Summary & Key points
Good morning everybody. Morning, morning. Today, the youth culture have presented a little drama for you. I am your narrator, and today you’re not going to be looking at me, although I dressed very fancily today. We’re going to look at Zion, a star student with exemplary and inspirational qualities, the kind of student that makes you say, “I want that A+ grade.” But under all these A+s and good grades, there is something that he has to overcome. We also have the bully Benjamin, who puts his leg up, has a cap on his head, and dresses very “appropriately” as well. Then we also have Austina, the type of friend that you actually need in life, the one who provides emotional support. Last but not least, we have teacher Chelsea, who wants to get the job done and gives at least 2% of effort in school. Please do enjoy the show that we’re going to give. [Applause]
“Okay guys, so the total angle of an equilateral triangle is 40 degrees,” says the teacher.
“Wait, what? No, it’s not,” responds a student.
“Oh yeah, it is 40 degrees,” the teacher insists.
Zion raises his hand. “Teacher, shouldn’t the angle be 60 degrees since the total sum of a triangle is 180 degrees?”
“Oh yeah, it is 60 degrees. I definitely knew that. I was just testing you guys. Well done, Zion. I didn’t know you were that smart. But of course, I’m smarter, right?”
The class responds, “Right, right.”
“Okay, good. Class is dismissed. Ring, ring. Come, come, come.”
Zion and his friend walk out. “You know how by the teacher, right?” asks the friend.
“Oh yes, the homework, right?” replies Zion.
“Yes, do you have it finished? It’s due tomorrow, right?”
“I want it today,” insists the friend.
“It’s due tomorrow.”
“No, I must hand it in today. It doesn’t make sense if I hand it in tomorrow and it’s due tomorrow.”
“Shoot, I haven’t done it yet.”
“You haven’t done it? Talk tomorrow.”
“No, I want it today. I messaged you on WhatsApp.”
“I didn’t see it.”
“Okay, never mind. It’s okay. You take your time during the lunch break. Don’t eat, do my work. Okay, you can, right?”
“Okay.”
“Of course, you can. Come, let’s go. If I could, I’d like to invite you to our lunch table, but if you join us, it wouldn’t be good.”
“Okay.”
“Nice, nice. See you next class.”
[Music]
“Hi Zion.”
“Austina, so long since I’ve seen you. How have you been?”
“I’m good, how are you?”
“I’m doing good. I have so many things to tell you, but the most important one is that this Saturday my church is having Christ Fellowship. I was thinking maybe you would like to join us.”
“I would, but I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“I have exams coming up, so I need to study.”
“It’s only for an hour though.”
“I can try.”
“Okay then, get back to me on that. I’ll see you then.”
“Okay, bye.”
[Music]
“Hi Jessica, how are you doing? Oh, that’s nice to hear. How’s your son? I heard he got his test results back. Oh, he got a fail? Like, below 40? You’re not kidding, right? That’s outrageous. I’m so sorry to hear that. I didn’t even know that was possible. When I look at my son Zion, he’s a straight-A student. I thought it was easy to do that since he does it all the time. But I guess that’s not the case for your son. Oh, by the way, how’s your husband? Oh, he’s still at the minimum wage job? That’s kind of disgusting. My husband got a promotion too, and his salary is now six figures. It’s enough for us to live on.”
“Hello, how was work?”
“Not good.”
“What do you mean not good?”
“I got some bad news to tell you. I may have lost my job.”
“You may have lost your job? Yes, I did. This is your third month at the job. How could you lose it?”
“It’s my third month.”
“It’s the same thing. This is so short. Why did you get fired?”
“Today, la. I literally just told Jessica that you got a promotion.”
“Tell Jessica something else. What do you want me to do?”
“You’re going to be the laughing stock of the town.”
“Let them laugh. What do you want me to do?”
“You’re so useless. You’re only at home all the time, eating my money. Now you’re jobless. You’re doing nothing.”
“This is too much.”
“Zion, come here.”
“What’s your test result?”
“I got a 98.5.”
“98.5? You embarrassed me. What happened to the remaining 1.5?”
“Working problems.”
“Working problems? What subject is this?”
“Maths.”
“You’re supposed to get full marks in math. It’s supposed to be 100 out of 100. If you tell me it’s English, at least I understand because sometimes teachers grade it the way they want. But you got 98.5 out of 100 for math. So disappointing. Can you shut up? This is so disappointing, Zion. I told you to check your paper again and again, and you lost points based on what? A silly mistake? You didn’t check your paper.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Because of this mistake of yours, this Saturday I’m going to schedule you from 10 to 12:00 for math classes to fix whatever is going on here. And from 12 to 3, swimming classes. And from 3 to 5, karate lessons. Do you get it?”
“But I already have plans.”
“You better listen to your mother.”
“I already have plans on Saturday.”
“You already have plans? What do you mean you have plans? I told you if you have plans, you need to tell me two weeks in advance.”
“I did, I think you forgot.”
“If I forgot, that means it didn’t happen. Don’t talk back to me. I am your mother. Go to your room. You’re grounded for the rest of the year.”
“Okay, Mom.”
“Oh my God.”
After the little drama yesterday, the next day as Zion goes to school, he is going to meet his teacher and Benjamin as well. But other than that, he’ll be meeting someone unexpected.
“Teacher, is everything okay?”
“So, I checked your homework submission yesterday, and apparently in Ben’s homework you wrote, ‘This world is being affected by global warming.’ Meanwhile, in Zion’s homework, you wrote the exact same thing except you changed the word ‘world’ to ‘planet.’ At least try to make it less obvious. Why is it so easy to tell something is going on here? Do you think I’m stupid or something?”
“I would like to humbly apologize on behalf of Zion. I had to let him copy my homework because I’m afraid he couldn’t finish his homework in time. So, it’s just me helping a friend in need.”
“No, that’s not true. I gave you my homework.”
“No, you copied my homework.”
“Confession is good for the soul, you know.”
“Then why are you lying?”
“I’m not lying.”
“You are lying.”
“No, I’m not.”
“Let’s see what the teacher has to say. Zion, Ben submitted his homework before you.”
“That’s impossible.”
“No, it’s facts.”
“I’m the school’s top student. There’s no way I’m smarter than you.”
“We’ll see what the teacher has to say.”
“Zion, you’ll be failing this class, and we’ll be meeting your parents.”
“Not my parents.”
“What do you mean no?”
“The teacher told me everything about it.”
“It was a mistake.”
“No, I didn’t copy anyone’s homework.”
“Are you telling me the teacher is lying?”
“It’s the system.”
“What do you mean the system?”
“The system is messed up.”
“You can’t just mess with the system. Do you think I’m dumb? I’m so disappointed in you, Zion. I put in my time and effort into raising you, and this is how you treat me. You don’t even care to lie to me anymore. I’ve given you too much freedom. From now on, I’m going to surveil you 24 hours a day until you back up your attitude. Do you get it?”
“No.”
“Zion, get back here.”
“Mom, can you get that again?”
“Stop, stop. Sorry, sorry.”
[Music]
After what happened just now, imagine if something like that happened to you. Now Zion feels so lonely. The weight of his loneliness and fear is overwhelming.
“Hi Zion, is everything okay?”
“Why are you here? Go away.”
“You don’t look very well.”
“Thank you for noticing.”
“I want you to know that whatever you’re going through, it will work out. You will be fine.”
“You just come here and tell me everything will be okay?”
“People face problems every day, and they get through it, so can you.”
“Well, I’m not you.”
“I’m sorry you feel that way, but I’ve been in your shoes, and I know exactly how you feel. I’m just telling you things will work out.”
“What do you mean you’ve been in my shoes?”
“There was a day when I was feeling so down that I had nothing left in me. I was sitting by the train tracks, wanting to end everything. Then a stranger walked up to me and said, ‘Matthew 11:28.’ I thought he was crazy, but I was curious. I went home, looked it up, and it said, ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.’ That was when I came to
know Jesus.”
“But I’m not you. Why would your God do that for me?”
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. This is not earned or received but given by the grace of God. All you have to do is believe.”
[Music]
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. This is not earned or received but given by the grace of God. All you have to do is believe.
After the little drama yesterday, Zion is meeting his teacher and Benjamin again, but also someone unexpected. Zion’s teacher confronts him about copying homework, and his parents are disappointed. Zion feels lonely and pressured, but Austina offers him comfort, sharing her own experience and the message of Jesus’ love and grace.
Today’s message is about the unprecedented love of Jesus and the significance of His resurrection. It is a call to examine our faith, remove doubts, and embrace the transformative power of His love. The resurrection is a foundation for living a life of purpose, courage, and faith, knowing that Jesus is with us and has given us the power to overcome challenges through the Holy Spirit.