John 20:1-18, New International Reader's Version

The Tomb Is Empty

20Early on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb. It was still dark. She saw that the stone had been moved away from the entrance. 2So she ran to Simon Peter and another disciple, the one Jesus loved. She said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb! We don’t know where they have put him!”

3So Peter and the other disciple started out for the tomb. 4Both of them were running. The other disciple ran faster than Peter. He reached the tomb first. 5He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there. But he did not go in. 6Then Simon Peter came along behind him. He went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there. 7He also saw the funeral cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place. It was separate from the linen. 8The disciple who had reached the tomb first also went inside. He saw and believed. 9They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead. 10Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

11But Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she cried, she bent over to look into the tomb. 12She saw two angels dressed in white. They were seated where Jesus’ body had been. One of them was where Jesus’ head had been laid. The other sat where his feet had been placed.

13They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said. “I don’t know where they have put him.” 14Then she turned around and saw Jesus standing there. But she didn’t realize that it was Jesus.

15He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who are you looking for?”

She thought he was the gardener. So she said, “Sir, did you carry him away? Tell me where you put him. Then I will go and get him.”

16Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

She turned toward him. Then she cried out in the Aramaic language, “Rabboni!” Rabboni means Teacher.

17Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me. I have not yet ascended to the Father. Instead, go to those who believe in me. Tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ”

18Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news. She said, “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

Playlist Song:

“Light of a Clear Blue Morning” by Dolly Parton.

Materials needed:

A piece of cloth and smaller pieces of pre-cut cloth. (For each child, cut a smaller 3-inch by 3-inch square of cheesecloth or gauze material.) This will serve as the “show” part of your show-and-tell lesson.

Message:

Let’s begin today by sharing some good news with everyone. Today is an especially important Sunday for followers of Jesus! Today is Easter! Do you remember what happened? On the count of three, let’s remind one another by calling out, “Jesus is alive!” Everyone stand up, make eye contact, and look at someone in the room as you share the good news. Ready? One, two, three – “Jesus is alive!”

That certainly is an important message for us to tell. In fact, it’s the most important message ever told! Today, I want to have a “show-and-tell” activity. Have you ever played “show-and-tell” before? (Allow children to respond.)

I have an item to show you. (Show the larger piece of cloth.) Do you recognize this? (Allow children to answer.) That’s right; it is a piece of cloth or fabric.

I want to read from the Bible what happened after Jesus died on the cross and was buried in a tomb on the side of a cave. As I read, try to figure out why this piece of fabric is the item for “show-and-tell.” (Read the story from the NIRV version.)

Can you show me on your face how upset Mary might have been? Remember, she was one of the people who gathered at the foot of the cross on Good Friday. She was so incredibly sad that Jesus was dead, and now his body is missing! (Allow children to show their facial expressions.)

6Then Simon Peter came along behind him. He went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there. 7He also saw the funeral cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place. It was separate from the linen.

(Pause to allow children to identify the cloth in your hand and realize why it was selected as the visual.)

8The disciple who had reached the tomb first also went inside. He saw and believed. 9They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead. 10Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.

13They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said. “I don’t know where they have put him.” 14Then she turned around and saw Jesus standing there. But she didn’t realize that it was Jesus.

15He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who are you looking for?”

She thought he was the gardener. So she said, “Sir, did you carry him away? Tell me where you put him. Then I will go and get him.”

16Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

She turned toward him. Then she cried out in the Aramaic language, “Rabboni!” Rabboni means Teacher.

How do you think Mary felt when she realized this man was Jesus? Show me with your face how you think Mary felt. (Pause.)

17Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me. I have not yet ascended to the Father.

Jesus was telling Mary that he had not yet gone to heaven to be with God.

Instead, go to those who believe in me. Tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ”

18Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news. She said, “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

Mary was so surprised and happy. She wanted to tell everyone that Jesus was alive. She ran to tell the disciples the good news.

I have something to help you remember this story. (Hand out the individual pieces of cloth.)

I wonder what might have happened if Mary had never shared the good news about Jesus with anyone else. I wonder how you would feel if no one had ever told you about Jesus. (Allow children to answer.) We needed someone to share this good news with us so we could know and love Jesus. God will be with us no matter how terrible things become, and we can live forever with Jesus in heaven. That’s why telling others that Jesus is alive is the most important thing we can share with them. Mary understood this. She ran to tell others.

Throughout Lent this year, we have had a playlist of songs to help us remember these stories from scripture. As I imagine this scene in my mind, I see Mary running to tell the others. Our playlist song is by Dolly Parton. Can’t you hear the words of this song (“I can see the light of a brand-new day”) helping Mary proclaim the good news of this Easter Sunday? Jesus is alive, just as he told us. “And everything's gonna be all right. It's gonna be okay!” Easter Sunday truly offers the light of a brand-new day!

I wonder, as you take your piece of cloth to remind you of this Bible passage, how you can tell others this week that Jesus is alive. I encourage you to have your own “show and tell” this week. If you'd like, have Dolly’s song playing in the background.

Prayer:

Loving God, thank you for raising Jesus from the dead. Please help us to tell others that Jesus is alive, just as Mary ran to tell everyone of this good news. Thanks for giving us the opportunity to see the light on this brand-new day. It is in Jesus’ name that we pray. Amen.