This week we had a joyful celebration of Jesus Christ being raised from the dead. Our lesson for this week was called "The Resurrection" and comes from Matthew 27 & 28. You can find children's bible story in either "The Gospel Story Bible" (story 117) or in the "Jesus Storybook Bible" (God’s Wonderful Surprise). Download this week's Family Worship Guide to help lead your family worship time this week. In addition to family worship, it might be a fun project to plant some flower seeds and watch them bloom over the next few weeks with your family. This would be a great reminder and illustration of Christ going into the ground and then being resurrected with power and glory. Here are some teaching points to help you lead discussion (taken from The Gospel Story curriculum):

The Pharisees tried to stop him—Even though the disciples did not understand what Jesus meant when he said that he would rise again on the third day, some of the Pharisees seemed to understand. They asked Pilate to order the tomb guarded and sealed until the third day (Matthew 27:64).

Consider that around the time of Jesus’ death, the sky grew dark. Also, at the moment of his death the earth shook and rocks were split (Matthew 27:51). In addition, many holy people who had died were raised to life and appeared throughout Jerusalem. It would be hard to keep quiet when a family member whom you buried months ago suddenly appeared and shared the account and time of their resurrection. Given that many were raised, these reports likely reached the ears of the religious rulers as well.

Jesus rose with great power—A wax seal and a Roman guard could not stop Jesus from rising from the dead. In fact, if the whole Roman army had been present, Jesus would have risen just the same. Imagine the soldiers’ shock as the earth began to shake and an angel bright as lightning rolled the stone away and sat upon it (Matthew 28:2). What a glorious moment— death was defeated! The guards were so afraid that they shook and fell to the ground (Matthew 28:4). The angel spoke to the women, telling them that Jesus had risen from the dead just as he said! The angel sent them to report back to the disciples.

John 20:15 tells us that Mary Magdalene saw Jesus but mistook him for the gardener. But when Jesus called her by name, she instantly believed. Matthew 28:9 records that Jesus met the two women on their way to tell the disciples. The women fell down, grasped his feet and worshiped him. The response of these two women demonstrates their faith. Jesus commissioned them in the same way he commissions all believers: “go and tell” (Matthew 28:10).

Only those who believe will be set free—Some of the guards returned to the chief priests and reported to them everything that had happened. They told the chief priests about the earthquake, the angel, the bright light, the rising of Christ, and the visit of the two women who met and conversed with the Lord. The soldiers heard all of this and the chief priests heard their report and yet neither the soldiers nor the chief priests believed. Instead the chief priests hatched a scheme to keep the guards quiet. They spread the very rumor they were trying to stop, that the disciples had stolen the body. The soldiers accepted the money and agreed to lie (Matthew 28:12–15). This shows us that you can know the facts of the gospel and still not really believe. Today people read the story of Jesus rising from the dead, but like the religious rulers and solders, they refuse to believe. 

How does today’s Bible story fit into God’s greater plan of redemption?

Jesus is no longer in the tomb! This is one of the most critical parts of the gospel. Paul said it like this: “If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain....If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins” (1 Corinthians 15:13–14, 17).

Paul goes on to say in 1 Corinthians 15:20–23 that Christ is the “firstfruits” (the first to be raised) and that we will also be raised. If Jesus had died but not risen again, we would all be lost. The resurrection is not an add-on to the cross. It is an integral part of the gospel message without which the gospel would have no power!