For 33 years, in the matter of hair and eye color, height and weight, Jesus looked similar to the people around him. When Jesus was 33 years old, the world found out how Jesus was different from all others! To help us understand the story today, let's first look at some new words.
#B on Student Study Guide
carry
Demonstrate by carrying a book, a chair, etc., describing your actions as you go.
roll away
With a rock, demonstrate rolling the rock over and over.
rise
Compare to the sun rising. Draw pictures of sun at various stages.
surprise
To come or happen suddenly.
Demonstrate by going behind the door, then peeking your head around and saying, "Surprise!" You have a friend far away. You do not talk to this friend for many years. One day this friend calls you on the telephone. Your friend surprises you!
show
Demonstrate by showing pictures or a book, etc.
to remember
To think about something or some person from your past. (Illustrate with a scrapbook.)
must suffer
Must have pain or difficulty. Must means it is necessary. It is the plan. It is important to do it this way.
must be told
It's necessary to tell.
spices
Bring samples of spices to show.
stone
Another word for "rock." (Show an example.)
nail holes
Show a nail hole in a board.
Messiah
Another name for Jesus
early/late
shining
Show examples of something dull and something shiny. About the shiny one, say:
It's shining!
the other
Point to your shoes, saying:
This is one shoe. And this is the other one.
Pretend to have lost a coin, saying:
I had two coins. Here's one. But where is the other one? Where is the other coin?
sooner/later
You travel to [name of a place known to students]. You say: "I will come at 5:00 p.m." But there aren't many other cars on the road. You arrive at 4:30. This is sooner than you planned. However, if there are many other cars on the road, you may arrive at 5:30 or 6:00 - later than you planned.
Glad means happy. Draw and contrast a "happy face" and a "sad face."
Show the film clip, beginning with the women as they go to the tomb very early in the morning, ending with the narration: "The message and forgiveness of sins must be preached to all nations."
After eliciting a response to the question above, read through the items under "Listening for Details" to ensure understanding.
1. What three surprises did the women have early Sunday morning?
The stone was rolled away, the body of Jesus gone, and two men in shining clothes were standing beside them.
2. Who were the two men in shining clothes?
They were angels.
3. The women say: "He is risen." The men followers of Jesus say, "Not true!" Why did they say, "Not true"?
Maybe they were too sad and could think only about their sadness. They did not remember that Jesus told them before they died, "I will rise on the third day."
4. Why do you think it is important to know Jesus?
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. Without me, no one can go to the Father" (John 14:6, CEV). Beginning with the sin of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, we all have a sinful nature. This is an "attribute" of all people. The only way to remove the penalty of sin is to (1)believe Jesus Christ died for our sins, and (2)to ask forgiveness of our sins, and (3)to confess Jesus Christ as Lord of our lives. "If we tell Him our sins, He is faithful [He will always do what He says He will do] and we can depend on Him to forgive us of our sins. He will make our lives clean from all sin." (1 John 1:9, NLV)
Now, let's read the story!
Answer Key: 1-women, 2-tomb, 3-away, 4-body, 5-there, 6-white, 7-men, 8-Jesus, 9-here, 10, run, 11-of, 12-not, 13-runs, 14-only, 15-Later, 16-shows, 17-His, 18-then, 19-helps, 20-Bible, 21-suffer, 22-days, 23-all, 24-hear, 25-ask.
Answer Key: a-8, b-13, c-2, d-15, e-4, f-10, g-14, h-1, i-7, j-3, k-12, l-5, m-11, n-6, o-9.
1. In a small group, ask students to talk about attributes and cultural taboos in their country. Then share ideas with the whole class.
2. (with a partner or small group)Make a list of the attributes of God - and of Jesus.
3. Ask students to roleplay the first 12 sentences in the story. Allow students to work out their own strategies and decide who plays what part. They must also choose a narrator. Each group is to present its mini-drama to the rest of the class.
4. Ask students to make a time line of their own life, including all the most important events (happenings/"passages"). Include at least five important dates, including good and bad times. Share this with the class.
5. Tell students that, now they know the story of Jesus as a baby, as a child, and as a young adult. Ask partner to make a time line of the life of Jesus. When everyone is finished with this activity, have each pair share their time line with the class. Then say, if no one has included this:
!!!More Advanced!!!
You also know where Jesus is today! He is in heaven with God the Father - and He is in my heart! Do you want him in your heart also?
6. Ask for volunteers to tell the story in their own words. Students who need the practice will get much needed practice, while others can learn from listening. If students need a little help, you may show small increments of the film clip, then ask the class about what they just saw. Students may enjoy an "add-on" approach also, i.e., the first volunteer provides the first sentence, a second volunteer adds what comes next, etc. Everyone benefits! The risk-takers are challenged. The less confident students hear a good model and eventually have courage to try.
1. In these twelve lessons we have seen God's plan unfold. Before His betrayal by Judas His arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, His mock trial, His crucifixion, and His resurrection, Jesus told His followers what would happen.
"...The Son of Man must suffer many things. He told them that the leaders and the religious leaders of the Jews and the teachers of the law would have nothing to do with Him. He told them He would be killed and three days later He would be raised from the dead." (Mark 8:31, NLV)
Jesus also said, "Do not let your heart be troubled. You have put your trust in God, put your trust in Me, also. There are many rooms in My Father's house. If it were not so, I would have told you. After I go and make a place for you, I will come back and take you with Me. Then you may be where I am. You know where I am going and you know how to get there." (John 14:1-4, NLV)
"I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one can go to the Father except by Me. If you had known Me, you would know my Father also. From now on you know Him and have seen Him." (John 14:16:7, NLV)
2. If I open the door of my life to Jesus Christ and live for Him each day, I will have two things: (1) eternal life in heaven when I die, and (2) abundant life here and now.
"Listen! I am standing and knocking at your door. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and we will eat together." (Revelation 3:20, CEV)
"You get what is coming to you when you sin. It is death! But God's free gift is life that lasts forever. It is given to us by our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 6:23, NLV)
"I came so they might have life, a great full life." (John 10:10, NLV)
3. If I am obedient (if I obey-say "yes") to God's plan for my life, I will have RESURRECTION power in my life each day.
"We know that God raised the Lord Jesus from the dead. He will raise us up also." (2 Corinthians 4:14, NLV)
"We are like clay jars in which this treasure is stored. The real power comes from God and not from us."
(2 Corinthians 4:7, CEV)
"We thank God for the power Christ has given us. He leads us and makes us win in everything." (2 Corinthians 2:14, NLV)
"I am all you need...(NLV)...My power is strongest when you are weak (CEV)." (2 Corinthians 12:9)
"We have power over all these things through Jesus Who loves us so much." (Romans 8:37, NLV)
Song: 
Class begins at 9:00 a.m. [or time your class meets]. If you come at 8:45, you are early. If you come at 9:15, you are late.
Note: (Optional) For a fun way to develop meaning for sooner/later, video the arrival of the students. Show this to the class to compare arrival times using sooner/later.
glad/sad
#C on Student Study Guide
What happens when the women arrive at the tomb?
#D on Student Study Guide
Show the film clip again. Allow students to work in small groups to discuss their answers to the questions above. After discussing the responses with the whole class, say:
#E on Student Study Guide
1. Early Sunday morning the women carry burial spices to the tomb.
2. They find the stone rolled away from the door.
3. The body of Jesus is not there!
4. Suddenly two men in shining white clothes stand beside them.
5. The men say, "You are looking for Jesus but He is not here. He is risen!"
6. The women run to tell the other followers of Jesus.
7. The others do not believe the women.
8. But Peter runs to the tomb.
9. He finds only the burial clothes, not the body of Jesus.
10. Later Jesus surprises a group of the disciples.
11. Jesus shows the disciples the nail holes in His hands and feet.
12. First they are afraid, then they are very glad!
13. Jesus helps them to remember the teaching in the Bible, that the Messiah must suffer, then rise from death three days later.
14. The Bible also says that all people in the world must hear about God.
15. All people must ask God to forgive their sins.
#F on Student Study Guide
(On separate page following the Student Study Guide)
#G on Student Study Guide
#H on Student Study Guide
Back to the Top- Home