A Children’s Sermon on Mark 14:17-25 — World Communion Sunday

Preface for Pastors and Parents

This children’s sermon on Mark 14:17-25 is another “bonus” — that is, it goes beyond my primary goal of writing a children’s sermon for every Gospel reading assigned in the Revised Common Lectionary. I’m sending it out just now because, as I write, this Sunday is “World Communion Sunday.” Many Protestant churches around the globe will celebrate the Lord’s Supper as a sign of the (often otherwise invisible) unity of all Christian churches.

Mark’s version of the Last Supper only comes up in the Lectionary on Palm Sunday, as a small part of the vast passion narrative (two long chapters!).

(John Calvin, the theologian who so influenced the Reformed Tradition, taught that every time you celebrate the Lord’s Supper, at least part of the sermon should be about the Lord’s Supper. I recommend the practice!)

So this Sunday, or next time you preach on the Lord’s Supper, or next time you celebrate it, this children’s sermon on Mark 14:17-25 will be here waiting for you. (If you aren’t using it on World Communion Sunday, just leave that line out.)

A Children’s Sermon on Mark 14:17-25

Good morning kids! I am so glad to see you. It is just great that you are here in worship this morning–and thanks especially for coming up to hear the children’s sermon.

I want to tell you a story about Jesus this morning–of course! This is the story of when Jesus first taught his friends to do something we still do in worship 2000 years later. He gave them a special meal of bread and wine.

• We call it “the Lord’s Supper.”
• We call it “the Eucharist” which means “Thanksgiving.”
• We call it “Communion” which means being really close to God and really close to each other.

And we still have that special meal.

• Some churches have of every Sunday.
• Some churches have it once a month.
• Some churches have it just now and then at special times.

Here’s what happened when Jesus first gave his friends that special meal.

Passover

It was already a very special time for Jesus and his friends. It was the Jewish feast called “Passover.” At Passover, every Jewish family gathered for a special holy meal. At their Passover meal, they remembered how, long ago, God brought them out of Egypt where they had been held as slaves.

But this Passover was especially important. Jesus knew that he was going to die very soon. This would be his very last Passover meal with the friends he had been teaching and working with for three years.

A Sad Message

While they were eating and talking, Jesus said, “I’m really happy to be here with you all, but one thing makes me kind of sad.”

Martha, who was bringing some more food to the table just then, said “Oh, what makes you sad, Jesus?”

Jesus said, “You know I really love all of you, right? But here’s the thing: one of you is going to turn against me.”

Well, that was pretty depressing for everybody. Nobody wanted to say anything for a bit. Eventually, people started talking quietly to whoever was next to them.

John was right next to Jesus. John turned to Jesus and whispered, “Is it me Lord? I sure hope it isn’t me! I don’t want to betray you!”

Martha, who was still carrying that tray of food, knelt down to give some to Jesus and whispered, “Is it me Lord? I don’t ever want to turn against you!”

Peter who was on the other side of Jesus, said “No way, Lord! I’m on your side. I would never deny you! … I sure hope it isn’t me. Is it me?”

One by one everyone at the dinner found some reason to get close to Jesus. they all asked the same question: “Is it me?” “Is it me?” “Is it me?”

But Jesus wouldn’t say who would betray him. All he would say was “It’s someone who’s eating here with me. It’s someone eating bread, dipping it in the bowl here tonight.”

Well, when Jesus said that, they all got worried looks on their faces. They’d all been eating bread. Everybody eats bread at Passover.

Later On…

Just so you know, later that night after dinner, they all turned against Jesus.

Judas did the worst thing. Some people wanted to arrest Jesus, and Judas told them exactly where to find him.

But Peter betrayed him too. Peter told people that he didn’t even know Jesus. Three times Peter swore he didn’t even know who Jesus was.

All of them ran away, scared that they would get in trouble for being close to Jesus. They turned away and left Jesus behind.

One guy there was wearing just a sheet for some reason. When he ran away, the soldiers tried to grab him–but all they got was his sheet. The sheet fell off and he ran away naked! (That one was kind of funny, actually.)

So truly, everybody who ate with Jesus turned against him that night.

Back at the Passover Feast

But all that happened later.

Back at the dinner, after Jesus said that someone who ate bread with him would betray him, he took a loaf of bread.

Then Jesus blessed the bread, the way people always blessed bread at Passover, saying “Blessed are you, O Lord, our God, ruler of the Universe, Who brings forth bread from the earth.”

Then he broke the loaf of bread, and he said, “This is my body. It’s broken for you.”

Then he gave it to them and they all ate some.

After supper, he took a cup of wine. He gave thanks for it using the words they always used at Passover: “Blessed are you O Lord our God, ruler of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.”

Then he passed the cup around and they all took a drink of the wine.

Then he said “This is my blood. It makes a new agreement between God and humanity. It will be poured out for many, many people.”

Many, many people today still come to Jesus’ table for that special meal. Today, the first Sunday in October, is called World Communion Sunday. This morning, churches all around the world make sure to celebrate Jesus’ Special meal together.

Wondering

I wonder how all those disciples felt when they turned against Jesus after eating bread with him?

I wonder how they felt later, when they ate Jesus’ special meal again, and knew they were still welcome?

I wonder if Jesus still offers his special meal, his body and blood, to people he knows will sometimes turn against him?

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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.

• You can let me know that you are using it, either in the comments below, or using the contact form above.
• You can put a little notice in your church bulletin that your children’s sermon is adapted from one published on GaryNealHansen.com.
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