编者按
这是一套在美国很受欢迎的教材，按年龄共分三部分：0-6岁学龄前儿童教程，6-12岁学龄儿童教程，和12岁以上青少年教程。我们将陆续翻译成中文，分享给大家。 这套教材里的每一篇，无论是教程还是各种活动，都独立成篇，没有先后顺序，大家可以按需要和负担选择使用。 *更多内容，请关注公众号“羊之门” & thedoorofsheep.com/6-12岁 介绍
做正确的事永远不会太晚。
主题
复活节, 诚实
时间
大约10分钟
故事
许多年前，有一对年轻的夫妇，他们收入不高，过着节俭的生活。他们是内森和他的妻子玛拉。一天晚上，内森正忙着翻一些书卷。偶尔，他的脸上会有一种奇怪的微笑。玛拉不禁注意到。
"你怎么好像在对自己笑？" 玛拉问道。
"我太兴奋了，我卖掉了我所有的羊，"他回答说。"你知道，如果我不卖掉它们，我们今年会损失很多钱。"
"但是内森，那些羔羊中有些是有缺陷的。它们可能看起来很健康，但它们不适合出售。很多人都在找最好、最健康的羔羊作为每年的供品。我希望你没有卖掉那些有问题的羔羊！"
"我知道它们不是最好的羔羊，但我们需要钱，"内森争辩道。"此外，人们不会知道它们来自我。我把它们卖给了一个好朋友，尼哥底母。他太忙于追随一些先知，没有注意到其中的差别。"
"你怎么能这样做，内森？" 玛拉问道。"我打赌你卖掉那些羊羔的想法是从你的另一个朋友那里来的，不是吗？他叫什么名字？"
"你是说犹大？" 内森回答。
"是的。我真的不喜欢他。他看起来有点不诚实，但我想现在要阻止你已经太晚了。无论如何，我要去找马利亚。她要去见这个人人都在谈论的先知。他的名字叫耶稣，他似乎是个非常好的人。"
"我和你一起去！。尼哥底母可能会在那里。他还需要付给我买小羊的钱。"内森边说边跟着玛拉走进了夜色。
当他们走到会面地点时，内森注意到周围已经聚集了一大群人。但奇怪的是，这里很安静。每个人都处于一种敬畏的状态，好像他们在等什么重要的东西，或是某个人。许多人在睡觉，也许在祈祷。玛拉远远地看到了她的朋友马利亚，就跑去她那。独自一人的内森注意到另一个男人，似乎也是一个人，于是走到他面前。
"发生了什么事？" 内森问那人。
那人看起来很惊讶，"你去哪里了？耶稣在那边的山上祷告。我们在等祂下来。祂可能就是那应许要来的弥赛亚！"
"我听说了很多关于祂的好事，"内森说。"我知道祂有不少神迹，比如治病救人，让盲人看见。"
那人继续说："有一次，祂治好了我妹妹的一个朋友多年来的出血问题。而且所有的预言似乎都适用于祂。祂一定是弥赛亚。这就是为什么这里的人都在追随祂。"
"关于这个耶稣是弥赛亚，你可能是对的。也许我也会跟随他，但首先我要找到我的朋友尼哥底母。"
"你说尼哥底母？我刚才看到他了，就在那边的树后面。"
就这样，内森跑到了那棵树下，是的，尼哥底母也像其他人一样在那里等着。
"内森，我的朋友，很高兴见到你，"尼哥底母说。"顺便说一下，我带了你卖给我的那些羊羔的钱。但你知道吗？当大祭司查看它们时，他注意到它们是有瑕疵的。它们不适合作为祭品。对大多数牲畜来说，今年真的很糟糕。很多羔羊都有缺陷。但我知道你并不知道它们是不合格的，所以交易就是交易。这是你的钱。"
尼哥底母开始把手伸进一个大皮包里，突然听到一阵大骚动。所有的人现在都醒了，都站了起来，都看向同一个方向。耶稣从山上下来了。然后，出乎意料的是，纳森看到一些罗马卫兵由一个人陪着。那人看起来很熟悉。然后纳森认出了那个人，是犹大。"为什么犹大和罗马卫兵在一起，"纳森想知道。然后，犹大慢慢地走到耶稣面前，给了祂一个吻。内森感到很不自在。
然后，与耶稣在一起的一个人拔出一把剑，向其中一个卫兵挥去。他的耳朵掉在了地上。大家开始向各个方向跑。接下来，耶稣把手伸到那个卫兵的头上，奇迹般地，他的耳朵得到了医治。然后，卫兵们抓住耶稣，把祂带走了。
内森不敢相信他所看到的一切。犹大在那里，脸上的表情非常奇怪，几乎是可怕的。内森现在开始意识到，耶稣就是弥赛亚，而犹大刚刚出卖了祂。"他怎么能做这么可怕的事？" 内森想。
过了一会儿，骚动安静了下来，内森转向尼哥底母。"尼哥底母，我有件事要忏悔。我背叛了你。我一直都知道我卖给你的那些羔羊是有瑕疵的。我不能为它们接受任何钱。那是不对的。事实上，我需要向很多人请求宽恕。"
就在这时，玛拉跑到内森和尼哥底母面前。"我需要和马利亚一起去，"她哭着说。"她现在心烦意乱。她想跟着人群去看看他们要把耶稣带到哪里。祂是她的好朋友。"
尼哥底母跟着玛拉，但内森还是站在那。"你们先走吧，" 他说。"我得先和犹大谈谈。"
"为了什么？" 玛拉惊奇地问。
内森稍微犹豫了一下，然后回答说："我想我要告诉他，他刚刚失去了另一个朋友。"
*** 英文版 *******
CHANGE OF HEART
It's never too late to do the right thing. TOPICS: Easter, Honesty
DURATION: Approximately 10 minutes Many years ago, there lived a young couple who were of fairly modest means. They were Nathan and his wife Mara. One evening Nathan was busy looking over some scrolls. Once in a while he would have a strange smile on his face. Mara couldn't help but notice.
"How come you seem to be smiling to yourself?" Mara asked.
"I am so excited, I sold all my lambs," he replied. "You know, we would have lost a lot of money this year if I didn't sell them."
"But Nathan, some of those lambs were defective. They may have looked healthy on the outside, but they were not fit to be sold. A lot of people were looking for the best and healthiest lambs for the yearly offering. I hope you didn't sell those blemished lambs!"
"I know they were not the best lambs, but we needed the money," Nathan argued. "Besides, people won't know they came from me. I sold them to a good friend, Nicodemus. He was too busy following some prophet to notice the difference."
"How could you do that Nathan?" Mara asked. "I bet you got the idea of selling those lambs from that other friend of yours didn't you? What's his name?"
"You mean Judas?" Nathan replied.
"That's right. I really don't like him. He seems sort of dishonest, but I guess it is too late to stop you now. Anyway, I'm off to join Mary. She is going to see this prophet everyone is talking about. His name is Jesus, and he seems like a very good man."
"I'll go with you! Nicodemus will probably be there. He still needs to pay me the money for the lambs," Nathan said as he followed Mara into the night.
As they made their way to the meeting place, Nathan noticed that there was already a large crowed gathered around. But is was strangely quiet. Everyone was in a state of awe, as if they were waiting for something, or someone, important. Many people were sleeping, or perhaps praying. Mara found her friend Mary in the distance and ran off to meet her. Alone, Nathan noticed a man who seemed to be by himself and walked up to him.
"What's going on?" Nathan asked the man.
The man look astonished, "Where have you been? Jesus is up on that hill over there praying. We're waiting for him to come down. He may be the promised Messiah!"
"I have heard a lot of good things about him," Nathan said. "I understand he performs miracles, like healing the sick and giving sight to the blind."
The man continued, "Once He healed one of my sister's friend from years of bleeding. And all of the prophecy seems to fit him. He must be the Messiah. That's why everyone here is following him."
"You may be right about this Jesus being the Messiah. Perhaps I will follow him too, but first I need to find my friend Nicodemus."
"Nicodemus you say?" I saw him just a moment ago, behind that tree over there."
With that, Nathan ran over to the tree, and yes, Nicodemus was there waiting like everyone else.
"Nathan my friend, it's good to see you," said Nicodemus. "By the way, I have the money for those lambs you sold to me. But do you know what. When the high priest looked them over, he noticed that they were blemished. They weren't fit for the offering. It was a terrible year for most livestock. A lot of lambs were defective. But I know you had no idea they were unfit, so a deal is a deal. Here is your money."
Nicodemus began to reach into a large leather bag, when suddenly a large commotion was heard. All the people were awake now and on their feet, all looking in the same direction. Jesus was coming down from the hill. Then unexpectedly, Nathan saw some Roman guards accompanied by someone. The man looked familiar. Then Nathan recognized the man. It was Judas! "Why was Judas there with Roman guards," Nathan wondered. Then, Judas walked slowly up to Jesus, and gave him a kiss. Nathan felt quite uncomfortable.
Then one of the men with Jesus drew a sword, and swung it at one of the guards. His ear fell to the ground. Everyone started to run in all directions. Next Jesus put his hand up to the guard's head and miraculously his ear was healed. Then the guards grabbed Jesus and took him away with them.
Nathan could not believe what he had seen. Judas was there with a very strange expression on his face, almost scary. He realized now that Jesus was the Messiah, and Judas had just betrayed him. "How could he do such an awful thing?" Nathan wondered.
After a moment, the commotion quieted down and Nathan turned to Nicodemus. "I have a confession to make Nicodemus. I betrayed you. I knew all along those lambs I sold to you were blemished. I can't accept any money for them. It wouldn't be right. In fact, I need to ask forgiveness from a lot of people."
Just then Mara ran up to Nathan and Nicodemus. "I need to go with Mary," she cried. "She is very distraught. She wants to follow the crowd to see where they are taking Jesus. He was a very good friend of hers.
Nicodemus started to follow Mara, but Nathan just stood there. "You go on ahead" he said. "First I must talk to Judas."
"Whatever for?" Mara asked in amazement.
Nathan hesitated a little, then answered, "I think I need to tell him he just lost another friend."
——————
© 2019-2022 Kids Sunday School Place, Inc.
Used by permission:
www.kidssundayschool.com
中文 © 2019-2022 羊之门 All rights reserved.