Another miracle
Children's Activity
Object:
Today's gospel lesson tells the story of another of Jesus' miracles. Last week we heard about the healing of the blind man and today Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. This particular miracle is helpful at this time in Lent, because it is so similar to the story of Easter.
A man dies and is buried. Those who loved him mourn. In an amazing act of God (and to the astonishment of his loved ones), the man is brought back to life. In only two weeks we will be telling this story again, only the man in the story will be Jesus. Read the story of Lazarus together. How is this story like the story of Jesus' death and resurrection? How is it different? (Lazarus' raising can be seen as a resuscitation of his earthly body; he went on to live the rest of his life but then, we assume, died in old age. In contrast, Jesus was given a resurrection body, and did not die again.) How can hearing the story of Lazarus help us prepare for Easter?
As we begin to come to the end of Lent, begin to look for the theme of resurrection in your own lives. For example, spring officially begins in four days. Spring is full of the promise of resurrection. Flowers are beginning to bloom, animals are beginning to have their young, the brown trees are beginning to sprout tiny green leaves. Ask your children where they see the promise of resurrection. Where is God promising to make old things new and dead things alive again?
A man dies and is buried. Those who loved him mourn. In an amazing act of God (and to the astonishment of his loved ones), the man is brought back to life. In only two weeks we will be telling this story again, only the man in the story will be Jesus. Read the story of Lazarus together. How is this story like the story of Jesus' death and resurrection? How is it different? (Lazarus' raising can be seen as a resuscitation of his earthly body; he went on to live the rest of his life but then, we assume, died in old age. In contrast, Jesus was given a resurrection body, and did not die again.) How can hearing the story of Lazarus help us prepare for Easter?
As we begin to come to the end of Lent, begin to look for the theme of resurrection in your own lives. For example, spring officially begins in four days. Spring is full of the promise of resurrection. Flowers are beginning to bloom, animals are beginning to have their young, the brown trees are beginning to sprout tiny green leaves. Ask your children where they see the promise of resurrection. Where is God promising to make old things new and dead things alive again?
