The Raising of Lazarus
3 - 7 years old
1. The opening prayer: "Lord Jesus, you bring life and joy to people's life. As you are helping Lazarus to get well, we pray for all children and parents may they receive your blessing. Amen".
2. The story of the day. Jesus had very special friends: Mary, Martha (two sisters) and their brother Lazarus. When Jesus was staying with them and they listened to His stories. Today's Gospel tells us that one day Lazarus was very ill, so both sisters were very worried. They called for Jesus' help. There was even a moment when Lazarus died, but Jesus came and raised Lazarus.
This story reminds us that we should always trust Jesus and His love. We are never alone. During the current times where we so much time in our homes, Jesus is with us, and one day, He will allow us all to go back to our schools and playgrounds. His love is with us.
3. Watch this beautiful video:
4. Our prayers inspired by the story of Lazarus' new life.
Dear Jesus, you always bring joy and compassion. We thank you for the story about Lazarus and his two sisters. First, we pray for all people who need your blessing, who are sad or lonely.
- we pray for all members of our families, especially for your grandparents and cousins.
- we thank you for our schools and teachers and we ask you for your presence among us in the forthcoming summer.
- we thank you for our Sunday School and our beautiful church St Mary's.
We say together the Lord's Prayer: Our Father (words at the bottom of the post)....
5. We may colour this picture, which reminds us about today's Gospel
Older children, 8+
1. The Opening Prayer: "Lord Jesus, your presence brings a change from sadness to joy, like Mary and Martha, help us to put our trust in you and your love. Amen"
2. Let's read today's Gospel: John 11.17-44.
Jesus Comforts the Sisters of Lazarus
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[a] 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.
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.”
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.”
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. 30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.
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.”
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.
35 Jesus wept.
36 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”
37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”
Jesus Raises Lazarus From the Dead
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.
“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.”
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!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.
Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
First, please note that Mary, Martha and Lazarus were not from Jesus' Galilee, but south, from Judea, where Jerusalem was located. Mary, Martha and Lazarus spoke with different accent than Jesus, still Jesus made friends with them. He loved visiting them on his way to Jerusalem. Can we make friends with people who are different than us? Do you have such friends?
The story about raising Lazarus is about TRANSFORMATION/CHANGE, do you have your personal experience of a change? Is it easy? Where do you find the strength in these moments of change?.
There is an analogy between our current life and Lazarus, we have been in isolation and slowly we are going back to life. How can the Gospel of John help us to return to our daily life?
3. Watch this video:
4. Our Prayers:
- Lord God, we thank you for sending your Son to our world and for all He did to show us your love.
- Inspired by the raising of Lazarus, we pray for all people who are not well, especially we pray for people who feel lonely.
- We pray for positive transformation in our life, help us to put our trust in your love.
- We pray for our school, teachers and parents who helped us to continue learning.
- We pray for our local community in Twickenham, especially for our St Mary's church and community.
- We also pray for all departed, received them in your everlasting Kingdom.
5. We conclude with the Lord's Prayer:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.