If you think the price of these cookies is MORE than RM3.00, raise your hand. If you raised your hand, you are still in the game. This package of cookies does cost more than RM3.00.
Next, I am going to call out a price, If I call out the price that you think is the right price of the cookies, raise your hand.
RM3.39 - No, you're out of the game.
RM3.49 - No, you're out of the game.
RM3.59 - No! You're out!
RM3.69 - Yes! These cookies cost $3.69. If your hand is up, you are a winner! You have won the cookies!
These cookies are good, but RM3.69 is a lot of money for a package of cookies, isn't it? Are they worth it? Perhaps there is another package of cookies that would be just as good for less money. Every day, we have to make choices about the value of things. We ask ourselves, “How much am I willing to pay?”
LESSON: PARABLES OF HIDDEN TREASURE & PEARL
(Matt 13:44-46)
Parables are stories Jesus told to teach us important lessons about the Kingdom of Heaven. Let’s read these 2 short parables of Jesus.
Matt 13:44-46
44 “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.
45 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. 46 When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!
Both the parables have a similar storyline.
Both the man and the merchant find something truly valuable to them — some hidden treasure, or a priceless pearl.
Both were willing to give up everything they had, to sell all they owned, just to get it.
(Background are for older kids and teachers. Simplify as needed.)
The Treasure
The treasure refers to Israel, God’s first covenant people. They are descendants of Abraham.
Since God brought them out of Egypt, they had promised to follow all of God’s laws and commandments, but they always disobeyed. They know God and look forward to His promised Messiah/Saviour. But they rejected Jesus as the Messiah; instead, they crucified Him.
But God still loves them. He remembers His covenant with Abraham.
That’s why He sent Jesus. Jesus was the man who sold everything He had — He gave his very own life and blood — to pay the price for them … even though they rejected Him. Now all that is left is for them to accept Jesus as their God and Saviour to receive His salvation.
The Pearl
Jesus is also the merchant seeking beautiful pearls.
What’s a pearl? It is a precious stone formed in a mollusc, like an oyster. When sand or foreign object enters an oyster, it injures the oyster, which continues covering the foreign object with a secretion, called nacre. It keeps on covering and covering until the foreign object becomes a beautiful pearl. Then the oyster dies. The injured (oyster) gives its life to protect and beautify the injurer (foreign object). Much like what Jesus did for us.
We, the church, are the pearl — whether we are Jews or Gentiles. Pearls are found deep on the ocean floor. Jesus left the splendours and heights of Heaven to pay the price for us and uncover the church that God intended.
Hebrews 12:2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.
(We are Jesus’ joy … Because of us, He was willing to endure the cross.)
2 Corinthians 8:9 You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.
(Jesus gave up everything for us, so we can have all He has).
God first called the Jews (Israel). And when Jesus came, the invitation to be God’s children is open to the whole world. All of us can accept Jesus, who paid such a great price for us, and be part of God’s family.
Conclusion
Jesus is the man/merchant in search for something of great, great value to Him — us.
And when He finds us, He was willing to give everything up, just so that He could have us.
We are Jesus’ great treasure. We are Jesus’ precious pearl.
The world may see us as worthless. But to Jesus, we are so very valuable. You are very valuable.
Jesus is also our great treasure and precious pearl. Now that we have Him, let’s hold on to Him — He is more valuable than all the treasures of the world. When we have Jesus, we have everything.
ACTIVITY SUGGESTIONS
HUDDLE TIME
Get kids in smaller groups. Get them to share what it means to be so valuable to Jesus that He would give everything for us. Encourage those who have yet to accept Jesus to do so.
