Lesson: Jesus Is Life Lazarus John 11 (Adapted for Preschool – Elementary) Story Have you ever put food into a container and left it in the car for a few days? What happens to it? Pause for responses. Act as if you caught a whiff of something smelly. Right—it starts to smell bad. Today during The Big God Story we are going to hear how Jesus has power over death. He is life! He showed that by going to a man who had been dead for four days—and the man didn't smell too great! His name was Lazarus.
Lazarus got sick while Jesus was in the midst of traveling around, teaching large crowds, and healing people—even restoring the sight of the blind! John 9
John 11:5 says Jesus loved Lazarus and his sisters Mary and Martha. Jesus often stayed with Lazarus, Mary, and Martha when He was in their town. So when Lazarus became very sick, Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus. John 11:3-4 says, “So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one You love is sick.” When He heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” And Jesus and His disciples stayed where they were for two more days. But, during that time, Lazarus died.
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After two days, Jesus told them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up"
Jesus knew Lazarus was dead, but Jesus also knew that He (Jesus) is life!
Jesus has power over death!
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17 On His arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet Him, but Mary stayed at home. John 11:17-20
21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if You had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give You whatever You ask.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” John 11:21-24
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that You are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” John 11:25-27
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28 After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said,
“and is asking for you.”
29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to Him. John 11:28-29
32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw Him, she fell at His feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” John 11:32
Martha probably felt hurt that Jesus hadn't come in time to heal her brother. But God had a different plan!
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33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” He asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied.
John 11:33-34
35 Jesus wept.
36 Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!” John 11:35-36
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38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 “Take away the stone,” He said. John 11:38-39a
“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” John 11:39b
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40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”
41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42 I knew that You always hear Me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may
believe that You sent Me.”
43 When He had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” John 11:40-43
44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. John 11:44
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Everyone there was absolutely amazed!
In Lazarus' life and in our lives, God has power over death, and He uses that power in our lives because He loves us. He is life!
Ephesians 2:1 says, “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,” And Ephesians 2:4-5 says, “4 But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
Later, Jesus died on the cross to pay for our sins. He was placed in a tomb, and three days later He rose from the dead, proving once and for all that He has power over death. By doing this, Jesus made the way for us to live FOREVER WITH HIM!
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Questions for Kids We just heard one of the most amazing descriptions of who Jesus is! Through God's story we know that Jesus is life. He has power over death and over all things in our lives. And death could not hold Jesus—He is our risen Lord!
- Why did Jesus bring Lazarus back to life? John 11:4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” John 11:41-42 41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and 42 said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”
- How did Martha show she believed Jesus had power to heal Lazarus? John 11:22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” John 11:26-27 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe 27 this?” “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”
- What in the story showed Jesus cared for his friend Lazarus?
John 11:35 Jesus wept. - How did God show His power/glory in John 11?
- How does Jesus’ power over death affect our lives?
Worship BLESS My Redeemer Lives – Hillsong Kids Ask your child to read: Bullet Proof
2 Corinthians 5:17-18 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation
Unless noted otherwise, Bible Pictures/Photo Illustrations: Bless your children with the following words: http://freebibleimages.org/illustrations/rg-lazarus/