Why is Jesus so important?

When our grandson, Carson, was about six, we took him to the three hour Community Good Friday Service at Park Congregational Church (UCC) here in Grand Rapids, Michigan. As you might expect, he lasted through the first hour or so.

But during the service he printed (in first grade penmanship) on a pew prayer card this plaintive question: “Why is Jesus so important?” (I’ve included a photo of the card.) And Carson later verbalized his earnest question to me.

I was reminded of theologian Paul Tillich’s statement that young children ask the important questions we spend the rest or our lives trying to answer!

Why is Jesus so important? I knew a long, theological or philosophical answer would cause Carson to “glaze over”. I was struggling, as does every Sunday School teacher, to answer that important question.

At the time, Carson had a very good first grade teacher he admired. So I said, “Jesus is important because he was a great teacher loved by many. He told interesting stories that taught people the best ways to live. He taught them to avoid harmful things and he taught them about God – that God is like a loving and patient father. And he taught that if we do something bad, God forgives us and wants us to do better.

As far as I can recall, Carson didn’t “glaze over.” But I kept my explanation brief and I hope it was helpful. He’s older now, and I’m looking forward to some more questions.

How do you answer your six-year-olds?