Easter
for Legionary Nathan and his Friends
The truth is that Christ has been raised up, the first in a long legacy of those who are going to leave the cemeteries.
ALMIGHTY God, who through your only Son Jesus Christ has beaten death, and opened to us the gate of life forever; We ask you to go before us with your grace, and to put into our minds good thoughts, so by your help at all times we may do good things; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit always, one God, world without end.
Amen. Read the Bible Story
Read the Lesson
Do the Lesson Exercises
John 20:1
Early in the morning on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone was moved away from the entrance. She ran at once to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, breathlessly panting, "They took the Master from the tomb. We don't know where they've put him."
Peter and the other disciple left immediately for the tomb. They ran, neck and neck. The other disciple got to the tomb first, outrunning Peter. Stooping to look in, he saw the pieces of linen cloth lying there, but he didn't go in. Simon Peter arrived after him, entered the tomb, observed the linen cloths lying there, and the kerchief used to cover his head not lying with the linen cloths but separate, neatly folded by itself. Then the other disciple, the one who had gotten there first, went into the tomb, took one look at the evidence, and believed. No one yet knew from the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead. The disciples then went back home
LESSON
Grace and Peace be with you Legionaries!
This is Easter Day. It is a very special day in the church year. On this day we remember when God the Father raised up Jesus from the Grave -- ALIVE. He gave him a new special body too. It was wonderful.
Jesus' friends came to the grave to put some perfume on his body. When they got there he was gone! Mary ran back to tell all of the disciples. When Peter and John came, they saw the burial cloth laying on the stone. They knew that Jesus had risen up from the grave. You see the cloths were like casts, because they had 100 pound of spices on them! But they were empty, not cut open, just empty.
Have you ever seen a cocoon. A little worm builds it in the fall and live in it in the winter. In the spring it comes out but it isn't a little worm anymore. It is a beautiful butterfly. That is like what happened to Jesus. He went into the tomb and burial cloths dead and beaten up. He came out alive and healed with special new powers. And you know what, that is what will happen to you too because you love and trust in Jesus.
- Can you draw a picture that tells the Gospel story? Do so and then explain it to your friends.
- Write or make up a little story about caterpillar and butterfly.
- Go for an Easter Egg hunt!