my eyes to see that You have offered me an eternal identity in You by grace and through faith.

Lord Jesus, You were alone in the world because You spoke and declared that our identity is in the legitimacy of our Heavenly Father.  You looked to Him alone and followed as He directed You.  Help me to see through the fog of this age in order to know that my identity is as a child of the One who created all things including me.  You are the Redeemer and You have cleared the way for my eternal identity.  Help me to live as one whom You have made me to be.  Amen.