Why I do youth ministry
April 18th, 2008 | “So, why do we call Jesus the Passover lamb?”
Several hands reached for the ceiling and I called on a blonde, spirited seventh-grade girl named Kara. Like many of her peers, she had raised her hand before actually formulating a response.
“Because, um, Jesus was… like…”
I waited patiently for Kara to finish her thought. Her face was starting to wrinkle and contort in hopes that the answer would soon arrive. It didn’t. I looked around the room for another vertical fleshy stick, and as I began to point at another student, I was abruptly interrupted.
“OH!” Kara blurted, with her eyes lighting up and back her straightening as she experienced her eureka moment. “So. Just like how they used to sacrifice a lamb during Passover and put the blood on the doorposts to, like, protect them from evil [Exodus 12:1-13], that’s like how Jesus sacrificed himself and gave up his blood to, um, save us from sin [John 1:29]. And that’s what Jesus meant when he said ‘This is my blood, shed for you’!”
I nearly broke into song as I said, “YES! That’s exactly right.” And I thought to myself, This is why I do youth ministry.
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That’s cool … there’s a lot of adults who don’t get that!! YAY …
It is awesome when a kid you are working with “gets” it.
I love it when a “I get it” moment happens!
Yeah, I think that’s one of my favorite feelings in the world – helping someone come to an understanding of something! I used to call it an “A-ha” moment until I heard Oprah use it.
Awesome! I live for these kind of moments.
wow that is hilarious. did you give her any money afterward for giving the best church answer of all time?
i have a student that every time he raises his hand, he refers to this idea that we all have a “6th sense”. it is the most random thing. apparently he think the holy spirit is our 6th sense. in a way it makes sense.
i am alway really scared to call on cody because i know his answer will include the phrase: 6th sense.
jeremy: dude, that is hilarious.
“i love it when a plan comes together”