Bay City Baptist Church, Green Bay, WI - How Does Jesus Death Help Me?

Stories for children that teach them about the nature of God

How does Jesus’ death help me?

Megan’s class at school was having big problems! Someone was stealing other kids’ homework. A paper would be gone for two days and then appear again - just like that. Megan’s teacher - Mrs. Corrine is her name - said it had to stop. The class had to meet together one afternoon after someone had stolen Megan’s math assignment.

"Children, this must stop. We need to find out why someone is stealing homework. We must have a punishment for stealing homework. What do you think would be a fair punishment?"

They talked for a while and finally decided that the person should get a zero for the assignment. They also thought he should go to the principal’s office and stay after school for a week.

The next day Megan came in from recess to get her jump rope. She saw Janice in the hallway trying to get something out of Megan’s locker. Megan asked her what she was doing, but Megan already knew.

Janice started shaking, and she looked like she was going to cry. "I was putting back your eraser that I borrowed."

Janice has trouble learning things. She has to stay in for recess a lot to finish her papers. Megan likes Janice but Janice was holding Megan’s math book and her homework paper. Megan’s class studies math right after lunch, so Megan figured Janice must have been trying to get her homework done before class. Megan felt terrible for Janice.

She asked Janice, "Why are you holding my math paper?"

"Oh that. I-uhh, I-uhh. I was putting it back. When I opened your locker to get the eraser, it fell out. I picked it up and was putting it back in your locker for you."

Megan went closer to Janice and talked pretty quietly. "Janice, I don’t think that’s what happened. Don’t steal and lie! Tell me the truth."

Janice did start to cry then. "I can’t get it by myself. I can’t get math at all! I asked my parents to help me, but all they do is fight. If I get one more zero, I’ll flunk math and have to do fifth grade all over again. Please don’t tell, Megan. I’m really sorry."

That was a hard decision for Megan. "Janice, I have to tell Mrs. Corrine that you’re the one who’s been stealing, but I’ll tell you what. I can take your zero and stay after school for you. I’ll help you with your math if you can come over to my house tonight."

"Why would you do that, Megan? I deserve the punishment, not you. You didn’t do anything wrong."

When Megan got home, she told that whole story to Mom. Mom said she was proud of Megan for treating Janice the way she did.

"You know, Megan," Mom told her, "you acted in a way similar to what Jesus did for you."

"What did Jesus do for me? I didn’t steal any homework."

"No, you may not have stolen homework, but you -and everyone alive- have done many things to break God’s great laws. There always has to be a punishment for wrongdoing. Remember when you lied to me?"

"Oh yeah, I remember, but I told you I was sorry. Isn’t that good enough?"

"God says that our sins must be punished. God can’t overlook our wrongdoing. The Bible says the punishment for sin is death."

"But I don’t want to die!" Megan got a scared look on her face.

"You don’t have to if you’re willing to admit your sin to God and ask for His forgiveness. Jesus died in your place on the cross just as you took the punishment for Janice."

"But getting a zero and staying after school is nothing like dying for someone. Jesus did that for me? I didn’t even know Him."

"Yes, honey, but He knew and loved you."

"I want to ask Him to be my Savior." Megan went with Mom to another room. They talked some more. Then Megan believed on Jesus as her Savior. She got adopted into God’s family.

Verse To Memorize

I Peter 2:24: "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed."

John 1:12: "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name."

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOU CHILD

1. What must always happen after wrongdoing?

2. According to the Bible, what is the punishment for sin?

3. What did Jesus do for you?

This material is reprinted by permission from "Kids' Questions About Jesus" and "Kids' Questions about Sin and Salvation,," published by Regular Baptist Press. (www.rbpstore.org/showprod.cfm?prodnum=5308)

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Why Did Jesus Die?

I Have a Question About Sin

Who Goes to Heaven?

I Have a Question About Salvation

For Whom Did Jesus Die?

How Does Jesus' Death Help Me?

What Does God Think About Jesus' Death?

How Do I Get the Free Gift?

I Sinned Again, Now What?