1 Peter 2:20-23, New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

²⁰But suppose you receive a beating for doing wrong, and you put up with it. Will anyone honor you for this? Of course not. But suppose you suffer for doing good, and you put up with it. God will praise you for this. ²¹You were chosen to do good even if you suffer. That’s because Christ suffered for you. He left you an example that he expects you to follow. ²²Scripture says,

“He didn’t commit any sin.
No lies ever came out of his mouth.” (Isaiah 53:9)

²³People shouted at him and made fun of him. But he didn’t do the same thing back to them. When he suffered, he didn’t say he would make them suffer. Instead, he trusted in the God who judges fairly.

Materials:

Two handheld mirrors, one should have a paper cut out image of Jesus affixed to glass; the other is a plain mirror; brown paper sack

Message:

I wonder what the word” suffer” means. What do you think the word means? (Allow children to respond). According to the Merriam-Webster Student Online Dictionary, the word “suffer” means: “to feel or endure pain or to experience something unpleasant.” Have you ever experienced suffering? Would someone like to share about experiencing suffering? (Allow one child to share.) I am sure most of us in this room have experienced suffering.

Today, I want to share a story of a woman who was willing to suffer, to endure pain, and to experience something unpleasant in her life. Her name was Rosa Parks. Have any of you heard of her? (Allow children to acknowledge.) In the 1950s, in Alabama and other parts of the South, African Americans could not sit in areas of busses that were reserved for white people. When Mrs. Parks refused to give up her bus seat to a white man, the bus driver called the police. Rosa Parks was arrested and put in jail. She lost her job. Many white people threatened her, shouted at her, and made fun of her. Rosa continued to work peacefully in hopes of changing the unfair laws. She was inspired and trained in peaceful protest. Isn’t it awesome how people can use “peace” to point out things that are unfair or unjust?

God chose her to help make this country a better place for all African Americans. Her willingness to suffer for what was right demonstrated that she was following in the footsteps of someone else. Whom do you think she was following? (Allow children to answer.) That’s right; she was following in the footsteps of Jesus!

Click here for anti-racism resources from Discipleship Ministries.

I wonder what I have in my bag today. It’s a mirror. (Pull out the plain mirror without Jesus’ image.) For what is a mirror used? (Allow children to answer.). That’s right, a mirror reflects the image that is in front of the mirror. If I look into the mirror, I will see myself. If I hold it up in front of you, you don’t see my reflection; you see your own. The Bible says, that “people shouted at him (Jesus) and made fun of him. But he didn’t do the same thing back to them.” See, Jesus didn’t reflect those who were making fun of him. He didn’t shout back at them. Jesus reflected the love of God to those who were making him suffer. Rosa Parks reflected the love of Jesus to those who were making her suffer.

God doesn’t want anyone to suffer for no reason. There is nothing good about suffering. If you are experiencing suffering at home or school, you should ask someone you trust for help. If someone makes fun of you or shouts at you, you should ask someone for help in that situation. Have faith in God, like Jesus did, because God judges fairly and wants all suffering to end.

I have something else in my bag. It’s another mirror. (When pulling it out, don’t let children see the mirror side.) Rosa Parks leaned on her faith in God. Jesus leaned on his faith in God. You can too! Don’t do the same thing back to those who are shouting at you or causing suffering. I am going to show you your reflection of what you look like when you live your faith in God. This is what you look like. (Hold the mirror up in front of each child’s face, so each sees the image of Christ in the reflection. Take time to allow each child the opportunity to see.) What did you see? (Allow children to respond.) That’s right; Jesus! When we lean into faith in God, we show others the love of Jesus! This week when you see a mirror, take a moment to gaze into it. I wonder what you will see. Will you see Jesus looking back at you? It is my prayer that you do.

Prayer:

Jesus, your suffering gives me courage when I suffer. Your response to suffering allows me to learn how to live in love, as you did, and to reflect your love for all the world to see! Amen.