The students will be able to describe what took place the day of the Resurrection and will understand that because Jesus arose from the dead they can live forever with Him in Heaven.
Introduction: Open your class session by presenting again the symbol of the cross with which you opened your session last week. Remind your class that last week you learned about Christ's death. But today's lesson is one of joy—the empty tomb brings the glad message, Christ is risen! Show an empty tomb from papier-mache or a picture (flannelgraph illustration) of a tomb.
Progression of Events:
Climax: The angel at the tomb makes the announcement—He is risen!
Conclusion: Jesus conquered death when He rose after three days. Because of this event, we, too, have the hope of eternal life.
Response:The students should be able to use the flannelgraph figures of the Easter lesson and retell the story. They should also be able to explain why this event is so vital to Christian faith today.
Even though Jesus had predicted His resurrection many times (Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:34) it came as a complete surprise to His disciples (Mark 16:3,11,13). The women went to the tomb to anoint His body, never expecting that He had risen! Had Jesus not conquered death we would never have heard of Him. The disciples believed it was a finished tragedy (Mark 16:11). In a few years the stories of Jesus would have been only vague memories.
However, when the fact of the literal resurrection of Jesus finally exploded into the hearts and minds of these fearful, disillusioned disciples they were so changed that their message was to affect all the world.
The fact of the Resurrection gives absolute authority to all that Jesus said. The resurrection of Christ is of necessity the central doctrine of the New Testament. "If Christ be not raised your faith is vain" (1 Corinthians 15:17). Because of the Resurrection, Jesus is not a vague historical figure but the living Lord of the present. He is not a religious leader of the past to be talked about, but the living Christ to be met personally.
As we put our faith in Christ and He lives within us we also receive the power of the Resurrection. "But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you" (Romans 8:11).
Skit — Have a teacher act as a discouraged person who is unhappy with his life (spiritually dead). A Christian (another teacher) comes and tells the story of Christ's resurrection and that by this we can have new life (salvation).
Skit — Role play of the soldiers guarding the tomb and then the women visiting the tomb.
Bring a bandage made by wrapping a finger or hand in newspaper and then taping it so that the whole thing will slip off easily. Remind your group that the Bible says that when Peter and John went to Christ's tomb that first Easter, one look was enough to convince them that the Lord was risen. Show your group why that look was so convincing. Demonstrate wrapping your finger in adhesive tape. When you want to take the tape off you have to unwrap it, because it won't slip off. When a person died in Bible times they wrapped the entire body in strips of cloth, and the Lord's body was wrapped that way after crucifixion. But when John looked into that tomb he saw the wrappings just as if they were still wrapped around the body. It was like this (hold up the prepared bandage which will be shaped like your finger or hand). Yards and yards of cloth were not strung out all over the tomb, like they would have been if someone had unwrapped the body.
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