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Thursday, August 31, 2017 Kids' Chronicle Southern Cross, Page 13 Nicodemus learns an important lesson Jesus then began teaching Nicodemus an important lesson. He explained that people who want to see the kingdom of heaven must be “born from above.” CHILDREN’S STORY: By Jennifer Ficcaglia (CNS) J esus was in Jerusalem for the feast of Passover. During this time, many people came to believe in him because of the signs he was doing. Among those people was a Pharisee named Nicodemus. He was a member of the Sanhedrin, which was the ruling body of the Jews. One night Nicodemus went to talk to Jesus. “Rabbi, we know that you are a teach er who has come from God, for no one can do these signs that you are doing unless God is with him,” Nicodemus told Jesus. Jesus then began teaching Nicodemus an important lesson. He explained that people who want to see the kingdom of heaven must be “bom from above.” “How can a person once grown old be bom again? Surely he cannot re-en ter his mother’s womb and be bom again, can he?” asked the confused Nicodemus. “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being bom of water and Spirit,” said Jesus, explaining that he had been talking about a spiritual rebirth rather than a physical one. “What is bom of flesh is flesh and what is bom of spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I told you, ‘You must be bom from above.’” Jesus also explained that no one had gone up to heaven except the one who had come down from heaven - the Son of Man. And, he continued, just as Moses had placed a bronze serpent on a pole for the Israelites to look at to be saved from their poisonous snake bites, “so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” Jesus then told Nicodemus why God sent his Son into the world. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life,” Jesus said. “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” READ MORE ABOUT IT: John 3 Q&A 1. Why was Jesus in Jerusalem? 2. Who went to talk to Jesus? BIBLE ACCENT: Tn John 3:14-15, Jesus told Nicodemus that the Son of Man would be “lifted up” - in other words, he would be crucified on a cross and die for our sins to give us eternal life. Jesus compared his crucifixion to an Old Testament passage about another lifting up that saved people’s lives. In Numbers 21:4-9, Moses and the Israelites were in the desert. The people were sinning against God by complaining about the long journey and not liking the food God gave them. This was not the first time the Israelites had sinned against God by complaining, and he had heard quite enough. As a punishment for their sin, God sent poisonous seraph serpents into the Israelites’ camp. Many people were bit ten and died. The Israelites realized they were sin ning and begged Moses to pray to God to save them. God heard Moses’ prayer and told him to make a bronze serpent and mount it on a pole. He told Moses that those who were bitten should look at the serpent on the pole and they would recover. The Israelites did what they were told. Anytime a person was bitten, he or she looked at the bronze serpent and lived. PUZZLE: Using the hints provided, circle the quotations of Jesus. If the quotation is from someone else, write that person’s name in the blank after the quotation. 1. “Neither do I condemn you. Go, (and) from now on do not sin any more.” (John 8:11) 2. “May it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38) 3. “Look out, and beware of the leav en of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” (Matthew 16:6) 4. “If my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him?” (Matthew 18:21) 5. “I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming.” (Luke 3:16) 6. “The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel.” (Mark 1:15) jspdeg oqj uqof g Hojog 'p ;Lrep\[ •£ :s>juB[q ui sourejq 9 ‘£ H :snsof uiorj sajonf) :sjomsuv • Dina was a noted concert musician who became a Canadian religious sister. • She suffered poor health and encountered Jesus through a series of visions. • Dina was steadfast in her faith throughout her sufferings. She died of tuberculosis in igtg at the age of 31. "My task throughout eternity, and until the end of the world, is and will be to radiate, through the most Holy Virgin, the Heart of Jesus on all souls." -b.d™ wwwjaintioftheweek.com. HMIllfH Feast Day: September 4 Bl. Dina Belanger Saint of the Week Anniversary of his death: September 15 Servant of God Bill Atkinson • Bill was born in Philadelphia and entered the Augustinian Order in J964. • In 1963, he suffered a toboaanning accident that left him almost completely paralyzed from the neck down. Bill continued his studies, and with special dispensation from Pope Paul VI, he was ordained. • Fr. Bill was an encouraging mentor and compassionate confessor to so many. He passed away in 2006. "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." -2 Corinthians 12:9 . . ... . _ r i www.samlsoftheweek.com. [_J
