The Greatest Commandment - Matthew 22: 35 - 40 (ICB)
When Jesus started teaching, many of the people in the land believed Him and liked what He said, but some of the teachers of the rules didn’t believe Jesus. People obeyed the teachers of the rules because they thought following the rules was the best way to please God. The teachers were very smart and they would ask Jesus hard questions to try and trick Him with His words. Jesus knew what they were trying to do, but He didn’t let Himself fall for their tricks. One day one of the leaders asked Jesus, “What is the most important rule of them all?” These teachers loved their rules and they loved talking about them, even more than they loved helping people. Jesus answered him and said, “Love God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the most important thing. And the second is like the first: love people like you love yourself. When the people heard Jesus, they were amazed. Even the teachers of the rules couldn’t believe how wise Jesus was.
Application
How can we love like Jesus? It is not easy to do. Sometimes we get the words “like” and “love” confused. Love is a powerful word, but don’t be like the teachers of the rules and treat it as just a word. Love is a feeling and an action. Yes, we must even love people who may not treat us nicely. Think about how much Jesus loves you even when you are acting unlovable. Just as your parents love you, they love you no matter what. Same with Jesus! He says that love matters most! God’s love is the only thing that lasts. When you feel unloved or unlovable, picture Jesus in your mind. He loves you and He can turn your heart into a loving heart! Just ask! He is listening. Don’t just say you love, prove you love!
When Jesus started teaching, many of the people in the land believed Him and liked what He said, but some of the teachers of the rules didn’t believe Jesus. People obeyed the teachers of the rules because they thought following the rules was the best way to please God. The teachers were very smart and they would ask Jesus hard questions to try and trick Him with His words. Jesus knew what they were trying to do, but He didn’t let Himself fall for their tricks. One day one of the leaders asked Jesus, “What is the most important rule of them all?” These teachers loved their rules and they loved talking about them, even more than they loved helping people. Jesus answered him and said, “Love God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the most important thing. And the second is like the first: love people like you love yourself. When the people heard Jesus, they were amazed. Even the teachers of the rules couldn’t believe how wise Jesus was.
Application
How can we love like Jesus? It is not easy to do. Sometimes we get the words “like” and “love” confused. Love is a powerful word, but don’t be like the teachers of the rules and treat it as just a word. Love is a feeling and an action. Yes, we must even love people who may not treat us nicely. Think about how much Jesus loves you even when you are acting unlovable. Just as your parents love you, they love you no matter what. Same with Jesus! He says that love matters most! God’s love is the only thing that lasts. When you feel unloved or unlovable, picture Jesus in your mind. He loves you and He can turn your heart into a loving heart! Just ask! He is listening. Don’t just say you love, prove you love!
Jesus Heals on the Sabbath – Mark 2:23 – 3:6 (NLT)
One day, Jesus and His disciples were picking grain to eat on the Sabbath. The Sabbath was the Jewish day of rest and a day to focus only on God. People weren’t supposed to do any sort of work on the Sabbath, including picking grain. Remember the Pharisees, the group of religious guys who were trying to trick Jesus into breaking God’s laws? These guys saw what Jesus and His disciples were doing and asked Jesus if He thought it was wrong for His disciples to pick grain on the Sabbath, even though the disciples were very hungry. Jesus reminded them that many people had done things on the Sabbath and God’s desire was for kindness and mercy for others everyday. Jesus said that if someone is in need, they should be helped no matter what day it was.
Another time, Jesus was walking through the Synagogue, a place for worship. He noticed a man with a crippled hand. It again was the Sabbath, so the religious leaders were watching Jesus very closely. Would Jesus heal the man’s hand on the Sabbath? If He did, the religious leaders planned to accuse Jesus of breaking God’s law. According to the Pharisees, no one should do work on the Sabbath. Jesus said to the hurting man, “Come and stand in front of everyone.” Then He turned to the religious leaders and asked, “Is it legal to do good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing harm? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?” But they would not answer Him. Jesus looked around at them very upset because they had unkind hearts. Then Jesus said to the man, “Reach out your hand.” The man reached out his hand and it became normal again! Jesus wanted everyone to know that the Sabbath was a day when God’s work should be done and healing was definitely God’s work!
Application
It might seem easier to ignore someone who is in need because it isn’t convenient or easy. In fact, sometimes in our busy and rushed lives we can actually miss out on an opportunity to help someone who could really use assistance, just because we aren’t paying attention! Next time you are busy and feel God tugging at your heat to stop what you are doing and be kind to someone, take that challenge and shoe love to a person in need. A BFF knows that God wants us to be patient in busy times and show kindness to others. How can we love like Jesus?
One day, Jesus and His disciples were picking grain to eat on the Sabbath. The Sabbath was the Jewish day of rest and a day to focus only on God. People weren’t supposed to do any sort of work on the Sabbath, including picking grain. Remember the Pharisees, the group of religious guys who were trying to trick Jesus into breaking God’s laws? These guys saw what Jesus and His disciples were doing and asked Jesus if He thought it was wrong for His disciples to pick grain on the Sabbath, even though the disciples were very hungry. Jesus reminded them that many people had done things on the Sabbath and God’s desire was for kindness and mercy for others everyday. Jesus said that if someone is in need, they should be helped no matter what day it was.
Another time, Jesus was walking through the Synagogue, a place for worship. He noticed a man with a crippled hand. It again was the Sabbath, so the religious leaders were watching Jesus very closely. Would Jesus heal the man’s hand on the Sabbath? If He did, the religious leaders planned to accuse Jesus of breaking God’s law. According to the Pharisees, no one should do work on the Sabbath. Jesus said to the hurting man, “Come and stand in front of everyone.” Then He turned to the religious leaders and asked, “Is it legal to do good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing harm? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?” But they would not answer Him. Jesus looked around at them very upset because they had unkind hearts. Then Jesus said to the man, “Reach out your hand.” The man reached out his hand and it became normal again! Jesus wanted everyone to know that the Sabbath was a day when God’s work should be done and healing was definitely God’s work!
Application
It might seem easier to ignore someone who is in need because it isn’t convenient or easy. In fact, sometimes in our busy and rushed lives we can actually miss out on an opportunity to help someone who could really use assistance, just because we aren’t paying attention! Next time you are busy and feel God tugging at your heat to stop what you are doing and be kind to someone, take that challenge and shoe love to a person in need. A BFF knows that God wants us to be patient in busy times and show kindness to others. How can we love like Jesus?
Jesus Clears the Temple – Mark 11:15 - 19 (ICB)
Jesus returned to Jerusalem and went into the Temple, the place where the people worshiped God. Back then it was a religious practice to bring an animal to the priests as a sacrifice. Within the Temple courts, Jesus saw merchants, people who sold and traded these animals and other goods. He also witnesses moneychangers who converted coin so people could purchase the goods the merchants were selling. There was a lot of noise, a lot of people making deals and some being cheated out of their money by the merchants. This angered Jesus. He began forcing them out of the Temple. He overturned the tables where men were exchanging different kinds of money and threw benches used for selling doves. Jesus would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the Temple courts.
Then Jesus explained what angered Him so deeply. He said, “It is written in the Scriptures, ‘My Temple will be a house where people from all nations will pray.’ But you are changing God’s house into a ‘hideout for robbers.’” Jesus wanted the people’s hearts to be pure before entering the Temple courts to worship God. How can their hearts be pure with all this noise and business putting money first? It was a distraction! The Bible says that the priests and teachers saw how the people listened to Jesus and were scared that if they didn’t do something to Jesus that everyone would stop following them and follow Jesus instead.
Big Idea
Love speaks the truth. In this story, Jesus showed love to people and spoke the truth to them by showing them they were disobeying God. When He told the people in the Temple that what they were doing was wrong, He wasn’t being a know-it-all or a tattle-tale. Jesus wanted every person there to experience God’s love and knew that they wouldn’t be able to do that when they were focused on buying and selling things rather than giving God their worship. Jesus is the ultimate example of a BFF because he spoke the truth, even though His words would not be popular with all who heard them.
Jesus returned to Jerusalem and went into the Temple, the place where the people worshiped God. Back then it was a religious practice to bring an animal to the priests as a sacrifice. Within the Temple courts, Jesus saw merchants, people who sold and traded these animals and other goods. He also witnesses moneychangers who converted coin so people could purchase the goods the merchants were selling. There was a lot of noise, a lot of people making deals and some being cheated out of their money by the merchants. This angered Jesus. He began forcing them out of the Temple. He overturned the tables where men were exchanging different kinds of money and threw benches used for selling doves. Jesus would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the Temple courts.
Then Jesus explained what angered Him so deeply. He said, “It is written in the Scriptures, ‘My Temple will be a house where people from all nations will pray.’ But you are changing God’s house into a ‘hideout for robbers.’” Jesus wanted the people’s hearts to be pure before entering the Temple courts to worship God. How can their hearts be pure with all this noise and business putting money first? It was a distraction! The Bible says that the priests and teachers saw how the people listened to Jesus and were scared that if they didn’t do something to Jesus that everyone would stop following them and follow Jesus instead.
Big Idea
Love speaks the truth. In this story, Jesus showed love to people and spoke the truth to them by showing them they were disobeying God. When He told the people in the Temple that what they were doing was wrong, He wasn’t being a know-it-all or a tattle-tale. Jesus wanted every person there to experience God’s love and knew that they wouldn’t be able to do that when they were focused on buying and selling things rather than giving God their worship. Jesus is the ultimate example of a BFF because he spoke the truth, even though His words would not be popular with all who heard them.
Washing the Disciples Feet - John 13: 1 - 7 (ICB)
It was almost time for the Jewish Passover Feast. This was the time of remembering how God saved Moses and the Hebrews from Pharaoh and the Egyptians. Jesus and His disciples were all eating dinner together. Earlier in the evening, the disciples were having a disagreement about who was the most important so Jesus used this time to show them the truth. Jesus already knew that His disciple Judas betrayed Him for a little bit of money and His disciple Simon Peter would deny three times that he knew Jesus at all. That’s what makes what Jesus was about to do even more amazing.
During the meal, Jesus stood up and took of His outer clothing. He then took a towel and wrapped it around His waist. Jesus came to Simon Peter, but Simon Peter said, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered, “You don’t understand what I am doing now. But you will understand later.” Peter said, “No! You will never wash my feet.” Peter didn’t feel that Jesus, the Son of God, should wash others’ feet. He thought instead that Jesus should have His feet washed by others. Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” Peter wanted to be accepted by Jesus. Jesus said that someone in the room was unclean. That person was Judas Iscariot. Judas betrayed Jesus and would later lead Jesus to danger.
Jesus then washed Simon Peter’s feet and along with all of the other disciples. Once He finished, He put His outer clothes back on and sat down. Jesus asked His disciples, “Do you understand what I have just done for you? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord.’ And this is right, because that is what I am. I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet. So you should wash each others feet. I did this as an example for you. So you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth. A servant is not greater than his master. A messenger is not greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, you will be happy if you do them.
Big Idea
Love is forgiving. Although Jesus knew that His disciples would go against Him, He chose to do a caring act by washing their feet. Jesus didn’t hold back ANY of His love for the disciples. Through this simple act, Jesus showed us that His love is bigger than any of the things we have done wrong. His love for us means that we are forgiven of everything we ever have done wrong in the past and everything we will do wrong in the future. Jesus had already forgiven Simon Peter and Judas and wanted to show love to them by washing their feet. Jesus is the ultimate example of a BFF because He chose to forgive those who hurt Him.
It was almost time for the Jewish Passover Feast. This was the time of remembering how God saved Moses and the Hebrews from Pharaoh and the Egyptians. Jesus and His disciples were all eating dinner together. Earlier in the evening, the disciples were having a disagreement about who was the most important so Jesus used this time to show them the truth. Jesus already knew that His disciple Judas betrayed Him for a little bit of money and His disciple Simon Peter would deny three times that he knew Jesus at all. That’s what makes what Jesus was about to do even more amazing.
During the meal, Jesus stood up and took of His outer clothing. He then took a towel and wrapped it around His waist. Jesus came to Simon Peter, but Simon Peter said, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered, “You don’t understand what I am doing now. But you will understand later.” Peter said, “No! You will never wash my feet.” Peter didn’t feel that Jesus, the Son of God, should wash others’ feet. He thought instead that Jesus should have His feet washed by others. Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” Peter wanted to be accepted by Jesus. Jesus said that someone in the room was unclean. That person was Judas Iscariot. Judas betrayed Jesus and would later lead Jesus to danger.
Jesus then washed Simon Peter’s feet and along with all of the other disciples. Once He finished, He put His outer clothes back on and sat down. Jesus asked His disciples, “Do you understand what I have just done for you? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord.’ And this is right, because that is what I am. I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet. So you should wash each others feet. I did this as an example for you. So you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth. A servant is not greater than his master. A messenger is not greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, you will be happy if you do them.
Big Idea
Love is forgiving. Although Jesus knew that His disciples would go against Him, He chose to do a caring act by washing their feet. Jesus didn’t hold back ANY of His love for the disciples. Through this simple act, Jesus showed us that His love is bigger than any of the things we have done wrong. His love for us means that we are forgiven of everything we ever have done wrong in the past and everything we will do wrong in the future. Jesus had already forgiven Simon Peter and Judas and wanted to show love to them by washing their feet. Jesus is the ultimate example of a BFF because He chose to forgive those who hurt Him.
Criminal on the Cross - Luke 23:32-43 (ICB)
Jesus was not alone when He died on the cross. Two others, both criminals, were led out to be crucified next to Jesus. They came to a hill called the Skull. All three were crucified there – Jesus on the center cross, and the two criminals on the right and left of Him. After being nailed to the cross by the soldiers, Jesus said, “Father, forgive these people because they don’t know what they are doing” After Jesus said that the soldiers began rolling dice or gambling for His clothes. The people stood there watching Jesus while the leaders just laughed at Him. The leaders said, “He has saved others, let Him save himself if He is really God’s Chosen One, the Messiah.” Even the soldiers made fun. They came to Jesus and offered Him some sour vinegar. They said to Jesus, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself.” One of the criminals on the cross next to Jesus even made fun of Him. He said, “Aren’t you the Christ? Then save yourself. And save us, too!”
The other criminal on the cross, on Jesus’ other side, stopped him by saying, “You should fear God! You are getting the same punishment as He is. We are being punished because we did something wrong; we should die. But this man has done nothing wrong.” He was talking about Jesus. This criminal knew Jesus was the Son of God. Then the criminal said to Jesus, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom!” Then Jesus said to him, “Listen! What I say is true: Today you will be with me in paradise.” Because “Love is not selfish.”
Big Idea
Love is not selfish. Jesus forgave the people who were trying to kill Him and the man dying on the cross next to Him. The criminals on the cross had done many bad things and were being punished. Even as Jesus suffered alongside them, He showed love to them Jesus even told the criminal who believed He was the Son of God that he would be in Heaven with Him that day. Jesus was suffering death on the cross and still was giving love – until His last breath! Jesus is the ultimate example of a BFF because He was not selfish, always putting others before Himself.
Jesus was not alone when He died on the cross. Two others, both criminals, were led out to be crucified next to Jesus. They came to a hill called the Skull. All three were crucified there – Jesus on the center cross, and the two criminals on the right and left of Him. After being nailed to the cross by the soldiers, Jesus said, “Father, forgive these people because they don’t know what they are doing” After Jesus said that the soldiers began rolling dice or gambling for His clothes. The people stood there watching Jesus while the leaders just laughed at Him. The leaders said, “He has saved others, let Him save himself if He is really God’s Chosen One, the Messiah.” Even the soldiers made fun. They came to Jesus and offered Him some sour vinegar. They said to Jesus, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself.” One of the criminals on the cross next to Jesus even made fun of Him. He said, “Aren’t you the Christ? Then save yourself. And save us, too!”
The other criminal on the cross, on Jesus’ other side, stopped him by saying, “You should fear God! You are getting the same punishment as He is. We are being punished because we did something wrong; we should die. But this man has done nothing wrong.” He was talking about Jesus. This criminal knew Jesus was the Son of God. Then the criminal said to Jesus, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom!” Then Jesus said to him, “Listen! What I say is true: Today you will be with me in paradise.” Because “Love is not selfish.”
Big Idea
Love is not selfish. Jesus forgave the people who were trying to kill Him and the man dying on the cross next to Him. The criminals on the cross had done many bad things and were being punished. Even as Jesus suffered alongside them, He showed love to them Jesus even told the criminal who believed He was the Son of God that he would be in Heaven with Him that day. Jesus was suffering death on the cross and still was giving love – until His last breath! Jesus is the ultimate example of a BFF because He was not selfish, always putting others before Himself.
The Great Commission - Matthew 28:16-20 (ICB)
The Bible tells us that after Jesus was buried, two women went to visit His tomb to take care of His body. The angel at the tomb where Jesus was buried told the women that Jesus had risen from the dead. The angel instructed the surprised and joyful women to tell the disciples that Jesus would meet them in Galilee. The disciples went anxiously to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.
On the mountain, they saw Jesus and worshiped Him, but some of the followers did not believe it was really Jesus. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All power in Heaven and on earth is given to me. So GO and make followers of all people in the world. Baptize them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Teach them to obey everything I have told you. You can be sure that I will be with you always. I will continue with you until the end of the world.”
We call these instructions that Jesus gave the Great Commission. A commission is a direction given that another person is trusted to complete. After Jesus went to Heaven, His disciples continued to share His love with everyone they met. They did such a great job of following His command that millions and millions of people have come to believe in Him and have shared His love with others. The disciples’ obedience to Jesus’ commission is the reason WE have an opportunity to know God’s love and share it with others!
Big Idea
Love is sharing Christ with others! Jesus wanted the disciples to know that although He was leaving earth, His love is ETERNAL – without end! Jesus left earth to go and prepare a place for us in Heaven, a place where we can enjoy God’s love FOREVER. Jesus’ last instructions for us were to share God’s love with others, teaching others about who God is and helping them to grow closer to Him. Jesus is the ultimate example of a BFF because He taught us that love is eternal… it is strong and never quits. Because “Love shares Jesus with others!”
The Bible tells us that after Jesus was buried, two women went to visit His tomb to take care of His body. The angel at the tomb where Jesus was buried told the women that Jesus had risen from the dead. The angel instructed the surprised and joyful women to tell the disciples that Jesus would meet them in Galilee. The disciples went anxiously to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.
On the mountain, they saw Jesus and worshiped Him, but some of the followers did not believe it was really Jesus. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All power in Heaven and on earth is given to me. So GO and make followers of all people in the world. Baptize them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Teach them to obey everything I have told you. You can be sure that I will be with you always. I will continue with you until the end of the world.”
We call these instructions that Jesus gave the Great Commission. A commission is a direction given that another person is trusted to complete. After Jesus went to Heaven, His disciples continued to share His love with everyone they met. They did such a great job of following His command that millions and millions of people have come to believe in Him and have shared His love with others. The disciples’ obedience to Jesus’ commission is the reason WE have an opportunity to know God’s love and share it with others!
Big Idea
Love is sharing Christ with others! Jesus wanted the disciples to know that although He was leaving earth, His love is ETERNAL – without end! Jesus left earth to go and prepare a place for us in Heaven, a place where we can enjoy God’s love FOREVER. Jesus’ last instructions for us were to share God’s love with others, teaching others about who God is and helping them to grow closer to Him. Jesus is the ultimate example of a BFF because He taught us that love is eternal… it is strong and never quits. Because “Love shares Jesus with others!”
