The greatest news in the world
Family worship guide · theme: Jesus is risen · ages 3–14 · 20 min
Opening
Show a closed shoebox and say that inside it is the most important news in the world. Let everyone try to guess what is inside. Open it together: it is empty. Ask: how can an empty box be good news? Save the question for the end.
Reading
Read with the energy of a news report: one adult narrates, someone plays the angel (vv. 5 to 7) and another does the voice of Jesus (vv. 9 and 10). At verse 6, when the angel invites them to come and see, everyone stands up and looks into the empty box again. With the little ones, explain the word risen: Jesus was dead and now he is alive forever.
1After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2Suddenly there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, rolled away the stone, and sat on it. 3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4The guards trembled in fear of him and became like dead men. 5But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6He is not here; He has risen, just as He said! Come, see the place where He lay. 7Then go quickly and tell His disciples, ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him.’ See, I have told you.” 8So they hurried away from the tomb in fear and great joy, and ran to tell His disciples. 9Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” They came to Him, grasped His feet, and worshiped Him. 10“Do not be afraid,” said Jesus. “Go and tell My brothers to go to Galilee. There they will see Me.”
Teaching
The first witnesses of the resurrection were women: Mary Magdalene and the other Mary. At that time, a woman's testimony carried little weight in court; anyone making up the story would hardly have chosen them. They go to the tomb expecting to find a body. The angel doesn't roll away the stone so Jesus can get out, but so they can go in and see: “He is not here; He has risen, just as He said!”
Notice verse 8: fear and great joy at the same time. Faith doesn't erase every emotion at once. Jesus comes to meet them on the way, with a joyful greeting and a sending. And he calls the disciples who had run away his brothers (v. 10). The resurrection is the center of the Christian faith, confessed in the Creed: death does not have the last word, forgiveness is real and there will be new life. For families who have lost someone, it is hope with tears, not without them.
Conversation
For little ones
- What did the women find when they got to the tomb?
- Jesus is alive! Who do you want to tell?
For kids
- The women felt afraid and happy at the same time. Have you ever felt two things together like that?
- Jesus called the disciples his brothers, even after they ran away. What does that show about him?
For teens
- Why is the fact that the first witnesses were women an important detail when thinking about whether the story is true?
- If Jesus really rose from the dead, what does that change in the way you face death, failure and the future?
For adults
- To whom is Jesus sending me to tell this news, with words and with my life?
- Where have I been living as if the stone were still closed, with no hope of change in someone or in some situation?
Activity
Empty tomb garden: on a plate, build a little garden with soil, leaves and pebbles, and a small cup lying on its side as the tomb, with a stone outside the entrance. Leave the garden on the dinner table all week. Anyone who prefers can draw the open tomb and the sun rising.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you are alive! Thank you that the stone was rolled away and death does not have the last word. Thank you for the hope you give us, also for those who have gone before us and whom we miss: [names]. Today I want to thank you for [each person completes]. Send us to tell this news with joy. Amen.
Blessing
Jude 24–25
During the week
Good news going around: during the week, each person tells someone (a grandparent, a friend, a classmate) why Jesus' resurrection is good news for them, in their own words and without pressure. The following Sunday, someone wakes the family up with Jesus' greeting in verse 9.