Matthew 28:16-20

Sammy: Good morning everyone! 

 

Pastor: How are you doing, Sammy?

 

Sammy: I am doing well, but I am a little confused.

 

Pastor: What are you confused about, Sammy?

 

Sammy: What does authority mean? 

 

Pastor: That’s a great question, Sammy. Boys and girls, let’s try to help Sammy understand this word.

 

Sammy: Wait–I have a guess. 

 

Pastor: Go ahead, Sammy. What do you think authority means?

 

Sammy: Well, you heat up water on the stove, and then you get a mug, and you put dried leaves in the mug. Author-it-tea.

 

Pastor: That’s not right, Sammy.

 

Sammy: Well, it was worth a try.

 

Pastor: It’s always a good idea to try. Even if you are wrong. Still try. Anyway, boys and girls, what do you think authority means?

 

[Allow time for responses]

 

Pastor: I love all of these answers. Authority means that person is in charge. He or she is given something to rule or command. And everyone needs to look to that person for where to go or for what to do.

 

Sammy: So what is Jesus given authority of?

 

Pastor: Jesus says, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” All authority. Everything in Heaven and on Earth belongs to Jesus.

 

Sammy: Woah. Everything?

 

Pastor: Everything.

 

Sammy: Everything? Are you sure?

 

Pastor: Sammy, Jesus is God. Everything belongs to him. Everything in Heaven and everything on Earth.

 

Sammy: Pastor, that means all of us belong to Jesus too.

 

Pastor: That’s right, Sammy. Jesus has authority over our good days, our bad days, our happy moments, and our sad moments. He is with us at school, on the playground, at church. There is nothing too big or too small for Jesus. He has authority over everything.

 

Sammy: I have so much peace knowing that Jesus has authority over everything. That means, no matter what, he is King.

 

Pastor: That’s right, Sammy. Boys and girls, will you pray with me? Dear Jesus, we thank you for your authority. We praise you for your love and for holding our lives in your hands. Amen.

 

Sammy: Bye, everyone!

 

Pastor: Bye, Sammy!

 

Scripture: John 20:19-23

Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Let’s say good morning to our friend Sammy and see if she is there. Ready? One, two, three…Good morning, Sammy!

 

Sammy: Good morning everyone! 

 

Pastor: Peace be with you, Sammy.

 

Sammy: Peace be with you, too, Pastor. Hey, Pastor?

 

Pastor: Yes, Sammy?

 

Sammy: We say, “Peace be with you” during church, and Jesus says “Peace be with you a lot.” Today he said “Peace be with you” to his disciples.

 

Pastor: All of what you said is true, Sammy.

 

Sammy: So what does “Peace be with you” mean? I hear this phrase every Sunday, but I just don’t get it. I don’t go around greeting animals at the farm saying, “Peace be with you” to them. And when I go to the farmer’s market, the farmers don’t say, “Peace be with you” to each other. I hear a lot of “Good morning!” and “How are you?” and “What’s up?” but not ever “Peace be with you” until I come to church. So what does it mean and why do we say it?

 

Pastor: That’s a great question, Sammy. Boys and girls, what does “Peace be with you” mean?

 

[Allow time for responses]

 

Pastor: Thank you for all of the wonderful answers. Sammy, “Peace be with you” is a very special phrase. “Peace be with you” is a blessing. We are asking God to give a blessing of peace to others, and we are praying for peace between us and our neighbors. Church is a great place to share peace. But we can share peace with each other anywhere we go.

 

Sammy: That makes sense to me. I like that I can share peace with my friends and neighbors. 

 

Pastor: Something else that is really important about the Gospel reading for today is that Jesus gives his disciples the Holy Spirit. 

 

Sammy: That’s an incredible gift!

 

Pastor: Yes, the Holy Spirit is a gift Jesus gives us now. When we follow Jesus, we get to experience the peace of the Holy Spirit.

 

Sammy: I like that. Peace be with you, Pastor.

 

Pastor: Peace be with you, Sammy. Boys and girls, we are going to pray, and then I would like you to say, “Peace be with you” to someone on your way back to your seat. Let’s practice. Ready? Peace be with you. Nice job! Let’s bow our heads and fold our hands. Dear Jesus, thank you for your peace. Thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

 

Sammy: Peace be with you.

 

Pastor: Peace be with you.

“When it was evening He came with the twelve.  As they were reclining at the table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me – one who is eating with Me” (Mark 14:17-18).

We all have betrayed the Lord.  But there are the sins committed by those under grace and those which are committed by the ones under judgement.  The greater sin is the one which intends to thwart what God will do.  A sin of commission is a serious matter.  Weigh carefully what you do and why.  You are saved by grace, but do not fall to the place where you willingly betray the Lord.

Lord, I do begin to understand the difference.  So many around me have betrayed You by denying You because You did not give them what they wanted.  Who knows what we truly want?  We think we know, but we do not.  Help me to live looking to You, listening to Your word, and abiding by Your direction for my life.  Lead me so that I may understand more clearly that all things are in Your hands.

Guide me, Holy Spirit, in my inner thoughts.  I confess I have times of frustration, doubts, and even anger because things do not go the way I want them to go.  Help me to trust in the simple truth that all things are in Your hands.  Lead me now and always to humbly walk in the way of salvation, trusting You each step of the way.  Jesus, You went to the cross so that I could be with You forever.  Guide me now and always.  Amen.