Looking to the Lamb in VBS Materials

Last year, I used a book called The Lamb to teach a children's class in my church. The book had such an exciting approach, always keeping the kids looking forward to the next chapter, and even bringing complaints when they had to wait for the next part. Some already knew the basic story-line, but were still anxious to hear the rest. What was it about?

The Lamb is a book about the history of the world we live in, how it came to be here, and how we fit into it. It talks about angels, children and adults, rules, laws, a rescue plan, and of course, lambs, or in particular, the Lamb.

You see, God was the One who created the world we live in today and all the people and animals and everything! He created it perfect, but because of a bad angel who wanted to take God's place, evil entered the world. This bad angel talked to the first man and woman ever to live on the earth (who were very good friends with God) and convinced them that God didn't know what was best for them, and caused them to disobey their Creator. The problem was that they already knew they could trust God, but they chose not to. Sin became the nature of all people because the first man and woman chose not to trust God, and because God is perfect and good, He could no longer be friends with people. All people would have to be punished by death for the sin nature that they now had. That's what God's law required.

God didn't like that He and people could no longer be friends, or that they had to be punished by death for their sins. He loved them, so He told the first man and woman that He would one day send someone who would take the punishment for all people so that they could once again be friends with God, and someday they could live with Him in His home, called Heaven. All that people had to do was trust that God would provide this One-the Savior of all people.

Since people didn't really understand how bad sin was, God told them to do something that would help them understand better. He told them that they had to take a perfect male lamb, put their hand on it, which would be like they were placing their sin on the animal, and then they had to kill the lamb. This was how God showed that He would punish sin and not punish people.

The story goes on to tell that some people didn't trust that God's plan would work, and they tried to be good enough so that they wouldn't be punished. God gave a list of 10 rules that show that no one, no matter how good they try to be, can be perfect and avoid punishment.

For years people looked forward to the One that God had promised to send, and finally Jesus was born into the world. He was God's son, born by a woman, but not because of an earthly father. Because of who He was, He didn't have a sin nature, and never did anything wrong. He was the perfect Lamb that God required to be sacrificed for people's punishment. He grew up doing all kinds of things to show that He was God's Son, and knowing that one day He would give His life to save people from punishment. When He was a man, He was taken and beaten, then put on a cross (a cruel way of killing in the old days), and died. This was the way that people's punishment was paid for. All anyone has to do is believe that it is so.

A miracle took place only 3 days after Jesus died, and a promise was given to all the people who believed, but I'll not reveal the entire story?

Aleena Denison has a heart for seeing the message of the Bible presented in a clear way,and is dedicated to sharing Jesus with the lost and helping believers see their responsibilities in evangelism, discipleship, and Bible study. For more information and free downloads, see http://www.goodseed.com

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