Hey kids! Have you ever had a secret that was so good you felt like you were going to explode if you didn’t tell someone? Or have you ever played a game of hide-and-seek where you found the best hiding spot ever, and no one could find you?
Well, today we are going to talk about the most amazing “hiding spot” in history—a cold, dark tomb—and the incredible moment when Jesus proved that not even death could keep Him down. This isn’t just a story; it’s the Big Win for the whole world!
Children’s Sermon Lesson: He is Risen! Happy Easter! John 20:1-18
Bible Passage: John 20:1-18; Matthew 28:6
Key Truth for Today: The resurrection of Jesus means that ‘Mission Impossible’ became Mission Possible. Because the tomb is empty, our lives can be full. It’s a story of a God who refuses to give up on us, turning an end into a brand-new beginning for everyone.
Key Verse: I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. (John 1:17)
NOTE: READ TO YOUR OWN BIBLE
The Saddest Friday
To understand how happy Sunday was, we have to remember what happened on Friday. Jesus, who is the Son of God and the best friend anyone could ever have, had died. His friends were heartbroken. They thought the story was over. They watched as a man named Joseph put Jesus’ body in a tomb—which is like a room carved out of a big rock—and rolled a giant, heavy stone in front of the door.
The religious leaders were so afraid Jesus’ friends might try to steal His body that they asked the Roman guards to stand outside. They even put a special seal on the stone. It was locked, guarded, and very, very quiet.
A Morning Full of Shadows
Early Sunday morning, while the sun was just starting to peek over the hills, a few of Jesus’ followers—including Mary Magdalene and another woman named Mary—walked toward the tomb. Their hearts felt like heavy lead weights. They were carrying sweet-smelling spices to put on Jesus’ body, which was something people did back then to show love and respect.
As they walked, they whispered to each other, “Who will roll the stone away for us?” That stone was huge! It probably weighed as much as a small car. There was no way a few women could move it on their own.
But when they got closer, they saw something that made them stop in their tracks. The stone was already gone!
The Angel and the Earthquake
Suddenly, the ground began to shake! Rumble, rumble, CRACK! An angel of the Lord, shining as bright as a lightning bolt and wearing clothes as white as freshly fallen snow, came down from heaven.
The Roman guards, who were supposed to be tough soldiers, were so scared that they shook and fell over like they had fainted! The angel sat right on top of that giant stone as if it were a tiny footstool.
The angel looked at the women and said the best words ever spoken:
“Do not be afraid! I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; HE HAS RISEN, just as he said!”
The Empty Tomb
Can you imagine? The angel invited them to come inside and look. The women stepped into the cool, dark tomb, and guess what they saw? Nothing! Well, not exactly nothing. They saw the linen cloths that had been wrapped around Jesus, but Jesus Himself was gone.
The angel told them to go quickly and tell the other disciples the news. The women ran! They were feeling a mix of “super scared” and “super happy” all at the same time. Have you ever felt that way? Like when you’re about to go down a really big slide? That was them!
The Best Encounter
As they were running to find Peter and the others, a man suddenly appeared in their path.
“Greetings!” He said.
The women fell at His feet and grabbed hold of Him. It was Jesus! He wasn’t a ghost, and He wasn’t a dream. He was alive. He had skin and bones, a voice they knew, and eyes full of love. He told them again not to be afraid and to go tell His “brothers” (His disciples) to meet Him in Galilee.
The Race to the Rock
When Mary Magdalene found Peter and John, she was out of breath. “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” she cried.
Peter and John didn’t wait a second. They started a footrace! John was a little faster than Peter and got there first. He looked in but didn’t go in. But Peter—who was always very brave and a little bit impulsive—zoomed right past him and jumped inside the tomb.
He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The head cloth was folded up neatly by itself. (Even Jesus made sure to tidy up!) When John saw this, the Bible says he believed. He realized that a grave robber wouldn’t stop to neatly fold the laundry! This was a miracle.
The Mission Possible!
Later that day, Jesus appeared to His disciples while they were in a locked room. He just showed up! He showed them His hands and His side so they would know it was really Him. He breathed on them and gave them peace.
He gave them a mission: to go into all the world and tell everyone the Good News. This is the “Mission Possible” that we get to be a part of today! We get to tell our friends at school, our neighbors, and our families that Jesus is alive and He loves them more than they can imagine.
Why Does Sunday Matter?
You might be wondering, “Why is this story so important?”
Think of it this way: Imagine there was a huge wall between us and God. That wall was made of all the wrong things people do—things like lying, being mean, or not listening to God. On Friday, Jesus took the “wrecking ball” of His love and smashed that wall down. On Sunday, when He rose from the dead, He proved that He is stronger than anything—even death!
Because Jesus is alive, it means:
- He is who He says He is: He really is the Son of God!
- We can be friends with God: The wall is gone!
- Life wins: We don’t have to be afraid of the dark or bad things, because Jesus has already won the battle.
Fun Fact
Did you know that after the resurrection, Jesus stayed on earth for 40 days? He ate food with His friends, taught them more about God’s kingdom, and was seen by more than 500 people! That’s a lot of witnesses to a miracle!
Let’s Pray
Dear God, thank You for the miracle of Easter! Thank You that the tomb is empty and that Jesus is alive today. Help us to live with the “Sunday Joy” every single day and to share Your love with everyone we meet. in Jesus’s name Amen!
Coloring page resurrection of Jesus Christ
