15 Pieces of Jesus?

I am in the middle of the second biggest challenge of my intellectual, theological, ecumenical life.

The first was choosing the 120 key scriptures from Genesis to the Revelation to record as songs for Bible Song, our new elementary brain/arts/sign based learning system. We chose these by asking the question: "What Bible verses would you want your kids to know by heart and by art before hormones kick in?"

After choosing and recording the verses in song and getting the sign language process underway, I began cartooning the 120 Bible stories. The Books of Moses was a piece of cake. Choosing 15 stories from Genesis to Deuteronomy was no problem at all.

Into the Promised Land was a bit more of a challenge. It is filled with blood and guts and gore, but it is also filled with great themes like love and loyalty and perseverence.

Now I'm cartooning the Gospels. I've only got room for 15 verses, 15 songs, 15 stories, and 15 two page black and white cartoons that will turn into 15 six page colored cartoons in the "Good News" home journals.

Here's the challenge: How do you choose only 15 pieces of Jesus' life? I think I've set myself up for a terriffic failure.

It's like the five night mini-series written for television that somehow is supposed to be turned into a two-hour and seven minute feature film. There's just too much good stuff, too many characters, too many key scenes that will be left on the chopping room floor, and too much drama that will be lost.

And here's the clincher - this whole thing has to be written in language, images and flow that children can grasp.

I get the overwhelming feeling that this is probably the most important theological and evangelical task of my entire life - showing Jesus Christ to a generation of children (and parents) across the world in a way that might actually want to meet him.

This may be why I'm here.

Now there's a daunting thought.

So, where would you start? What would you show? What would you stress? What would you leave out?

I'm more than open to suggestions, but I've got to do it all in the next three weeks.

Comments

[Trogdor]

Sorry I didn't see this earlier.

I'd say include where He writes in the dust. Produces humility and thankfulness.

How'd you go with this anyways?

I'll send a longer email very soon.

JZ