Teaching

Someone is knocking on the door! Answer the door and receive the gift box. Be curious and surprised.

That’s interesting! I like surprise gifts. Let’s open it after our Bible story. Set it down beside you to create intrigue.

What does our SuperTruth tell us that we are celebrating today? Jesus’ resurrection.

Yes! We celebrate that Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after He died on the cross for our sins. Look perplexed.

What are we supposed to do with the Good News—is it an important secret we must keep? Smile. NO! We need to tell others.

That’s right! It definitely isn’t a secret to be kept! Let’s shout the SuperTruth again, in our most excited voices: “I will celebrate Jesus’ resurrection and share the Good News with others!”

Let’s review our Bible story, because it is the most important story we will ever hear! God loved us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to Earth to rescue us from our sins. Jesus died on the cross for our sins so we could be forgiven. He was buried in a tomb and was resurrected, which means He came back to life again! That is the Good News—the absolute best news we will ever hear!

This was God’s plan of salvation for us from the beginning of time. Even the smallest detail, like Jesus’ burial, was planned by God! Let’s read what the Prophet Isaiah predicted about Jesus’ death centuries before Jesus was born! Read Isaiah 53:9:

He had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone. But He was buried like a criminal; He was put in a rich man’s grave.

You see, only wealthy people could afford to be buried in a tomb that was carved out of stone. Most people were buried in a grave in the ground. Jesus or His disciples weren’t rich here on Earth, but God provided a wealthy man’s tomb for Jesus, to fulfill His Word! Look over at the box, pick it up and shake it a little.

I can’t wait to see what is in this box! Put the box down.

A large stone was rolled in front of the entrance of the tomb to close it tightly. The leading priests and Pharisees sealed the entrance to the tomb and Roman soldiers stood guard to make sure no one could enter or exit the tomb. But this could not keep Jesus inside! Read Matthew 28:2–4:

Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint.

Jesus had risen according to God’s plan, just like He promised! That is an amazing story, isn’t it! It’s time to open our gift, but first, let’s see who it is for. Have a child read the gift tag on the box aloud.

It’s for everyone, from Jesus! Unwrap and open the box. Look surprised. 

It looks like it is empty—no wait, there is a small piece of paper inside. Have a child read the piece of paper.

“I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in Me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in Me and believes in Me will never ever die.” John 11:25–26

This is Jesus’ gift to everyone! Our SuperVerse, Philippians 3:10a, says:

I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised Him from the dead.

When we believe in Jesus, we experience His resurrection power in our lives, too. We were once dead in our sin, and now we are made alive in Christ Jesus! That’s why we should go and share the Good News!

Discipleship Challenge/Practical Application

Hand out the Cross Pattern to any child who missed the previous lessons.

In our challenge, we have been using these crosses to remind us that we should pray to do God’s will instead of our own will. Jesus submitted to God’s will even when it meant dying. Jesus knew that by His death and resurrection, He would defeat sin and death. This is the Good News we are to share with anyone we can.

Ask children to share what happened as they prayed for God’s will during the past few days, then close with prayer.

Dear Jesus, thank You for dying and then rising again to give us eternal life! Please help us seek Your will in all that we do and share the Good News with others so they can celebrate, too! In Your name we pray, Amen.