24/4/10 Easter

Bible Reading

Matthew chp 28 vss 1-10

Theme: Mary Magdalene

Preparation

It is unusual to be back in school so soon after Easter Day, but this gives an ideal opportunity to retell the first and one of the most famous resurrection stories – Mary Magdalene in the garden. Easter is a story about light coming out of darkness. It is the key story on which the Christian faith is based (yes, more important than Christmas, although people often do not know it so well), and it is important the story is heard.

There are many fine art pictures of this story available through the web – make one up as an OHP slide. If you have the book “Jesus in Art” this includes suitable materials.

Have a hollow chocolate egg available – one WITHOUT anything inside.

Introduction

Find out what kind of things the children received and did on Easter Day. Bring out the Easter egg. Recap very briefly the story of the death of Jesus. Remind the assembly how Jesus was buried in a cave tomb that had a rolling stone across the entrance – the egg looks like the stone. But when the egg is broken it looks like the empty cave tomb, which is the next part of the story.

The Message

Tell the story of how Mary Magdalene and her friend Mary came to the tomb to look after Jesus’ body but when they reached the tomb they found that the stone had been rolled away, the tomb was empty and one of God's messengers, an angel, gave them the amazing news that Jesus was risen. The women went to fetch Jesus' disciples and share the great news. On the way they met Jesus himself - they touched him and worshipped him - they knew for certain that he was alive.

How do you think the disciples felt when Mary Magdalene came back with her strange story? Do you think that if you had been there you would have believed her story? Why? Why not? In Palestine at that time women were often thought to be less important than men and their word wasn't always believed. Perhaps some of the disciples thought "daft women, off their heads with grief", but they soon found out differently! Jesus always showed great sympathy and care for women, the poor, and other disadvantaged people in his ministry - so perhaps his appearing to the women first was part of this mesage too!

There are several other stories in the Gospels about people who saw Jesus alive after this, in fact over the next forty days hundreds of people saw him and spread the amazing news. And ever since that day millions and millions of people have become Christians because they believe in the resurrection of Jesus and the story of Mary Magdalene.

Prayer

Thanks for all Christians down the centuries who have believed and shared the message of the risen Jesus, so that we can hear it today.

Taking the theme further this week you could:

• there are just three days in this week because of the Monday Bank Holiday and the Royal Wedding, so spend the other two days looking at some of the other resurrection stories e.g:. the disciples by the Sea of Galilee John 21; the road to Emmaus Luke 24. 13-52