A tear trickled down her cheek. Yet her eyes were fixed. I felt breathless. I wanted to stop. I wanted to freeze the moment in time. But I couldn’t stop. I mustn’t stop. Stopping would destroy the beauty of the rare moment. The story propelled me forward.

In our sparse basement classroom, we stimulated our imaginations weekly and adventurously lived the stories of the Bible. One day, we all navigated the storm at sea while Jesus slept in our cardboard boat that tossed about wildly atop the blue, crumpled bedsheets we imagined to be waves of water. But this day was different. This day I was reading the story of Jesus’ crucifixion. Students sat quietly around our classroom table. They listened and gazed upon the single illustration held in my hand of the suffering servant Jesus.

Her eyes were still fixed, and I kept reading. “Jesus, the Lamb of God, bled and died on the cross. Jesus took the punishment for you and me.” Today at least one child seemed to grasp the reality of the story and the immensity of what Jesus had done. Grieving the suffering and death of Jesus, the child caught a glimpse of her own sin. In childlike faith, she understood that not only is Jesus our friend, rescuing us in the storm, but He is also our Savior.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10). My mother taught me these words at a similar age. Some may think the truths of Scripture too difficult or complicated for a five-year-old. But the Holy Spirit is not confined. He opens ears to hear, eyes to see, and minds and hearts to understand. He gives knowledge of the Holy One, who is the purist, fullest sacrifice for our sin.

In simple faith, the child in my classroom knew that Jesus died for her. And in that brief moment, through the eyes of a child, I saw the depths of my own sin. Through the eyes of a child, I saw the depths of His suffering for me. Through the eyes of a child, I saw the depths of His love for me.

Marian Christopherson
AFLC Parish Education Director

How have you seen God at work in your classroom? Share your experience with other teachers to encourage them. Then remember that teachers often may not directly see the fruits of their labors, but we can be confident God is at work through His Word (Hebrews 4:12).

Read the rest of our Spring 2025 newsletter here.