Bible Passage: Matthew 28:1-15, Mark 16:1-8, Luke 24:1-12, and John 20:1-18.
This lesson focuses on the accounts from Matthew and John.
Main Point: God raised Jesus from the dead to defeat sin and death.
Big Picture Question
Where is Jesus now?
Jesus ascended to heaven where He is seated at the right hand of the Father.
Key Passage: John 11:25
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live.
The time between Friday afternoon and Sunday morning must have been dark hours for Jesus’ disciples. Fear, doubt, and confusion certainly overwhelmed their thoughts. Jesus, their Lord, was dead. He had been unjustly arrested, falsely accused, and severely beaten. Even worse, He had been killed in a horrible manner: by crucifixion.
The story doesn’t end there. Jesus’ body was laid in a tomb. The tomb was sealed and guards watched over it. The Jews remembered Jesus’ claim that He would rise from the dead (John 2:19-21), and they made sure no one could steal His body and insist He had risen. Imagine their surprise when Jesus did rise from the dead!
John and Peter saw the empty tomb. Jesus appeared to Mary. The disciples believed Jesus had risen from the dead. Even though the guards at the tomb were bribed to lie about what happened (they said the disciples stole Jesus’ body), the truth spread. The disciples wouldn’t have dedicated their lives and died for something they knew was a lie.
If Christ had remained dead, His death would have meant nothing more than yours or mine. Humanity would still be dead in sin. But God gives us victory over sin and death through His Son, Jesus. The resurrection gives us hope that we too will one day be raised and changed. (See Rom. 6:5; 8:11.)
Paul addressed in 1 Corinthians 15:17 just how essential Jesus’ resurrection is to the gospel: “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.” The resurrection is proof that God was satisfied with Jesus’ sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins and that God’s new covenant had begun.
Emphasize to your kids that Jesus is alive! Jesus died on the cross for our sins, but He didn’t stay dead. God was pleased with Jesus’ sacrifice and raised Jesus from the dead to reign as King over all creation. Jesus provides salvation from sin and the promise of eternal life. We believe this by faith. Today, Jesus is seated at the right hand of God and reigns as King over all of creation. (Phil. 2:9-10)
Bible Story, Lesson, & Questions from Kids Video
Additional Resources
- The Gospel Project at Home for this week
(A FREE account is required to view the resources) - Gospel Project for Kids Family App – Allows your child to interact with the Bible content week and to watch the Bible Story video “on the go”. (This lesson is from Volume 9, Unit 27, Session 1)
