A dare from Jesus

Kids are always daring each other to try new things. Whether it's something scary, like climbing high in a tree, or gross, like eating ice cream with ketchup, someone will dare you to do it. You have to decide if you'll take the dare!

Even as a grownup, Jesus dared people to try new things all the time -- things like following Him and believing in God. In this week's Gospel (Luke 24:35-48), He even dares the Apostles to believe He came back from the dead!

The Apostles were still sad because Jesus had died, when Jesus came into the room with them! "Why are you sad?" He asked. "I'm not a ghost; it's really me." He ate some food to show He was alive, and then helped them understand why He died and came back to life. "I told you that this would happen to me," He said; "now remember it."

Dares are usually about small things. Someone dares you to blow the biggest bubble you can, even though it might pop in your face; or you dare another kid to ride a bicycle with no hands.

Jesus' dares, though, were about big things: He dared people to change their whole lives. Jesus dared the Apostles to believe that even though He died, He would come back to life again.

When another kid dares you to do something, it's okay to say no. You don't have to do anything silly or dangerous just because someone dares you to! If the Apostles had said no to Jesus' dares, though, it would have made a big difference. When Jesus came back, He gave them the biggest dare of all: to tell everyone He was alive!

Jesus knew that people would laugh at the Apostles and even hurt them for taking His dare. But if they listened to Him, they'd be doing something much more important than climbing a tree. The Apostles would get to teach people all about Jesus, and bring them closer to God! That's a dare Jesus' friends were happy to take.

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK: Jesus, help me remember that a dare to follow you is the only dare I need to take! Amen.

(04-10-97)

[[In-content Ad]]