PASSION SUNDAY
for Legionary Nathan and his Friends
WE beg you, Almighty God, look on your people with mercy; and by your great goodness rule and keep them forever, both in body and soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Read the Bible Story
Read the Lesson
Do the Lesson Exercises
John 8:46
Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me? He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God."
The Claims of Jesus About Himself
The Jews answered him, "Aren't we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?"
"I am not possessed by a demon," said Jesus, "but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death."
At this the Jews exclaimed, "Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that if anyone keeps your word, he will never taste death. Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?"
Jesus replied, "If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad."
"You are not yet fifty years old," the Jews said to him, "and you have seen Abraham!"
"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!" At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.
LESSON
Grace and Peace be with you Legionaries!
Today we have what the Church always used to call PASSION SUNDAY. Now the word passion means "to suffer" in the old days when they named this Sunday. And from now until Easter evening was called the Passiontide for all of the stories about the suffering of our Lord Jesus
In today's story some religious men who did not like Jesus were saying he had the devil in him. He told them that he had been alive even before Abraham. Now Abraham lived a thousand years before Jesus! So the men said, you are not even 40! How can you have seen Abraham?
Then Jesus said a very key word to them, he said, "before Abraham was, I AM". That is just what God had told Moses to call him, "I AM". It means I exist. We believe God uses this because there was never a time he was not. You see God the Father, and Jesus, God the Son, and the Holy Spirit are ETERNAL! They have always been, are now, and always will be!
Let us pray:
We thank you God for sending us your son. He suffered many things for us. We are joyful that he lives forever as our friend, and we will live forever with him. Amen
- Can you draw a picture that tells the Gospel story? Do so and then explain it to your friends.
- Write or share a little story about when someone said mean things about another friend of yours, or tried to hurt them. What do you think?