This lesson was adapted for a small group of children ranging from 6-10 years old. The lesson introduces students how to read and discover what is in each verse as we go through the selected verses from John 20 as a class. The students will discover that our sins can be forgiven because Jesus is alive!
Bible Passage: Selected passages (John 20:19-20; 24-29; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Acts 1:3, 9-11)
Bible Story Title: Resurrected Jesus appears to many
Target Age Group: Ages 6-11 (K-5th Grade U.S.A.)
Target Time Frame: 60 Minutes
Original Teaching Context: Sunday School
Supply List: Bibles (Preferably the same version so students can easily follow along), Butcher paper (if writing the answer in phrases with blanks), activity sheets, pens, pencils, Resurrection picture books)
Learning Goal: Students will learn that sins can be forgiven because Jesus is alive.
We’ve also turned the illustration above into a free Resurrected Jesus Coloring page available in several languages.
Memory Verse: “He presented Himself alive to them after His suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.” Acts 1:3
Bible Lesson: Resurrected Jesus Appears to Many
(Begin with prayer)
Question of the day: What did Jesus do after He was raised from the dead? (Jesus appeared to many people as proof that God had raised Jesus from the dead, and He is still alive today.)
(Write the question on the board. Break the answer up by writing on paper (I used butcher paper) with phrases that have a blank that will be filled in and the paper taped to the board as you teach through the lesson.)
One of the best ways we learn is to ask questions and learn the answers. Our question today is “What did Jesus do after He was raised from the dead?”
If we have questions about God we should always turn to His Word the Bible for answers. (Our class has some young students who can’t read. Pair them with an adult volunteer who will guide them by pointing to the words in the Bible as the verses are read. Encourage those who can’t read to listen closely because they will be able to answer the questions that will follow reading the verses.)
Let’s turn to John 20:19. (Read selected verses and ask questions.)
John 20:19
What time of day was it? (Evening)
Where were the disciples? (Locked in a room)
Why were the disciples locked in a room? (They were afraid of the Jews)
Why do you think they were afraid? (Answers will vary)
Who appeared in the room? (Jesus)
How did He get into the locked room? (Answers may vary)
What did Jesus say? (Peace be with you.)
John 20:20
What did Jesus show the disciples? (His hands and His side)
How did the disciples feel when they saw the Lord? (Glad)
Luke tells us that when Jesus appeared in the room they were startled and frightened thinking they saw a spirit. Jesus asked them why they were troubled. He said “Touch Me and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” Jesus also asked if they had anything to eat and they gave him broiled fish and he ate before them. (Luke 24:36-43)
John 20:24
Which disciple was not with the disciples when Jesus appeared? (Thomas)
Where do you think Thomas was? (Answers will vary. The Bible doesn’t tell us where Thomas was so these are just our thoughts.)
John 20:25
What did the disciples tell Thomas? (They had seen the Lord)
What did Thomas say he needed to see and do before he would believe? (See the marks of the nails and place his finger in the mark of the nails, and place his hand in His side.)
John 20:26
How many days have passed since Jesus appeared to the disciples? (8)
Who was included with the disciples this time? (Thomas)
Where are the disciples? (In a locked room)
Who appeared again in the locked room? (Jesus)
John 20:27
What did Jesus tell Thomas to do? (Put your finger here and see My hands; and put out your hand, and place it in My side. Do not disbelieve but believe.)
John 20:28
How did Thomas respond to Jesus? (He believed)
John 20:29
Who did Jesus say would be blessed? (Those who have not seen and yet have believed)
- Today if you are a believer Jesus says you are blessed because you have not seen His resurrected body and still believe He is alive.
We walked through this one passage and examined the verses because it is very important for believers to read and study God’s Word. What we did as a class is something you can do when you read your Bible during your daily quiet time. This allows you to stop and think and discover what God is teaching you from the passage.
Let’s look again at our question for today. Let’s see if we can fill in the first blank.
What did Jesus do after He was raised from the dead? (Appeared)
Jesus _________
Let’s look at another passage of Scripture to find the next blank in our answer.
Turn to 1 Corinthians 15:3-8. (Choose volunteers to read this passage.)
To whom did Jesus appear? (Cephas (Peter) Twelve disciples (Acts 1:23 Matthias replaced Judas Iscariot), 500 brothers at one time, James, and Paul.)
Let’s fill in the second blank of our answer (people).
Jesus appeared to many ________
Our final passage we are going to look at is Acts 1:3 and verses 9-11.
He (Jesus) presented Himself alive to them after His suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. Acts 1:3
This verse has the answer for our third blank in our answer; can anyone guess what it may be? (Proof)
Jesus appeared to many people as ________ that God had raised Jesus from the dead,
How many days did Jesus stay on the earth after He was raised from the dead? (40)
Have volunteer read Acts 1:9. What happened to Jesus after He spoke to His disciples? (He was lifted up, and a cloud took Him out of their sight.)
Read Acts 1:10-11.
Where were the disciples looking? (Into heaven)
What did the 2 men in white robes say to the disciples? (Why are you looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven.)
Let’s fill in our last blank for answer. (Alive) and He is still _____ today.
(Ask the question and allow the students to recite the full answer.)
Gospel connection:
It is important that Jesus is alive. If He died on the cross and stayed dead people would not have forgiveness for sins. (1 Corinthians 15:12-22) Jesus died for our sins and God was pleased with His sacrifice and raised Him from the dead. All who confess with their mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in their heart that God raised Him from the dead, will be saved. (Romans 10:9)
Close in prayer.