Listen Up — By the Rev. Ted Schroeder
Are you hearing Jesus tell you He loves you?

Looking out over the boisterous room full of sixth-graders—most screaming at one another, a few desperately alone, none paying attention—the new Sunday school teacher was ready to give up. She had expected something else.

When she had volunteered to lead the class, she had pictured herself answering the urgent questions of children newly curious about their world. She had imagined leading them on a search for truth. But here she was, awash in a sea of furious little bodies, almost all with unstoppable mouths.

It wasn’t that they were bad kids exactly. It was just that they seemed to have no idea where they were or why they were there. She valiantly tried to corral them, and in doing so could not seem to turn her gaze from their eyes.

Their eyes were like windows into little souls. And there she saw the pain that already filled their lives. One little girl seemed frightened of everything. Another boy constantly acted out the violence that surrounded him in his life. Another sat alone.

“Jesus loves you,” the teacher shouted at the distracted children.

Nothing. Not a response. No one seemed to be paying attention. It was as if they had no idea what she was talking about.

She tried to read the story of Jesus and the little children. Again, nothing. But a few seemed to listen a little as she continued to read—a few more when she told the story in her own words. Still, no response.

Finally, in desperation, she got off her chair and got down on the floor on her knees. “Children, listen,” she said in a stage whisper. The sound level in the room dropped.

“Children, listen,” she whispered again, more softly this time. The noise quieted even more.

Finally, the children stared at her in silence. “Children. Do you know what? I’m Jesus,” she said in her quietest voice. And she extended her arms.

For a time the children looked at her dumbfounded. “I’m Jesus,” she said again.

Then, like a signal had been given, the children ran to her. They hurled themselves into her outstretched arms.

“Jesus loves you,” she said again. And the eyes of the children in her arms seemed to know.

We have a fancy word for what we celebrate during Lent and Holy Week: Incarnation, we call it. It simply means that Jesus got down on His knees in the dust, reached out His scarred hands and quietly called, “I love you.”

Look again! Do you see them? There they are—all of those who love us and bless our lives. Look! There is Jesus on His knees, hands reaching out. “I love you,” He says. “I love you.”

The Rev. Ted Schroeder, a Thrivent Financial for Lutherans member, loves the first Easter message of the angel: “He is not here. He is risen. Go tell...”

“On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.” (John 14:20)