Children are fun to talk with and hear their answers to questions. Their explanations for what words mean or what they saw happen can be hilarious, particularly when they say a word that sounds like the word they have heard, but it is totally different, and most often, their word has a totally different meaning.
As adults we need to help children learn the meaning of words and how to pronounce them. But, don’t be too quick to correct them. Although they may not be using the right words—meaning, the words we think they should use—the words they use sometimes carry deep theological meanings and lessons.
Let me give you two examples.
My mother loved Jesus, she never met a stranger, and talked to everyone with whom she came in contact about Jesus. She loved children and would engage them in conversation whenever possible.
One year, on the Saturday morning before Easter mom and I were at the grocery store checkout counter. Mom struck up a conversation with an adorable little 4- or 5-year-old girl who was sitting in the child’s seat of the shopping cart immediately in front of us. The little girl was telling mom all about her “bootiful” Easter dress and purse that she was going to wear to church for Easter. She told about what mommy was going to cook for lunch and that grand-mommy was coming to church and lunch. During this several minute exchange, the little girl’s mommy was busy placing all of her groceries onto the conveyor belt.
My mom asked the little girl, “Do you know why we celebrate Easter?”
This caught the attention of the little girl’s mommy, who was listening to hear what her daughter would say. The little girl immediately answered, “It’s the day Jesus beat up the devil! That’s why the devil don’t scare me!”
Her mommy had a surprised look on her face, and this time, Mom was the one caught off guard, and she said, “What?”
The little girl said, “Listen.” And she sang, “Hah-lee-lu-lu, He’s my Saaaay-vuhr.”
You know what? This little girl was exactly right, wasn’t she? On Easter we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who defeated the devil when He arose from death and the grave. That, my friends, is reason to sing “Hallelujah! What a Savior!” (from Man of Sorrows by P. P. Bliss). Christ is also our “Saaaay-vuhr” or saver … Savior since by His grace we are saved from life unto death.
Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection also give us the power and strength to walk through our day-to-day lives and the trials that enter them with the confidence that God is in control of everything; we have nothing to fear.
My friend Sandy Wisdom-Martin, Executive Director of Woman’s Missionary Union, SBC, tells the story of buying her daughter a bank at a yard sale. Sandy was showing her how it worked, so she put in a coin and it just disappeared. Her daughter said, “Mom, it’s an obstacle illusion.”
Sandy started to correct Hannah and say, “optical illusion,” but she didn’t. Sandy thought about roadblocks that come into our lives and at times totally occupy our thoughts, actions, and time. A little while later we realize that what we thought was a roadblock wasn’t one. It was an obstacle illusion.
Sandy explained that the crucifixion of Christ was “the greatest obstacle faced by the disciples.” Jesus was beaten severely, had to carry His own heavy cross, had a crown of thorns pushed into His skull, had nails hammered into His hands and feet, and was hung on a cross to die.
The disciples saw Jesus take His last breath and die. They took His dead body off the cross, prepared it for burial, and placed it in the tomb. It was over. He was dead … or was He?
Praise God it was not over! Three days later Jesus defeated death and rose from the grave.
But the angel said to the women,
“Do not be afraid,
for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.
He is not here, for he has risen, as he said.
Come, see the place where he lay.
Matthew 28:1-6 (ESV)
While both of these stories show us the importance of interacting with children and the importance of listening and thinking about the cute mix-ups in words that children use so that we are sometimes able to glean deeper theological truths, these are not the most important things to remember.
The point of both these stories is a simple biblical truth rich with deep theological meaning. “Christ the Lord is risen today. Hallelujah!”
The same power that created and sustains the earth and raised Jesus from the dead is the same power through which Christ-followers are redeemed, sustained in this life, and have victory over death as we live eternally in the presence of our God.
Gracious Father, teach us to listen for the truths about You that we hear others speak. Help us to recognize those truths and by Your Holy Spirit’s prompting, apply them to our lives. Thank You for the gift of salvation through Your Son, in whose Name we pray, Amen.
“When he comes, our glorious King,
all his ransomed home to bring,
then anew this song we’ll sing:
Hallelujah, what a Savior!”
–Man of Sorrows
For the grace of God has appeared,
bringing salvation for all people,
training us to renounce ungodliness
and worldly passions,
and to live self-controlled, upright,
and godly lives in the present age,
waiting for our blessed hope,
the appearing of the glory of our great
God and Savior Jesus Christ,
who gave himself for us to redeem us
from all lawlessness and
to purify for himself a people
for his own possession
who are zealous for good works.
Titus 2:11-14
PHOTO CREDIT: Cross/Empty Tomb by Jeff Jacobs from Pixabay
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