This lesson teaches children that Jesus rose from the dead, just as he said he would, and that he is alive today. It works well for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach.
Big Idea
Jesus is not in the tomb. He is alive, and he keeps his promises. Because he is alive, we never have to be afraid of the end of our story.
Memory Verse
Matthew 28:6
He is not here, for he has risen, just like he said. Come, see the place where the Lord was lying.
(WEB)
Ask children to lift both arms up slowly, like a plant growing toward the sun, as they say the verse together. Repeat it twice, getting a little louder, so the words feel like good news.
The Story: Matthew 28 for Kids
Early on the first day of the week, just as the sky was getting light, two women named Mary Magdalene and the other Mary walked to the tomb where Jesus had been buried. They were very sad. Their friend had died on a cross, and they had come to sit with him and remember him.
Suddenly the ground began to shake. An angel of the Lord came down from heaven, and his face shone like lightning. His clothes were as white as snow. He rolled the big stone away from the door and sat on top of it. The guards standing nearby were so scared that they fell down and became still, like dead men.
The angel turned to the women and said, “Don’t be afraid. I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here. He has risen, just like he told you he would. Come and see the place where he was lying.” Then he said, “Now go quickly and tell his disciples that he is alive and that they will see him in Galilee.”
The women ran from the tomb. They felt scared, but they also felt very happy. As they hurried to tell the others, Jesus himself met them on the road. He said, “Rejoice!” The women ran to him, held his feet, and worshiped him. Jesus said, “Don’t be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”
Some of the guards went into the city and told the chief priests what had happened. The leaders gave the soldiers a lot of money and asked them to tell a lie, saying the disciples had stolen Jesus while they slept. But the truth could not be hidden. Jesus was alive.
Read It Together
Matthew 28:5
The angel answered the women, “Don’t be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus, who has been crucified.
(WEB)
Point out that the angel speaks to the women first and tells them not to be afraid. Ask children what they think the women were feeling, and remind them that God often speaks gently to people who are frightened.
Matthew 28:9-10
9 As they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” They came and took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Go tell my brothers that they should go into Galilee, and there they will see me.”
(WEB)
Show children that Jesus meets the women himself and greets them with joy. Notice that he says “Don’t be afraid” again, and that he calls his followers his brothers.
Matthew 28:18-20
18 Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
(WEB)
Explain that before he returns to heaven, Jesus tells his friends to share the good news with everyone. Point out the last words, “I am with you always,” and let children say what that promise means to them.
Talk About It
- How do you think the women felt when they saw the empty tomb?
- What did the angel tell the women to do, and why was it important?
- Why do you think Jesus wanted to see his friends again after he rose?
- When you feel scared, how can remembering that Jesus is alive help you?
- Who is someone you could tell about Jesus being alive this week?
Activity Ideas
Empty Tomb Craft
You will need a paper plate, a small paper cup, brown construction paper, glue, and a cotton ball. Have children glue the cup upside down onto the plate to make a tomb, then cut a round stone from the brown paper and glue it beside the opening. Let them roll the stone away to show the tomb is empty, and add a cotton ball to make a bright white angel’s cloud.
Rolling Stone Game
Gather a soft ball or rolled-up socks and a tall box or a line of pillows to act as the stone. Have children take turns rolling the ball to push the stone away from the door. Each time a child rolls it, say together, “He is not here, he has risen!” This gets the whole room moving and remembering the story.
Good News Card
You will need an index card, markers, and an envelope. Have each child draw a picture of an empty tomb or an open door with a bright sun, then write or draw one sentence about Jesus being alive. Encourage them to take the card home and read it to someone in their family during the week.
Teacher Notes
For adults, the resurrection shows that Jesus defeated death and that God’s promises are trustworthy. The women came expecting to find a body, and instead they met the living Lord. The passage also shows that the truth of the resurrection was opposed from the very start, yet it could not be stopped.
Avoid overstating to children the details of what happened inside the tomb or how the resurrection body looked. The text focuses on the empty tomb, the angel’s message, and Jesus meeting his followers, so keep your emphasis there and let children ask questions in their own time.
A Prayer to Close
Lord Jesus, thank you that you are alive and that you keep your promises. Help us not to be afraid, and help us to share the good news with others. Be with us always, just as you promised. Amen.
