We read to the kids from The Jesus Storybook Bible before bed. It's absolutely the BEST storybook Bible for kids. The stories are beautifully illustrated and creatively written in language simple enough for kids to understand yet sophisticated enough that I don't feel like I'm reading them The Bible for Preschool Dummies. I could rave some more about this book but I won't. If you have young kids you should definitely buy this book. It's a winner.So tonight we finally got to the part where Jesus dies on the cross. The author and illustrator handle the disturbing topic gently but without glossing over any of the important facts. Jesus died. He was beaten and mocked. He was sad to be separated from God. And he did all those things to rescue us from that very fate. Pretty heavy stuff whether you're 3-yrs-old or 30-yrs-old.
After the story, Flora left the room to tell Chris something and I asked Scout what he thought of the story.
"Good," he said.
"You liked it?" I asked.
"Yep."
"Why did you like it?"
"Because I like Jesus dying."
"Oh dear, what is wrong with this child???" (is what I thought)
"Why did you like Jesus dying?" (is what I actually said)
"Because I'm not scared of it," was Scout's reply.
"Why aren't you scared of it?"
"Because I'm saved."
I don't know where he picked up the word "saved" although the book talks a lot about Jesus "saving" or "rescuing" us. It just struck me as funny that I was worried about the story upsetting them or being too sad or too harsh for them to handle and Scout "got it" right away. Jesus dying is not a sad story -- it's a great story! And when I think about it, he's right -- I like Jesus dying too.
"Because I'm saved."
I went ahead and read the next chapter too so the kids could go to bed with visions of a risen Jesus dancing in their heads.
