Why is Jesus here?

If the principal walks into your classroom at school, how do you feel? Lots of kids would say, "Scared." Even if you can't think of anything you did wrong, when you see the principal, you might worry that you're in trouble!

People treated Jesus like that sometimes. Instead of waiting to find out why He was really here, they just decided Jesus must have come into the world to yell at everybody for anything they did wrong. In this week's Gospel (John 3:13-17), Jesus tells them that's not true!

"God loved the world so much that He sent me, His only Son, so that everyone who believes in me can live forever in heaven with God," Jesus said. "I'm not here to condemn the world -- I'm here to save it!"

There are lots of reasons principals visit classrooms. Maybe your principal just wants to say hello. She might have a message for your teacher. He could even be there to give someone an award!

There were lots of good reasons for Jesus to become a person like us, too. The most important one was to prove that God loved us SO much He would even turn into a person to show it! Jesus said He couldn't wait until we got to live with Him in heaven someday.

Even if you know what a nice person your principal is, you might feel a little scared to see her. What if she remembers that you called someone a name on the playground last week, and you get in trouble?

Some of Jesus' followers felt like that: They worried that even if Jesus loved them, they would still get in trouble with Him for all the little things they did wrong.

Just like your principal, Jesus told them: "I'm not here to yell at you for every little mistake you make. I care about you, so I want you to be good -- but I love you even when you're not!" Jesus wanted us to remember that we don't have to be afraid of Him -- or afraid of principals!

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK: Jesus, help me remember that you don't want to yell at me -- you want me to follow you! Amen.

(09-11-97) [[In-content Ad]]