My 4 year old has recently asked why Jesus has died on the cross. We told her because he loved us, but that didn't seem to satisfy her. How can we explain it in a way that she'll understand at this age?
2006-12-15 01:41:30 · 32 answers · asked by kilik21 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Your child will understand more and she gets older, just stress the love of God to her. (I've been a Children's Pastor.)
Side note -
Interesting how folks seek to be "The anti-Christ" or other variations. I don't think I've ever seen the "Anti-Buddha" or the "anti-Allah" or "anti-Krisha", or anything like that.
I'm thinking that there is just something about the name of Jesus Christ that evokes a response from folks. There is Power in the Name folks, you just may or may not understand what's going on. But there is other name by which man can be saved (Acts 4:12), so you ought to do your homework and try to learn the Truth and turn to God while there is time.
God Bless - jn
2006-12-15 01:50:54 · answer #1 · answered by Pastor John 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
You should help her in her studies of Sunday school by letting her first learn of Noah and the ark, the creation of the world ect. Then lead her up to the death of Jesus. It would be really hard for her to understand at such a tender age so teach her the basics until she is old enough to understand that kind of unconditional love.
2006-12-15 01:48:51 · answer #2 · answered by rose v 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well I would say that before Jesus died on the cross for us, God only allowed heaven to be open to perfect creatures. Then because we weren't perfect, God had to send his son to die on the cross for us so that all of our sin could be put to the cross and we would then be perfect in God eyes because Jesus made us that way, and now heaven is open for all of us who believe in him and what he did for us. Heaven is the most beautiful place and God wanted us to be with him there but the sin problem had to be resolved. Jesus did that for us on the cross. God just can't come in close contact with sin..... so Jesus took care of that problem. Now we get to go to heaven when we die and live forever in the most beauty we could ever imagine with God and Jesus who love us more than we may ever understand or know.
I would say it's alot to try to understand for a 4 year old that kind of selflessness, it's hard for some adults to comprehend but that it will one day become easier the more you learn God's word.
2006-12-15 01:57:27 · answer #3 · answered by sassinya 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Explain to ur child the 4 principles, try to find a way that make it easy to him, may be by using a pupet, pictures or any other method u can find.
God is Holy
He created Heaven, where is no pain and no death.
He created us and he wanted us to join Him in Heaven
but we r sinner
we cant go to heaven because sin and holy don't come togather.
And who do sin shall die and be seperated of God for ever
but because God loves us, He created a way so we won't be seperated of Him. He bron from a virgin, He lived like us but He didn't make any sin.
He died on the cross where we its the sinner place.
He took my place because He loves me.
And who believe in Jesus Christ won't be seperated of God
2006-12-15 01:55:24 · answer #4 · answered by الحقيقة 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I'm not a christian, so I don't have any first-hand experience. That said, 4 years old seems a little young to be able to understand the idea of sacrificing for another, let alone the idea of a god taking human form and sacrificing himself to himself. Most adults have a lot of trouble understanding it.
Maybe you should stick with "jesus loves you" for a while yet. Every child should hear that they are loved and it's something they can directly connect with.
Good luck.
2006-12-15 01:46:55 · answer #5 · answered by Samurai Jack 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
It is good for them to wonder about things at this age. They can't understand totally but it slowly comes to them over the years. The best thing to do with that age is just tell them the stories of the Bible without explanation or application. They will do all that in their own minds. 4 year olds can understand a lot more than we gve them credit for. I was four years old when I became a Christian.
At that age you might try a simple explanation of atonement.
1. God has decreed that if someone sins they must die. (Explain story of Adam and Eve, God said in the day you eat of the fruit you will surely die)
2. Because we do bad things we must die. (physical and spiritually or eternally)
3. Jesus died for us so that we can live with God forever.(Explain about heaven where we will live with God one day.)
4. Jesus wants us to believe that He died for us.
2006-12-15 01:53:35 · answer #6 · answered by oldguy63 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
It's funny that your religious story doesn't even make sense to a 4 year old. Doesn't that make you stop and think for a few minutes?
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Tell her the real reason he was executed - Jesus proclaimed he was the messiah, which was against Jewish law, so the priests had him arrested and executed for breaking the law.
... That should be the real lesson from the Easter story. Don't break the law as you will be punished. Why make it out to be a bigger thing than it actually is?
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BTW: Your indoctrination of a 4 year old into religion upsets my stomach.
2006-12-15 01:48:00 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 2⤋
What a toughie! Maybe u could just sort of simplify it, like there had to be a first one to go to heaven. AND what better perfect soul than Jesus ~the son of God. Kids are so smart, esp the ones with infinite questions. Tell her she will understand when she grows up. Jesus died because that was God's will.
"Thy will be done." Amen.:o] Good luck.
2006-12-15 01:50:52 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
Easy answer for everyone. Jesus died so everyone could go to heaven. Only Jesus could do this since He was God's Son. Jesus loves everyone enough to die on the cross so they could go to heaven.
2006-12-15 01:53:29 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Just let her know Jesus died for our sins because he loves us.
God would handle the rest, you can't convict anybody of any age or background about God by yourself. God alone knows how to interprete His word to anyone irrespective of their age and vocation.
Just tell her the truth as recorded in scriptures.
2006-12-15 02:22:51 · answer #10 · answered by HPayne 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋