Based on Matthew 28:1-10; Mark 16:1010; Luke 24:1-12
“Is it really true?” Joel asked.
“I don't know but that's what I heard, Ethan replied. “My dad was there.”
“Then it's really true that they killed Jesus?”
Ethan looked at Joel and said: “I was already in bed Friday night, but I heard my dad and mother talking. They crucified Jesus, buried Him in a tomb, and rolled a great, huge stone in front.”
“Didn't that make you upset, hearing all that?” Joel asked.
“I was so worried I couldn't sleep,” Ethan confided in his friend.
“Why would they kill Jesus, after all the great things He did for people?” Joel wondered aloud.
“Because they didn't understand Him,” Ethan explained. “And they were afraid.”
With his head in his hands, Joel sorrowfully said: “I just can't believe that Jesus is dead.”
Ethan replied: “Me either. I’m so sad. Did you know that Jesus brought my 12-year old cousin back to life?”
“That was your cousin?” Joel responded surprised.
“Yes,“ Ethan said. “She had been really sick. My aunt and uncle had the best physicians, but she died. My uncle Jairus raced from the house one day. Everybody knew where He was going.”
“To find Jesus?” Joel asked.
“Yes.”
“Did your Uncle Jairus find Him?”
“Yes,” Ethan replied, “and Jesus went to their home. He told her to get up. And she jumped up and walked around! My aunt and uncle couldn't get over it!”
Joel lifted his head from his hands and said: “Jesus really was the Son of God!”
“Yes, Joel, He was.“ Ethan said. “He performed SO many miracles and healed SO many people and changed SO many lives.”
“And now He's gone forever.”
(KNOCK -- KNOCK -- KNOCK)
“This is the Sabbath. Who in the world would that be?” Ethan wondered. I’ll go see who is there.”
“He's alive!” Jason exclaimed as Ethan opened the door.
“Hi, Jason! Come in,” Ethan said. “Who’s alive?”
“JESUS!” Jason shouted in his excitement.
“Jesus? Ethan repeated.
Jason excitedly continued: “Yes! The women had gone to the tomb.”
“What women?” Ethan interrupted.
“Mary Magdalene, and James' mother Mary, and Salome. The stone had been rolled away!”
“ROLLED AWAY?” Ethan could not believe what he was hearing.
“And the tomb was empty!” Jason said as he tried to catch his breath.
“EMPTY?” Ethan questioned.
“And there they saw …”
“WHAT?” Jason interrupted again.
“Two men in shining garments! They were angels! And the angels said, ‘Why are you looking in a tomb for someone who is alive? He is RISEN - just as He said He would. Don't just stand there. Go - tell His disciples.’”
“JOEL, did you hear that? JESUS IS ALIVE!” Ethan exclaimed. ““He’s alive. He’s alive! He’s alive!”
SONG: “Rolled ‘em Away” by Mary Rice Hopkins from Come Meet Jesus album. (Available from www.MaryRiceHopkins.com or call 818-790-5805.
BIBLE VERSE: “Jesus is alive” (Luke 24:23b, NLT)
BIBLE MEMORY ACTIVITY: “Each One Tell One”
Have the boys and girls stand in a circle. The teacher starts and says to the child to her right: “Jesus is alive.” That child tells the next person: “Jesus is alive.” Continue until each one has told one. At the end, say the verse together 3 times.