An All Age talk for Christ the King Today we celebrate Jesus Christ as King. I wonder what we expect when we think of a king? Someone who sits on a throne, dressed in fine clothes and jewels, wears a crown, and makes laws? (Place cloth, crown, necklace, cloak and scroll on throne) I wonder what kind of King Jesus is? In the confession we thought of Jesus as a rope, who wraps the world in his love. When we say sorry we are forgiven, because Jesus loved us so much he died to save us from our sins. Sometimes we think that Jesus is like a rope that joins earth to heaven, and makes a bridge for us to travel along to His heavenly kingdom. I wonder what sort of king Jesus really is? If we think about some of the things that Jesus touched when he was on earth, they might tell us more about his way of being a king.  Here is some water. Jesus touched water when he was baptised in the River Jordan. He went down under the dark water and came up into the light. He was showing that he was God's servant, and would be led by God's Holy Spirit. Some people who were there heard a voice saying: 'This is my Son whom I love, I am very pleased with him.' Another time, Jesus was standing near some tall stone jars full of water. He was a guest at a wedding. The family giving the wedding party were very upset - they did not have enough wine for all their guests. What were they going to do? Jesus turned the water in the big jars into wine. Jesus touched water again when he poured out a bowl of water and knelt down in front of his friends. (Pour water from jug into bowl) He carefully washed each one's feet. He was doing the work of a servant, making them fresh and comfortable for the Passover meal, showing them and us how to serve others.  Here is some bread. Jesus nearly touched bread when he was in the wilderness. The he was tempted to turn a stone into a loaf of bread to eat. He was very hungry, but Jesus said, 'No!' because he would not use his power to please himself. 'I want to please God,' he said. Another time, Jesus really did touch bread when he held five small loaves in his hands. He was surrounded by a crowd of more than 5000 people, and they were all hungry. Jesus lifted the bread up, saying thank you to God, and then he broke it into pieces and gave it to his disciples to give to the crowd. Jesus kept giving more and more pieces of bread to his disciples and they gave them to the people. Everybody ate as much has they wanted. Jesus touched bread again when he ate a last meal with his friends. He took some bread in his hands and broke it (break bread) and asked all his friends to share it. He said something like, 'This bread is my body, given for you.' (Give bread to the children to share).  Here is some wood Jesus touched wood as he grew up in a carpenter's family. He would have known how to cut wood and how to smooth it and how to build it into things that would last. (Smooth wood with sandpaper) Jesus also touched wood when he climbed into the wooden boat that belonged to his friends James and John. The disciples rowed the boat across the lake whilst Jesus was asleep. Suddenly, a storm blew up. Jesus commanded the wind and the waves to be calm - and they were! Another time that Jesus touched wood was when he lifted the heavy cross (open wood out into cross shape) onto his shoulders, and walked carrying it to the place where he was killed.  Jesus was a king, but he didn't touch gold and velvet, diamonds and silk - he touched water, bread and wood. (Point to each in turn) He turned water into wine, He broke bread and shared it, He carried a wooden cross. He is a special kind of king - a king who wore a crown of thorns. (Place crown of thorns over golden crown) If we ask him, he can take the rough parts of our lives and make them smooth. (Use sandpaper on wood) I wonder how you have experienced Jesus in your life?If anyone would like, they could share their thoughts with us, or we could sit for a moment in silence and think about Christ our king. |