Lazarus

John 11:1-45

The PromiseSomehow three days had passed since Kiera’s grandpa had died unexpectedly. She was sitting in church by her mom—who was crying again—and her grandma, who seemed to be out of tears, but looked…hollow. Kiera seemed to be out of tears, too. And she was so tired.

The church was full of flowers—the pastor hardly had a place to stand! So many people would miss her grandpa. Especially Grandma, Kiera thought. Especially me. She and Grandpa were supposed to be camping today.

In an effort to focus on something besides her mother’s tears, Kiera started to decorate the funeral bulletin on her lap. She hadn’t even opened it—it was full of prayers and hymns and stuff. But the cover was neat. It had a picture of Jesus with his arms held wide, like he was about to hug you, and a gentle smile on his face. Above Jesus’ head a banner said “I am the resurrection and the life!” Below his feet a box declared “Jesus is stronger than death.” The whole thing was black and

white, no color at all. Kiera pulled her colored pencils out of her mom’s purse and started coloring.

She made the letters every color of the rainbow, using various patterns and shading. She shaded Jesus’ clothes and drew hearts and flowers in the corners of the bulletin. She repeated the lines above and below Jesus all around the border of the bulletin. By the time the pastor was done preaching, she had created a work of art. As her family stood to leave

the church, she slipped it in her grandma’s purse. She’ll find it later, Kiera thought. Maybe she’ll see the

beautiful promises on the cover.

I wonder… • If anyone had seen

Jesus cry before this.• What Lazarus thought

when he woke up in the tomb.

• If the smell was really bad.

Jesus is stronger than death.

Lent 5

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Fill in the Blank

Look It Up! Memory Verse

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.” John 11:25a

There is another story about a poor man named Lazarus. Check it out in Luke 16:19-31.

Now a certain man was ill, . (John 11:1)

So the sisters sent a message to . (John 11:3)

After having heard that Lazarus was ill, Jesus stayed days longer in the place where he was. (John 11:6)

Our friend Lazarus has fallen . (John 11:11)

I am going there to him. (John 11:11)

Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus is .” (John 11:14)

Jesus said, “I am the and the life.” (John 11:25a)

Jesus said, “Take away the .” (John 11:39)

“Lazarus, !” (John 11:43)

Jesus said to them “ him and let him go.” (John 11:44)

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Fun FactsIn ancient times, Jews believed that a person’s soul left his or her body

after three days. Since Lazarus had been in the tomb four days, that meant he was really and truly DEAD.

Resurrection means rising from the dead. It refers to the physical change of being dead and then being alive again.

The story of Lazarus being raised from the dead is found only in the Gospel of John.

This story has the shortest verse in the Bible. John 11:35: Jesus wept.The name Lazarus means “God is my help.”In Jesus’ time, when people died they rubbed spices and ointments on the

bodies and wrapped them in linen bandages like mummies.

Punch through all of the letters that appear in Jesus’ name.

Punch Card

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Grades 3-4, Lectionary, Lazarus Leaflet. Spark: Activate Faith © 2010 sparkhouse. All rights reserved. May not be reproduced.

There are several stories of resurrection in the Bible—see if you can find them!

Using an online image search, look for art of the Lazarus story.

Come up with other metaphors for Jesus that start “I am…”

Visit a cemetery and look for signs and symbols of the resurrection.

Read the story of Lazarus to someone older than you.

Faith on the Go!

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