Day 152 · Day 152
Kids Corner — Day 152
2 Samuel 18:1–19:10 · John 20:1–31 · Psalm 119:153–176 · Proverbs 16:14–15
The story in children’s words
King David's army went out to fight his son Absalom, who had turned against him. David told his captains, "Be gentle with the young man Absalom, for my sake." In the forest, Absalom's head got caught in a big oak tree, and he hung there while his mule ran away. Joab killed him, even though the king had said not to. When David heard the news, he cried, "My son Absalom! I wish I had died instead of you!" Joab told David he must go out and speak kindly to the men who had saved him, so David sat in the gate and the people came to him. That same kind of love is seen even more in Jesus. On the first day of the week, Mary found Jesus' tomb empty, and then she saw Jesus alive! He showed His friends the marks on His hands and side, and Thomas said, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus is risen, and He blesses all who believe in Him.
It points to Jesus
2 Samuel 18 ends with a father's shattered cry: "My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! I wish I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!" David wished he could die for his rebellious son — but he could not. Then John 20 opens at a tomb before dawn. Mary Magdalene weeps in the garden until she hears one word — her name: "Mary." She turns: "Teacher!" The risen Jesus calls lost sheep by name. Thomas, who refused to believe without proof, falls down with the greatest confession in the Gospel: "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28). And John tells us why he wrote it all: "these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name" (John 20:31). David wished he could die in his son's place. Jesus actually did — and rose to seek every straying sheep. It ALL points to Jesus.
Talk about it
Talk with someone about this: Thomas moved from doubt to "My Lord and my God!" What does his story say to those of us who struggle to believe?