Preface for Pastors and Parents
Here’s a children’s sermon on John 13:31-35. It’s part of the passage that recounts the events of Maundy Thursday, so you might use it then. But it’s also the text assigned for the 5th Sunday of Easter in Year C of the Revised Common Lectionary.
I think it is both surprising and wise that the lectionary gives us this text a second time, outside of Holy Week.
It’s often a small portion of the congregation that makes it out to a Maundy Thursday service. Plus, many churches don’t even have a Maundy Thursday service. So, if the text wasn’t preached on outside of Holy Week, most people would never hear it.
And it’s actually a very important text.
I’m laying aside the first part, about Jesus being glorified, which is pretty challenging stuff theologically. And I’m skipping past the middle part, about Jesus going where none of the disciples can follow, which I don’t think is the most grippy stuff for kids.
Instead I’m focusing my children’s sermon on John 13:31-35 on the really important and evocative bit, the New Commandment. That “mandate” is actually the bit for which “Maundy” Thursday is named. And it is something every kid and grown up needs to consider as carefully as possible.
A Children’s Sermon on John 13:31-35
Good morning, kids! I’m so glad to see you. Thanks for coming up to hear the children’s sermon.
Before I tell you a story, I want to say Happy Easter! Did you know that it is still Easter? The fact that after Jesus died he came back alive again on Easter is such good news, such an amazing thing, that every year we celebrate Easter for seven whole weeks. Today is the 5th Sunday of Easter.
A New Commandment
On the same night as Jesus gave his friends the Lord’s Supper, he told them he wanted to give them something very important. “It’s a commandment,” he said. “A brand new commandment. It’s one that Moses could never have given.”
“Oh, come on,” said Thomas, who always had his doubts about things. “God was talking to Moses face to face. God could give Moses any commandment he wanted to.”
“Well this commandment is different,” Jesus said.
“Tell us what it is, Jesus,” said Mary, Martha’s sister, who always wanted to learn from Jesus.
“I want you to love one another —”
But then Peter interrupted. Peter was always quicker to talk than he was to listen.
“That’s not a new commandment,” Peter said. “The law of Moses says we are to love our neighbors as ourselves.”
“That’s true,” Jesus said, “but listen all the way to the end. I want you to love each other the same way I’ve loved you.”
How Did Jesus Love?
“That’s kind of confusing,” said Nathaniel, who was always quick to notice problems. “How much do you love us? You never really said.”
Jesus looked at him and smiled. “I didn’t say you should love as much as I love you. It isn’t a command about the amount of love. I said you should love the same way.”
“I think I get it,” said Peter. “Earlier tonight you washed all our feet. That was very loving. I bet you want us to wash each other’s feet.”
“Yes,” said Jesus, “that’s one way I’ve loved you. I was willing to do something kind of gross to help you out. I want you to be willing to help each other, even when it isn’t fun.”
Healing
“Oh, but you’ve done so much more than that!” said Mary Magdalene. “For so long I was kind of crazy in my mind. But you made the demons go away. You healed me.”
“That’s right, Mary,” Jesus said. “I healed you as a way of loving you.”
“But I could never do that,” said Nathaniel. “I don’t know how to heal people.”
“Maybe someday you could learn,” said Jesus. “Meanwhile, if one of you is sick, you could bring them some soup. That might help them feel better.”
“Or help them find a doctor!” said Luke, who actually was a doctor.
Feeding, Teaching, Welcoming
“You loved us in other ways too, Jesus,” said Andrew. “When we were hungry you gave us food. You fed the whole crowd of 5000 people who came to hear you teach!”
“And that’s another way you loved us,” said Mary, Martha’s sister. “You taught us so many things.”
“Maybe you could do those things to love each other,” said Jesus. “When someone is hungry, you could feed them. When someone doesn’t know about the Kingdom of Heaven, you could teach them — like I did.”
“When I was a tax collector I didn’t have any friends,” said Matthew Levi. “You brought me in and made me part of the group. That meant a lot to me.”
“Jesus did that for all kinds of people,” said John. “Even foreigners from Samaria.”
“Even people with leprosy!” said Mary.
“Maybe you could show love by being friends with new people,” said Jesus, “like I did.”
Planting
They were all quiet for a bit while they thought about how Jesus had loved them. Finally Peter spoke up.
“You know, Jesus,” he said, “I don’t know the word for it, but the biggest way you loved me is helping me to be someone new.”
“What do you mean?” asked Jesus.
“Well,” he said, “when I met you, I was a fisherman. I figured I’d always b a fisherman. I’d go out to fish and I’d come home. Every day. But you helped me see that I could be something different. Now you say I’m an ‘Apostle’ with all these others. You make us all believe we can change the world. It’s like you planted a little seed inside me, and now it’s grown into something big.”
“And you can do that for others, too,” said Jesus. “You can love them by planting that little seed, and helping it grow. Then other people can help change the world too.”
“But how can I do that?” asked Peter. “I don’t know what the seed is!”
“Didn’t I tell you, Peter?” asked Jesus. “The kingdom of heaven is like a seed…”
Wondering
I wonder what it felt like for those disciples to try to love the way they Jesus loved them?
I wonder how many ways they found to love other people?
I wonder if you’ve ever thought about how Jesus loves you?
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You are, of course, free to use this children’s sermon, or adapt it as you find most useful. But, if you use it, please do one (or more!) of the following.
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