A Book Review for Kids & Moms from Books At a Glance
by Kristin Stiles
There are lots of ways to help our children learn Bible verses. We can use repetition, hand motions, songs, symbols, etc. In the series, “Bible Verses to Remember,” Sally Michael takes one verse or even just a part of a verse and digs down into its meaning, context, and application. Luke 19:38a which says, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord,” is the focus of A Wonderful Surprise.
Most Christians are immediately familiar with the context of this verse. Jesus is entering Jerusalem for the week that will lead up to His death, burial, and resurrection. The people who have been hearing the stories of His miracles and teachings assume He is the long-waited Messiah. To them, that means the One who will overthrow the Roman government and re-establish David’s kingdom. But the shouts of “Hosanna! Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!” quickly change to “Crucify Him!” as the week progresses.
Michael doesn’t leave the verse only on the lips of this fickle crowd, but she repeats it throughout the book as we pick up the refrain when Jesus defeats sin and death. She repeats it on the lips of the women who discover the empty grave. And she enthusiastically proclaims it in anticipation of the return of Jesus. “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!”
Michael does an excellent job simplifying the most important details from the triumphal entry to the crucifixion to the resurrection to the ascension and ultimately to the return of Christ. Her storytelling is very basic but it is also very accurate. The illustrations by Sengsavane Chounramany that accompany this book are fantastic. They are colorful and engaging and really carry the sense of the emotions that are presented in the text.
There are helps for the parents at the end of the book guiding them in how to teach their children to memorize scripture and in how to use the book to “instruct the mind,” “engage the heart,” and “influence the will.”
This is a wonderful way to help your children not only memorize scripture but to truly hide it in their hearts.
Kristin Stiles is a home-school mom, a Sunday School teacher, and helps lead the “Young, Reading, & Reformed” children’s ministry at Reformed Baptist Church of Franconia, PA.