Kids, sin, and Jesus

Today the kids and I were sitting at the table eating a delicious meal of pizza toast and carrots (yeah we're a 5 star home...), when Jonas popped out a question.

"Mom, why did Jesus die on the cross?"

I gave him a simple explanation, but that wouldn't cut it. "How did Jesus take the sins away?" he asked again.

Then an idea popped into my head (thank you Jesus). I got up, and I grabbed a plate, a pizza sauce, a clean clear cup, and a white paper towel. Then I poured some pizza sauce onto the plate. They kept asking "what are you doing with those mommy?" The suspense was killing them, muahahahaha!

I said, ok guys, this paper towel is God, and this cup is us, people. God created us to enjoy him and have a relationship with him. He did say though, do not sin against me (then I told them that the pizza sauce was sin). So I held the cup and paper towel in my hands and pretended they were walking together. Then the cup noticed the sauce. It looked so good! Then the cup rolled in the sauce and got very dirty.

I explained to them that the white paper towel could not be around sin so there was separation. But, because God loved us so much He came down to us. When He was put on the cross he took our sins. At this point I began to clean away the pizza sauce off of the cup. So the cup was all clean, but the towel was very red and dirty. I explained to them that Jesus took our sins on Himself, then when He rose again, He got a new clean body, so He isn't dirty anymore! And I folded it up, so the red disappeared.

It was sad to explain that some people don't care that they are covered in sin. Some don't even know that they are! And though Jesus wants to wipe them clean, they haven't asked. So they stay in sin and separation.

It was so enjoyable to see how such a simple example made them understand just a little bit more.

I am so grateful for such a simple way to show the gospel to my kids and I just praise Jesus for a moment of listening to His voice. I just pray with everything in me that they continue to grow and understand the amazing sacrifice He gave, but also that He is alive and willing to save by grace through faith.

O LORD, please touch my little ones hearts. Help me LORD to be aware of Your guidance. All for Your Name Jesus.

Amen.