A Last Lesson From Jesus

"Look at the chocolate bunnies!" Sam cried as he and his sister gazed at the boxes of candy shaped like animals, along with the collection of baskets, and the sacks of colorful jellybean eggs that made up the store's attractive Easter display.

"I like the toy bunnies better!" Sally said picking up a fuzzy, stuffed rabbit from another shelf and giving it a hug.

"I want that basket," Sam said pointing to the biggest Easter basket on the shelf.

"And I want this bunny, and this one," Sally said picking up another toy, "to keep my first bunny company."

"Well, I want two sacks of candy," Sam declared, grabbing up two sacks of speckled jellybeans. "And a box of Easter egg dye, so we can paint eggs."

"Oh! I love Easter!" Sally cried. "It's so full of yummy things to eat and fun things to do!"

"Put the toys and candy back," Their mother said, having come unexpected up behind the two children. "It's time to go home."

Mother hadn't found a lamp she liked, so the children put the candy and toys back on the shelves and went out to the car.

Later that night Father entered the living room were Sally and Sam were playing.

"Your mother told me you kids were wanting some things at the store today," he said as he sat down on the sofa.

"Tell me, what do you think this time of year is all about?" he asked.

"Oh! soft chicks, and bunny rabbits, and coloring pretty eggs!" Sally cried.

"Candy, and baskets full of goodies!" Sam added, happily.

"You're both wrong," their father said, lifting the family Bible from off of the coffee table. "All those things were added later, by people who came into the faith and brought their past customs with them. Jesus and his disciples didn't celebrate this time of year with Easter baskets, candy, and colored eggs. Let's look into God's Word and see what Jesus tells us this time of year is really all about."

Sally sat down on one side of her father and Sam on the other as Mr. Miller opened the book on his lap.

"For three and a half years Jesus preached the gospel, the good news about the kingdom of God," their father told them. "Jesus finished the work that His heavenly Father had given Him to do. Reference 1 It was time for Him to offer Himself up for the sins of the world." Reference 2

Sally was puzzled. "How can the world sin, daddy?" she asked.

"It isn't the world that sins, but the people in the world," their father explained. "The Bible tells us that we've all sinned, and that the wages of sin is death. Reference 3 But Jesus paid for our sins with His own life. You see Jesus never sinned, Reference 4 so He didn't have to die. As the Son of God, His life was worth more than the sum total of all human life. He was willing to take our sins on His shoulders and die for us."

"Does that mean we can sin all we want?" Sam asked, "Since Jesus took the punishment for our sins?"

"No. God will forgive us when we sin, but He wants us try our best to live a life free of sin. Reference 5

If we sin on purpose, it's like crucifying Jesus all over again." Reference 6

"What's crucifying, daddy?" Sally asked, sad that Jesus had died, and wondering how it had happened.

"Death by crucifixion was a terrible death," her father told her soberly. "We don't need to go into how Jesus died today. We'll do that when you're older. I think what you kids should know right now is what Jesus taught His disciples just before He was killed. It's something He wanted all His disciples down through the ages to remember each year at this season. The Bible calls it the Passover. It was the same time of year when the death angel passed over the children of Israel before God lead them out of slavery in Egypt. You remember that story, don't you?"

"Yea, I like that story!" Sam exclaimed. "It's got a burning bush, and snakes eating other snakes, and frogs hopping all over the place, and a sea opening so people could walk across on dry ground!"

"Yes, but the important part is that God delivered His people out of slavery, just like He leads us out of our slavery to sin today," his father told him. "Jesus was commemorating that event when He and His disciples had their Passover meal. But before they ate their meal, the last meal Jesus had on the earth before He was killed, He wanted His friends to learn some very important lessons."

Their father turned to the book of John and began to read.

Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.

And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him;

Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;

He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.

After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.

Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?

Jesus answered and said unto him, "What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter."

Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, "If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me."

Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.

Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash [his] feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all."

For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.

So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, "Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them."

"Jesus wants us to wash other people's feet?" Sam said in disgust. "Why? Are they dirty?"

"In the time Jesus lived people wore sandles and the earth was dry and dusty," their father explained. "When visitors would enter a house it was the custom for the servents, usually the lowliest of the lot, to wash their feet. Jesus was showing, by His example, that we should be willing to humble ourselves and serve others. It is an attitude of mind Jesus wants all His disciples to have. That of giving. Of love and concern, and a williness to serve."

"What else did Jesus do?" Sally asked eagerly.

Mr. Miller read:

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is my body."

And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink ye all of it. For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

"But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."

"I don't understand," Sally said."

"Jesus was changing the Passover symbols," their father said. "You're too young to understand totally. Many adults don't undersand what Jesus meant either. In fact, when He told a group of His discipes that they had to eat of His body, many were offended and stopped believing in Him. Reference 7

It's really quite simple. The bread represents our taking on the nature of Jesus. Being led by His Spirit to do the things He would do. To live our lives in a Godly way. The wine pictures the blood of Jesus which He shed that we might live."

"I think I understand," Sally said, "At least a little bit."

"Does the wine really trun into blood?" Sam asked.

His father smiled, "No, it's just a symbol, to remind us of God's sacrifice. Just like the bread didn't really turn into pieces of flesh."

"Did Jesus do anything else?" Sally asked.

"Yes, He talked a great deal to the disciples, trying to explain what was going to happen; how He was going to be killed, and after three days rise from the dead. He encouraged them to be srong, and to trust in God. Then He prayed for them, as well as all future disciples, and asked God to protect and help them. After they sang a hymn Jesus lead His disciples to the Mount of Olives, where He spent some more time praying before Judas came with a troop of soldiers to arrest Him."

"Why did they arrest Jesus?" Sam asked, "Did He do something wrong?"

"No, they arrested Him because some of the people were jealous of Him, and wanted to see Him killed. And too, it was done to fulfill scripture. Now, I think that's enough for tonight. It's time you were getting ready for bed."

Reference 1 John 17:4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
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Reference 2 Joh 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
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Reference 3 Ro 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.
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Reference 4 Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
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Reference 5 Rom. 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2 God forbid.
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Reference 6 Heb. 6:6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put [him] to an open shame<

Heb 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
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Reference 7 John 6: 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

66 From that [time] many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
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