Teaching

Have a child select the first Signpost card and read it aloud. Tape the card to the wall or prop it up so children can see it. Lead a discussion with the information below. Repeat for the two remaining Signpost cards. Additional material is included for Grades 4–6 to look up and discuss.

Signpost 1 Preparation for His Burial

Did you know that when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, He was preparing people for His own death and resurrection? Once, when Jesus visited Mary and Martha, Mary sat at Jesus’ feet and listened to His teaching. Martha was not pleased that Mary wasn’t helping with preparations for the meal. Jesus told Martha that Mary had discovered the most important thing, and it would not be taken from her. Even though Jesus would leave the earth, His words would remain forever with all who spend time with Him and listen.

Later, after Lazarus was raised from the dead, Jesus again visited their home. And again, Mary chose to sit at Jesus’ feet. This time she washed Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume. Mary had prepared the body of her brother, Lazarus, when he died, and she was doing the same thing for Jesus, even though He had not yet died. And like before, someone had a problem with Mary’s actions—but this time, it wasn’t her sister! The disciple Judas objected, saying she wasted perfume that could have been sold to care for the poor. Do you think Judas really cared about poor people? No.

Jesus defended Mary a second time, telling Judas to leave her alone because she had done this in preparation for His burial. Mary made the wise choice in Jesus’ eyes a second time.

OPTIONAL VERSES FOR GRADES 4–6

Luke 10:41–42:

⁴¹ But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

John 12:1–7:

¹ Six days before the Passover celebration began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus—the man He had raised from the dead. ² A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate with Him. ³Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping His feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance. ⁴ But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray Him, said, ⁵“That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” ⁶Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself. ⁷Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. She did this in preparation for My burial.”

Signpost 2 The Good Shepherd Gave His Life

God created the world to be perfect, where there would be no sin, sickness, sadness, or death. Yet when people disobeyed God, sin and death entered the world. Every single person has sinned and done bad things. Even people you might consider to be very good have sinned and done things that are wrong. And the punishment for sin is terrible—it’s death! I don’t want to die for my sins, do you?

That’s why we need a Savior! Jesus came into the world to live a perfect life. He never sinned—not even once! He is the only person who ever lived who didn’t deserve to die. And yet He willingly chose to take all of our sins upon Himself. And then He took the punishment for our sins by dying on the cross.

Jesus called Himself the Good Shepherd. That’s because a good shepherd loves his sheep and is willing to give his life for the flock. Who are His sheep? His followers, us.

Jesus was willing to give up His life for His flock. He showed this when He returned to raise Lazarus, even though He knew people hated Him and wanted to kill Him. That wasn’t His time to die—but not long afterward, Jesus allowed Himself to be arrested and nailed to the cross. He gave up His life so that the whole world could be saved from their sin and could receive eternal life. This was God’s will and plan; Jesus was obedient, even when it meant death.

OPTIONAL VERSES FOR GRADES 4–6

Genesis 2:15–17:

¹⁵The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. ¹⁶But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden— ¹⁷ except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.”

1 Corinthians 15:21–22:

²¹ So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. ²²Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life.

John 10:11,17–18:

¹¹“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices His life for the sheep.” ¹⁷“The Father loves Me because I sacrifice My life so I may take it back again. ¹⁸No one can take My life from Me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what My Father has commanded.”

John 11:8,11,16:

⁸ But His disciples objected. “Rabbi,” they said, “only a few days ago the people in Judea were trying to stone You. Are You going there again?” ¹¹Then He said, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but now I will go and wake him up.” ¹⁶ Thomas, nicknamed the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let’s go, too—and die with Jesus.”

Signpost 3 The Resurrection and the Life

Although Lazarus died, Jesus’ Word was true and his friend’s sickness did not end in death. Jesus raised Lazarus to life! This brought glory to God and proved that Jesus was sent by God.

After Jesus died on the cross, He was wrapped in grave clothes and put into in a tomb. Then what happened? He rose again.

By doing this, Jesus conquered sin and death forever, for everyone who believes in Him. When Jesus told Martha that He was the resurrection and the life, He asked her if she believed. Now, He asks us the same question: do you believe? Allow time for discussion.

OPTIONAL VERSES FOR GRADES 4–6

John 11:4:

But when Jesus heard about it He said, “Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.”

John 11:43–44:

⁴³Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” ⁴⁴ And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!”

John 11:25–26:

²⁵ Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in Me will live, even after dying. ²⁶ Everyone who lives in Me and believes in Me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?”

Matthew 26:28:

For this is My blood, which confirms the covenant between God and His people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many.

Now, let’s move on to the Discipleship Challenge and discuss how we can build on the new life we are given through Jesus!

Discipleship Challenge/Practical Application

Display the model craft that you made. Give a Lazarus’ Tomb to any children who missed Lessons 1 and 2 so they can complete the craft at home.

Let’s discuss the previous Discipleship Challenge. Our first challenge was to think about things that hinder our walk with Jesus. Our second challenge was to read and discuss Romans 12:2. Why shouldn’t we copy the behavior of others around us? It could be harmful and may not please God.

How can wrong thinking slow our spiritual growth? Doubt can enter your mind instead of faith. The world may question whether God is real and relevant. Thoughts of jealousy and anger are dangerous and lead to many kinds of sin. You can think bad or harmful thoughts about yourself if you choose to listen to others or judge yourself according to the world’s standards.

How does thinking like God help us? We know His will for us and we can please and obey Him. His thoughts are for good not evil. We reflect Him to others. His thoughts influence our actions.

Were you able to pray and identify wrong thinking that could be harmful?

Our final challenge is to learn about the importance of spiritual food. If you don’t eat for many days at a time, what will happen to your body? We will grow very weak; it could even lead to death.

In the same way, if we don’t eat spiritual food, our spirits will grow very weak. So read 1 Peter 2:2–3—the third verses on your challenge craft. Discuss it with your family if possible. These verses will help us to understand how important it is to read and study God’s Word. Just like we need daily food for our bodies to stay healthy and strong, we need God’s Word daily to grow and stay healthy and strong spiritually. Being undernourished spiritually can hold us back and hinder our progress to grow and become more like Jesus. Pray and ask God to give you the desire to “drink” His Word every day by setting aside time to read the Bible.

Optional: If time permits, read 1 Peter:2–3:

Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.