He Is Risen! A Sunday School Lesson for Easter Sunday

Lesson Objective:

The children will understand that the real meaning of Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Scripture:

Matthew 27-28

Arrival:

As the children arrive, talk to them about Easter. This lesson works best if presented on the holiday. Find out what they expect to get for Easter. Learn whether or not they do an Easter egg hunt. Then, sing with them. Sing “God is so Good,” and be sure to sing the verses that state “He died for me” and “He rose again.”

Prayer Time:

Pray for the lesson, thanking God for His gift of His son on the first Easter.

Game:

Before the children arrive hide Easter eggs around the classroom. Fill some with the items from the Easter Story Eggs. Fill the rest with a slip of paper with one word from the memory verse written on it. Let each child have a small basket to search for the eggs after singing time. When they are done, instruct them to search through their basket and pull out any eggs that have a number on them. These will be used in the lesson. The rest of the eggs should be placed under the chair.

Lesson:

Start the lesson by reminding the children that Easter isn’t all about eggs and chocolate and bunnies. Tell them that we celebrate the holiday for a very special reason. Then, open the eggs one by one, using the items inside to tell the story.

Egg 1 – A leaf – This reminds us of Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey. The people were so excited to see him that they waved palm branches and cheered for him. (Matthew 21:1-11) This happened one week before Easter. Today we celebrate this as Palm Sunday.

Egg 2 – A piece of bread – After the Triumphal Entry, Jesus and His disciples entered the upper room to enjoy the Passover meal. This is known as the Last Supper. Summarize Matthew 26:17-19 with the children. Tell them that this was the last time Jesus would eat before He died.

Egg 3 – Three dimes (real or plastic) – Tell the children that Judas, one of Jesus’ disciples, betrayed him to the chief priests for just 30 pieces of silver. (Matthew 27:3)

Egg 4 – Thorn – Tell the children that after Judas betrayed Jesus, the Savior was arrested. The people wanted Him to be killed, and the soldiers put a crown made of thorns on His head. (John 19:2)

Egg 5 – Scourge (or thick string) – Describe how Jesus was beaten before He was killed. Keep this true, but age appropriate. (Mark 15:15)

Egg 6 – Cross (Popsicle sticks or twigs in a cross shape) – Tell the children that Jesus had to carry His cross to a place called Golgotha, which means “The Place of the Skull.” (John 19:17-18a)

Egg 7 – Piece of cloth – When Jesus was crucified, the soldiers made bets in order to take his garment. He was also forced to wear a purple robe while they made fun of Him for being the King of the Jews. (John 19:23)

Egg 8 – Nail – Jesus was nailed to the cross (hands and feet). He was also pierced in His side.  (John 19 and 20)

Egg 9 – Sponge – Tell about how Jesus was given vinegar and wine on sponge to drink. Then, He died, crying “My God My God, Why has thou forsaken me!” and “It is finished.” (Matthew 27)

Egg 10 – Rock – After Jesus died, His disciples took His body and placed it in a tomb. A stone was rolled over the opening, and guards were placed there to keep people from stealing the body. However, three days after He was crucified, His disciples returned to the tomb, and the stone was rolled away! (John 20:1)

Egg 11 – Napkin – When the disciples looked inside the tomb, it was empty! All that was there was the napkin that had covered Jesus’ face and His grave clothes. He was gone, because He had risen from the dead! (John 20:6-7)

Egg 12 – Flower – A flower in the spring represents new life, and that is what Jesus is able to offer by conquering death and rising from the dead on the first Easter.

Close with a simple gospel presentation. Explain that Jesus had to die because we are all sinners. Jesus was God and lived a perfect life, so He could serve as our substitute by dying on the cross and bearing our sins when He did. By rising from the dead, Jesus conquered sin and death and can offer us eternal life when we ask Him to forgive us of our sins and become our savior.

Memory Verse:

Open the remaining eggs, which contain the words to Romans 10:9. Have the children reassemble the verse, then practice it a few times together. Then, jumble up the words, and give the children each a chance to put them back together again.

Dismissal:

As you dismiss the children, give them each an empty egg to take home. Tell them that it is empty to remind them of the empty tomb and the fact that Jesus conquered death and rose again on the first Easter!