The Big Questions:
Why did Jesus not go right away when he heard about his friend? Jesus said that the sickness happened so it would show how great God is!
What did Martha think when Jesus said, “Your brother will rise again?” She thought Jesus meant when all people are resurrected at the last day. (Perhaps Jesus’ return)
Who did Jesus say He was? The Resurrection and the Life
How did the people react after Lazarus came from the tomb? Many people believed in Jesus, but some went to the Pharisees and told them what happened.
In what ways do you have hope in Jesus?
What can we do to experience more hope in our lives through Jesus?
Parent At Home Activity: New Life for Me
Supplies:
construction paper
pencils
crayons
scissors
Make something to help your children remember that if we answer Jesus’ question, “Do you believe this?” as Martha did, we can have new life, too! Martha said she believed that Jesus is the Son of God. If we believe that, too, we can have new life forever with Jesus!
When a butterfly comes out of its cocoon, we could say that it has new life because then it’s beautiful and free. That’s sort of how it’ll be when we get new life in heaven because we believe in Jesus. We’ll be happy and free forever. Let’s make butterflies to remind us that Jesus gives us hope.
Give your child a sheet of colored construction paper and a pencil, and set out the scissors. Help your kids to trace their two hands on the paper in such a way that the fingers are pointing away from one another, with their thumbs aligned. They can color the handprints to look like butterfly wings and then cut them out. Encourage your children to write on their butterflies the name of someone they will tell about new life in Jesus this week.
Use this butterfly to remember that just as a butterfly has new life when it emerges from its cocoon, so will we have new life when we go to heaven. You can make your own butterfly come to life by rolling up your paper with the blank side out. Now unroll it to let your butterfly come out of the cocoon!
In a way, when Lazarus stepped out of the tomb to new life, he was sort of like a butterfly coming out of its cocoon. However, there’s a lot more meaning to this passage. Eventually, Lazarus had to die again, even though the Bible doesn’t tell us about that. But death no doubt was still defeated by Jesus’ power, allowing us all to live forever with Jesus. It is in that power that Jesus gives us hope.
Memory Verse:
John 14:1 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.”