Lesson 2–Good News, No, The Best News!
One of the native animals of South Korea is the Korean Hare. Today's story is about a drove of hares who heard some good news.
A hare and his companion where sitting by the shore of a huge river. Their gaze was fixed upon a mysterious but lovely palace. It sat on the top of a far way hill which was on the opposite side. It was said that the King who ruled the land was kind and powerful. They had been told that the kingdom was perfect. No one ever got sick or died and they were never sad.
They dreamed of living there and talked of it often. In the middle of their conversation that day, hundreds of panicking hares ran by screaming that the local volcanologist (that is someone who studies volcanoes) had determined that the volcano was going to erupt sometime soon. They were terrified.
Immediately, the whole drove began to devise ways of getting to the other side of the river. First, they built rafts and made their way into the deep, dark water of the river. They didn't get very far before the most fearful teeth emerged from the depths and took enormous chunks out of each one. They were hurled into the murky water and barely escaped the crocs.
Groups formed and each began to plot the next scheme to get over the river. Each followed their hearts and did what seemed right to them. As one method would fail they would try something new. Some of the rabbits even tried the same way over and over again; all for nothing.
The hare and his companion were about to try to flying over by tying gigantic feathers to their arms. They thought that in order to get some air they needed a running start so they ran to the top of a nearby hill. When they looked down they noticed a rope bridge that spanned the entire river from their side of the island to the side where the kingdom was. Quickly they ran to the village and they all made there way to the bridge. When arrived they were greeted by a messenger standing at the opening. He told them that they were all invited to live on the other side, but that the only way to get there was by crossing this bridge and that they could take nothing with them.
The two friends who discovered the swinging walkway wanted to go but they didn’t think that it was sturdy enough so they kept their wings attached. They became entangled in the ropes and fell into the treacherous water. They barely made it back in one piece.
Other hares didn’t take the messenger seriously and ran back to their homes and grabbed all the things they cared about. Returning, hands and bags full, they were allowed to try but the weight of their belongings sunk them into the rushing water. They were forced back or they would lose everything. Many of them refused to let go without their stuff and never tried again. Others did not believe that the volcano would blow and didn’t even try. Some were too scared to brave the long expanse of swaying ropes. The messenger told each one that all they had to do is to keep their eyes focused on the palace while they walked across. Many started off fine but looked away, they became frightened and fell into the river.
The two hares realized that they must obey the messenger to achieve their dream and threw off their wings. They did just as they were told and safely reached the other side. Many others saw that they made it across and followed their example.
The king turned out to be more amazing than they ever imagined. And they live happily ever after with him. The hares who stayed on the other side never knew the love of the king or the wonders of the kingdom and forever spent their lives running from the lava that flowed from the angry volcano.
Yesterday we heard that humans received the bad news that God was no longer going to be a close friend to man. And that when they died they would be away from him forever. But today we get to hear the good news!
The hares received news from the messenger. What was the good news for them? The bridge was the good news. Everyone was invited to walk across and get to safety.
Remember that the king in our story today was kind. God is kind as well and because He is the creator of everything he also gets to make the plans for how it works. He is also free to fix anything that breaks as well.
What broke when man sinned? The friendship between God and man.
What did God plan to do? He planned to fix the relationship that was ruined by sin between himself and humans.
The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples. Genesis 49:10
I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth. Numbers 24:17
...but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. Romans 5:10
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit… 1 Peter 3:18
For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 1 Timothy 2:5
Do you remember that we said yesterday that God owns Happily Ever After? How can you live happily ever after?
For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:40
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. John 3:17-18
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also...John 14:1-4
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Matthew 25:31-34
So, what is the Good News? If we believe in Jesus we will get to spend forever in heaven with God. We will live happily ever after.
As promised…a beaver coloring page for the beavers and the tree man lesson:
