milk & honey mamas

Kristen

How to use this resource: repetition! It might be a good idea to read the same story every day for a week. You can add different activities every day, but repetition helps children internalize and make connections. 

“And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!”

John 1:36

Who is Jesus? When you close your eyes, can you imagine Jesus? What does he look like? How do you feel when you think about Him? 

I have never met Jesus, but I imagine Him when I close my eyes, too. I imagine Him when I am feeling sad or afraid and I need comfort and help. Even if we can’t see Him, Jesus wants to be close to us. He wants to help us. 

I want to tell you a story about someone who really did meet Jesus. This person lived a long, long time ago in a far away place called Jerusalem. His name was John, and he was very good friends with Jesus. Jesus loved him very much, and after Jesus died John tried to tell people about who Jesus is. 

Sometimes, when you’re trying to explain something big, it’s hard to find the right words. When you’re feeling really happy, is it ever hard to find the right word to describe what’s going on inside? That’s what happened to John. He wanted to explain about Jesus, and how much he loved him, and how much Jesus loved everyone including you and me, but he couldn’t find the right words! 

John said, how can I help you understand who Jesus is? How can I explain how big his love is? And then he had an idea. He said, I know, let me give you an example! 

Jesus is like light. (John 1:4-5) Jesus is as bright as the sun, and the moon, and the stars. Jesus warms up our sad hearts like a candle lights up a dark room. Jesus comes back to us again and again, even when we don’t feel our kindest or most obedient or gentlest, just like the sun rises every morning. Jesus is like light. 

And then he said Jesus is also like beautiful words. (John 1:1) Do you have a favorite word? How about “fabulous” or “spaghetti” or “serendipitous”? How do you feel when mama or daddy snuggles up close and says “I love you?” That’s what Jesus is like. Jesus is like the most beautiful words, the kindest hug when you’re sad, the biggest “I love you” when you’re feeling small. 

Do you feel it? Do you see what John felt, what he thought Jesus was like? 

But wait, said John, let me give you one more example. Jesus is like a little lamb. (John 1:36) Lambs are small, and they need their mamas, and they are very gentle and innocent. Sometimes in the scriptures, lambs are used in something called a sacrifice. That means a special ceremony where people ask God to help them. The lamb gives up its life for the people. Jesus gave up His life for us, because He loves us. Jesus is kind and gentle and He was willing to be hurt because He wanted to help us when we are hurting. 

Jesus is like light, and like beautiful words, and like a little lamb. Jesus is our friend, and he loves us. John wanted to explain that Jesus is the biggest and best thing he could think of. Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, the one we’ve been waiting and hoping for! (John 1:41, 45)

What is Jesus like to you? 

Ideas for Play

Kristen

Jesus is like Light 

Collect lights in your house, light a candle, or make window lights.

What makes something a light? How is a light like Jesus? How is Jesus like a light? 

Jesus is like Beautiful Words 

Make a Jesus collage: put a picture of Jesus in the center and find pictures from magazines that remind of Jesus (could be things like delicious food, sun, water, friends, etc.)

For older children, you could make a word cloud (Here’s a free one!)

Write down your favorite words. How are words like Jesus? Is there a word that describes you? How about a word that describes Jesus? 

Jesus is like a Little Lamb 

How is Jesus like a lamb?

If you have stuffed sheep or lambs, use those. If not, use some cardboard or paper (or fleece) to make your own. (Here’s a tutorial; you can make these with your children.)

This play could take lots of different forms. Starting with scriptures about Jesus as a lamb (John 1:36) and our story (or your own) about who Jesus is, you can talk about how lambs are baby sheep who are very innocent and pure. How might Jesus be like a lamb (no right or wrong answers, the play is just to explore and make connections.) You could emphasize sacrifice or the story of Jesus rescuing sheep. Follow your kids’ lead! 

Poem/Prayer

Caroline

Background for Parents: The following is a Celtic prayer that is used in the Morning Daily Office of the Northumbria Community. Through this prayer, we are led through many images of how Christ can be with us and with others–He can light our way, shield us, surround us, be inside of us, and inside of others! All of these images for Christ tie in beautifully with the first chapter of John, where we read of Christ as the word, the light, and the life. 

You can use this prayer to make connections with your child about the different images used for Christ.

Giving our children life-giving words to munch on and internalize is so beneficial for their growing souls. By memorizing poems and prayers, we can give our children a wellspring of beauty to draw from throughout their life. Don’t feel like you have to memorize something quickly! My son and I will repeat one part of the prayer in the mornings before we eat breakfast and will continue repeating it until it’s easy for us to remember, which usually takes a couple weeks. I have come up with actions to go along with each phrase, and that has helped us along. Maybe your child is not interested in repeating it with you or participating in the actions (or maybe that’s just my child :)), but by creating a rhythm of repeating these words daily your child will internalize what they need to. 

Christ, as a light illumine and guide me.

Christ, as a shield overshadow me.

Christ under me; Christ over me;

Christ beside me on my left and my right.

This day be within and without me,

Lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.

Be in the heart of each to whom I speak;

In the mouth of each who speaks unto me.

This day be within and without me,

Lowly and meek, yet all powerful.

Christ as a light; Christ as a shield;

Christ beside me on my left and my right.

Music

Caroline

I’ve started turning on this happy song every time we get into the car. I didn’t think my son was listening and then one day I heard him singing it in his room! Yay for positive brainwashing! Haha but in all seriousness, music can teach about Jesus in some of the most organic and happy ways. 

Lyrics:

Who died, but came alive again?

Who came to rescue you and win?

Who came to make all things brand new

Who did it all for love of you?

Who did this all for love of you?

Chorus: So sing and dance and leap and run

His name is Jesus, little one.

Sing and dance and leap and run.

His name is Jesus, little one

Art

Caroline

Here are two paintings to explore with your children.

The first is The Adoration of the Child by the 17th century Dutch artist, Gerard van Honthorst. It explores the idea of Christ as a light.

The second is The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, also known as the Ghent Altarpiece, by Jan and Hubert van Eyck. It explores the idea of Christ as a lamb.

Here are some samples of questions to ask your child as you explore these works together: 

What do you see? What do you notice? Who is in this painting? How does this show Christ as a light/lamb? What colors are used? What do you notice about the baby/lamb? Which painting do you like better and why? 

You can also point out details in the paintings to your child. In the van Honthorst, it could be the hay, the swaddling wrap, Mary and Joseph, etc.

In the van Eyck, it could be the lamb, the blood, the angels, the cross, the cup, etc. Go where your child leads and spend time with what they are interested in.