Jesus brings a friend back to life
Children's sermon
Object:
strips of cloth (enough to wrap a child's arm) and a handkerchief
The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go." (v. 44)
Good morning, boys and girls. Today we are going to talk about one of the best stories in the Bible. The reason that so many people like it is because it is a story about Jesus and his friends.
This is a story about Jesus and his friends Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. They had a home in a village called Bethany, which wasn't far from Jerusalem. Whenever Jesus was in the area he would stop by to see these friends.
One day Jesus heard that Lazarus was very ill and could die. Jesus told his disciples that they were going to return to Bethany even though there might be great danger. Thomas told the other disciples that they should have courage and follow Jesus. Jesus preached and taught and healed people along the way.
When Lazarus died, his sisters wrapped him with strips of cloth. The cloths were clean but cut into pieces like this. (show them the strips of cloth) Then they wrapped his body. (demonstrate this with one of the children by wrapping an arm) Mary and Martha wrapped his whole body with the strips of cloth and then they took out a special handkerchief and they placed it over his face. (demonstrate by placing the handkerchief on your own face) With the help of friends they carried the body to the tomb that was cut out of rock on the side of a hill. There were steps down into the ground and they carried Lazarus to the bottom very carefully and then placed him on a stone bed. There was even a rock shaped like a pillow. Then they came back up the steps and rolled a huge rock in front of the tomb. Lazarus laid there for four days.
When Jesus arrived all of the people told him that Lazarus was dead. Some of them even told him that Lazarus would not have died if Jesus had gotten there sooner. Jesus said this was all part of God's plan. Jesus told them that Lazarus was not dead and asked them to remove the big stone. When they did, they saw a huge hole in the stone. Then Jesus thanked God for the power that was given to him and shouted into the grave, "Lazarus, come out." Within moments Lazarus appeared at the entrance with the strips of cloth hanging from his body and the handkerchief in his hand. The people were amazed and many believed that day that Jesus was the Son of God.
Isn't that a great story? It is also a true one and even today people thank God for giving Jesus such great power.
Good morning, boys and girls. Today we are going to talk about one of the best stories in the Bible. The reason that so many people like it is because it is a story about Jesus and his friends.
This is a story about Jesus and his friends Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. They had a home in a village called Bethany, which wasn't far from Jerusalem. Whenever Jesus was in the area he would stop by to see these friends.
One day Jesus heard that Lazarus was very ill and could die. Jesus told his disciples that they were going to return to Bethany even though there might be great danger. Thomas told the other disciples that they should have courage and follow Jesus. Jesus preached and taught and healed people along the way.
When Lazarus died, his sisters wrapped him with strips of cloth. The cloths were clean but cut into pieces like this. (show them the strips of cloth) Then they wrapped his body. (demonstrate this with one of the children by wrapping an arm) Mary and Martha wrapped his whole body with the strips of cloth and then they took out a special handkerchief and they placed it over his face. (demonstrate by placing the handkerchief on your own face) With the help of friends they carried the body to the tomb that was cut out of rock on the side of a hill. There were steps down into the ground and they carried Lazarus to the bottom very carefully and then placed him on a stone bed. There was even a rock shaped like a pillow. Then they came back up the steps and rolled a huge rock in front of the tomb. Lazarus laid there for four days.
When Jesus arrived all of the people told him that Lazarus was dead. Some of them even told him that Lazarus would not have died if Jesus had gotten there sooner. Jesus said this was all part of God's plan. Jesus told them that Lazarus was not dead and asked them to remove the big stone. When they did, they saw a huge hole in the stone. Then Jesus thanked God for the power that was given to him and shouted into the grave, "Lazarus, come out." Within moments Lazarus appeared at the entrance with the strips of cloth hanging from his body and the handkerchief in his hand. The people were amazed and many believed that day that Jesus was the Son of God.
Isn't that a great story? It is also a true one and even today people thank God for giving Jesus such great power.
