Jesus is Alive!
(Children's Version)
After Jesus died a man named Joseph (from a place called Arimathea) put Jesus in his tomb that nobody had
ever used. The tombs they used then were cut out of rock, almost like a
cave, they weren't buried deep in the ground like they are now.
Before Joseph left, he and some men rolled a large heavy stone in front of the
tomb.
Mary and Mary Magdalene had waited a day to see Jesus, because they couldn't
go on a Sunday (it was a day of rest). They made spices and oils as a sign of respect to Jesus,
and went very early the next morning to go see Jesus' body.
As they were just about at the tomb the earth suddenly shook and an angel came
down from heaven. He easily rolled away the stone at the entrance of the
tomb and sat on top of it.
The women looked at each other and rubbed their eyes, they couldn't believe
what they had seen, plus it was very early in the morning, and they were still a
little sleepy. The angel was so bright, almost as bright as
lightning. His clothes were as white as snow.
There had been guards watching the tomb so no one would steal Jesus'
body. When they saw the angel they fell over and they couldn't move or
speak because they were so afraid.
Then the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid. I know you
are looking for Jesus who has died. But He isn't here; He has risen just
as He said He would! Come and see for yourself, the tomb is empty."
The women were confused. How could this happen? They were sure
Jesus had died, and now He was alive? They looked in the tomb and the
cloths Jesus was wrapped in were laying on the ground, and the tomb was
empty. Then the angel spoke again, "If you want to find Jesus He's on
his way to Galilee."
So the women hurried away, they were laughing and crying at the same
time. They didn't know what to feel, they had been so sad that Jesus was
dead and now they were so excited He was alive! They just knew they
had to find Jesus, and they had to tell the disciples the good news.
As they were running down the path they turned a corner, and there was
Jesus. "Greetings," He said. The ladies fell at His feet
and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid.
Go and tell my disciples to come to Galilee, that is where they will see
me."
The disciples came to Galilee, and had heard by this time that Jesus was
alive. They were sitting around talking about it, when Jesus walked into
the room and said to them, "Peace be with you." The disciples
immediately stopped talking. Even though they had heard He was alive, they
were shocked to see Him standing there with them.
Jesus said to them, "Why do you like at me like you've just seen a
ghost? Why don't you believe what you're seeing? Look at the scars
in my hands and feet. It is really me! Touch me and see, I am not a
ghost but a real person."
The disciples mouths were open in amazement because they still didn't know
what to think. They were so full of joy, and yet it was so
impossible. Jesus understood what they were thinking, so He said,
"This is what I told you would happen, that everything must happen that has
already been written in the Bible."
Jesus had told the disciples when they had the Last Supper together.
They took the bread at communion and Jesus said, 'this is my body which I
have given to you...' but the disciples hadn't understood what it really
meant.
Then Jesus told them, "You have seen these things that have happened, so
stay in the city and soon I am going to give you what God has promised you, the
Holy Spirit.
When we become Christians Jesus automatically gives us the Holy Spirit to
live inside of us. The Holy Spirit makes us know when we have done
something wrong. We might feel sick to our stomach, or just get a bad
feeling, that is the Holy Spirit reminding us that we are doing something wrong,
or that we need to stop and say
sorry and ask for forgiveness for what we've done.
The story is almost done, but Jesus had one more person to see. His
name was Thomas, and he was one of the disciples that wasn't there when Jesus met
with them. Thomas had also heard that Jesus was alive, but would not
believe until he saw Jesus with his own eyes.
A week later when Thomas finally saw Jesus, Jesus said to him, "Put your
finger here; see my hands. Stop doubting and believe." But
Jesus continued, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; but it is
more amazing for those who don't see me, and believe anyway."
It's really neat, but Jesus is actually talking to us when He said
this. If you believe in Him, without seeing Him He thinks you're very
special! That is exactly what faith is, believing in God even though you
can't see Him.
