VCA Devotional Love

Opening Prayer:

Father, thank you for loving us. Thank you for sending your Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our sins and teaching us the true meaning of love. Father you are so kind and merciful and gracious to us.

Lord I do not know if every student here in this place truly knows you as their Lord and Savior, right now, will you draw them to Yourself?

Also Lord please help us understand what your Word has to say about love, so that we might be able to love the people in our lives properly.

Introduction:

Pastor Thomas Kusner.

Married to my wife Bailey.

3 Children: Eliza, Ollie, Milo

[I will let you ask me any 3 questions, but you must raise your hand to be called on]

Miss Hannah taught on love last week. Do you guys remember what story in the Bible she shared?

The Story of the Good Samaritan.

Do you remember the Greek word she taught you guys?

Agape!

What does agape mean?

Sacrificial love.

This afternoon we get to study a little bit more about this word love. Love means caring or preferring someone more than yourself.

Imagine you have with you your favorite toy, and your friend would really like to play with it. Even though it’s your favorite, what would be the loving thing to do? Probably to let them play with it, because you care about your friend. That is just a small example of love. Jesus Christ would demonstrate the greatest love by doing something very special for you.

This afternoon we are going to look at 5 events leading to Jesus dying on the cross.

The Garden, Jesus’ arrest and being made fun of, Jesus carrying the cross, Jesus on the cross, and Jesus’ death.

In the Garden:

Matthew 26:36–39 NKJV

36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” 37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. 38 Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” 39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”

Jesus came to the garden called Gethsemane, knowing what was going to happen to Him. One of His closest friends would betray Him. Jesus knew what he was going to go through would be very hard and painful… His friend would bring soldiers and Jesus’ enemies to take Him away to stand trial and to put Him to death.

Why would Jesus let that happen?

Because Jesus knew it was the only way to save you and me.

As we just read in the Bible Jesus prayed to God, His Father, asking if there was any other way. however, Jesus closed His prayer with, “nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”

Friends this shows how much Jesus loves you—He was willing to go through something incredibly difficult because He knew it was the only way to save you.

Analogy:

Imagine you have to take a really nasty-tasting medicine to get better. You might not want to take it, but you know it’s the only way to feel better. Jesus knew that dying on the cross was the only way to save us, even though it was going to be very hard for Him.

Jesus Arrested and Mocked:

Matthew 27:27–31 NKJV

27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around Him. 28 And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. 29 When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30 Then they spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head. 31 And when they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be crucified.

After being taken away, Jesus was arrested by soldiers, even though He had done nothing wrong. The soldiers took Him to the leaders, who made fun of Him. They put a crown of sharp thrones on His head and a scarlet robe on Him, pretending He was a king… They were making fun of Him. They even punched him and said really nasty things to Him, but Jesus didn’t fight back. He stayed calm because He was thinking of you and how much He loves you.

Analogy:

[BB gun]

Have you ever been blamed for something you didn’t do? It doesn’t feel good, does it? Now imagine if you were in Jesus’ place and instead of getting angry, you just stayed quite because you knew it was for the greater good. That is what Jesus did—He accepted the unfair treatment because He was thinking of you and wanted to save you.

Carrying the Cross:

John 19:17 NKJV

17 And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha,

After the trial, Jesus was sentenced to death and He was forced to carry a heavy wooden cross on His shoulders. It was very difficult because He was already hurt and tired. But Jesus didn’t give up. He knew that by dying on the cross, He would make a way for us to be forgiven from all the terrible sins we have committed. Again Jesus knew it was the only way to help you and me.

Analogy:

I have my backpack here that I use to workout with, it is really… really… heavy! It is hard to carry, and it would be harder to carry if I was hurt too. Jesus carried the cross that would have been heavier then my backpack because He knew it was the only way to provide you and me salvation. You can come up afterward if your teachers will let you and try and pick up my backpack.

Jesus on the Cross:

Luke 23:33–34 NKJV

33 And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. 34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots.

When Jesus reached the place called Calvary, the soldiers nailed His hands and feet to the cross. It was very painful. While He was on the cross, people continued to make fun of Him but instead of being angry Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” What this shows me is how much Jesus loves you, and everyone else, even those who were hurting Him.

Analogy:

I know if someone hurt me or was mean to me it would be hard not to be angry with them or being mean back to them, but what if we prayed for them and asked God to help them instead.

That is what Jesus did—He loved the people who hurt Him and asked God to forgive them.

Jesus died for us:

John 19:30 NKJV

30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

After several hours hanging on the cross, Jesus knew that His mission was almost over. He said, “It is finished,” which means that He had done everything needed to save you. Then Jesus died, but that isn’t the end of the story. Three days later, Jesus rose from the dead, proving He was stronger than death and that He truly loves you and me!

Gospel Presentation:

Why we all need Jesus:

The Bible tells us:

Romans 3:23 NKJV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

We all do bad bad things. God calls these things sin. Sin is when we choose to do things our way instead of God’s way. Because God is perfect and holy, sin separates us from Him. Meaning we are not able to live rightly with God. This is why God would send His Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for your sin, He would be buried, and would rise from the dead three days later.

God doesn’t desire for anyone to be separated from Him in a place called hell. That is why Jesus, His only Son, took the punishment for our sins upon Himself.

The Bible explains Jesus did this for us:

Romans 5:8 NKJV

8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Jesus lived a perfect life—He never sinned. He never wanted to do things His way instead of His Father’s way. And still He chose to take the punishment for our sins by dying on the cross. He did this so that we could be forgiven and have a genuine relationship with God again.

Kids this is the greatest act of love anyone has ever demonstrated for you!

So what now? The Bible tells us:

John 3:16 NKJV

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Jesus didn’t stay dead. He came back to life three days later, showing He has power over sin and death. Now Jesus invites everyone to believe in Him and follow Him. If we believe Jesus died for our sin and rose from the dead, and if we ask Him to forgive us, He will. We can be friends with God forever, and one day we will live with Him in heaven.

Inviting Jesus into your heart:

The Bible declares:

Romans 10:9 NKJV

9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 10:13 NKJV

13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Call upon the Lord today. Public declaration today!

Closing Prayer:

Thank you Father for sending your Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross to save us. Help us to believe your Word and to follow you all the days of our lives, and to love other like You love us. Amen.