Series: What Child Is This?
Sermon: Mary
Speaker: Japhet De Oliveira
Writer: Japhet De Oliveira
Kids Sections: Jessyka Albert
Refresh: Open with prayer. Ask for the Holy Spirit to open your heart to new understanding and for God’s character to be revealed.
Read: Matthew 28:1-10 in the English Standard Version (ESV). Note 1–3 insights or questions.
Reflect: I hope that everyone has a favorite Christmas story, book, poem, song, or movie. I have several for each category, but with movies I am torn between It's a Wonderful Life and The Bishop's Wife. I suppose if I had to choose just one, I would probably pick The Bishop's Wife as my top favorite. A remake, called The Preacher's Wife, came out in 1996 (and starred Whitney Houston), but I still prefer the original black and white 1947 version with Cary Grant, Loretta Young, and David Niven. Set during the Christmas season, the movie focuses on a bishop who has to come to the realization that God has already provided all he needs. He just needs to appreciate this fact.
That is the same lesson, in part, that the Gospel story writers are trying to teach us. They lived in a world of anticipation. Hoping and praying for release. For the Messiah to arrive. For the child to be born. Now that He has arrived, and He has lived, died and risen from the grave, we live in the era of hope for His return. His word is good. His promise is true. Christmas is a celebration of Jesus being with us. There is nothing to be afraid of. In fact, when Mary and her friends found the tomb empty, the angel gave them the first responsibility to share what they had learned. To tell the disciples that Jesus would meet them in Galilee. I love two great elements of this story: First, that the women were given this responsibility—the women, whom no one would want to listen to—were given the privilege and power to proclaim the good news first. Second, that Jesus called His disciples “my brothers.”
What child is this? A child who grew up respecting His mother and knowing that women were created with honor and respect. A child who understood that power is bringing community together and making that community family. That child is Jesus.
Recalibrate: Who can you include this Christmas as part of your family?
Respond: Pray for a heart of acceptance and tolerance.
Research: Read John 20 for another perspective on this story.
Live Wonder (ages 0–3)
Ask your child how they share Jesus. Ask yourself, how am I sharing Jesus with my child? If you haven’t already, find the time in your day to talk with your child about Jesus and to pray with them. How do you think going on a path of discipleship now will affect your child in the future? How will it affect your relationship with them? How will it affect how they view God?
Live Adventure (ages 4–11)
In Jesus’ time, people wouldn’t listen to little kids or to women, but Jesus wanted to share the good news that He was raised with women! Who is someone you would like to share the good news of Jesus with today? Go share it with them!
Live Purpose (ages 12–16)
Jesus was known to bring worth to those who were considered worthless and give purpose to those who felt like they had none. In what ways do you need Jesus to define your worth and purpose? Pray for an identity that is found in Jesus.