Raising Lazarus from the Dead Preschool Lesson
Preschool lesson (ages 3–6, 20 minutes)
1. Welcome (3 min)
Sit in a circle, greet every child by name and show one thing from the story to touch.
2. The little story (5 min)
Teach the refrain first: “Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.”
In a little village called Bethany, there was a man named Lazarus. His two sisters, Mary and Martha, were from Bethany too. Bethany was close to the big city of Jerusalem.
Jesus was their good friend. Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
One day Lazarus got very sick. Jesus was far away, in another place. So the sisters sent a message to Jesus. The message said, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”
Jesus heard the message. He said, “This sickness is not to death, but for the glory of God.” Glory means God’s greatness – how wonderful and strong he is. Then Jesus stayed where he was for two more days.
After that, Jesus said to his friends, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep. I am going so that I may awake him out of sleep.” His friends did not understand. So Jesus told them in plain words, “Lazarus is dead. Let’s go to him.”
When Jesus came near Bethany, Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days. A tomb is a cave where a body is laid after someone dies. Many people had come to comfort Mary and Martha, because their brother had died.
Martha heard that Jesus was coming. She went out to meet him. She said, “Lord, if you would have been here, my brother wouldn’t have died.”
Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again. I am the resurrection and the life. Do you believe this?” Resurrection means coming back to life. Martha said, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, God’s Son.”
Then Martha went and called her sister. “The Teacher is here and is calling you.” Mary got up quickly and went to Jesus. Her friends went after her.
Mary came to Jesus and fell down at his feet. She was weeping. Weeping means crying. All her friends were weeping too.
Jesus saw them crying. His heart was very troubled. He asked, “Where have you laid him?” They said, “Lord, come and see.”
And Jesus wept. The people said, “See how much he loved him!” Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
They came to the tomb. It was a cave, with a big stone against it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” So they took away the stone. Can you push a big, heavy stone with me? Push!
Jesus looked up to heaven. He said, “Father, I thank you that you listened to me. I know that you always listen to me.” Then Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” What do you think happened?
And Lazarus came out! He was alive! His hands and feet were still wrapped in long strips of cloth. A cloth was around his face too. Jesus said, “Free him, and let him go.” Can you pretend to unwrap the long cloths? Round and round!
Mary and Martha had their brother back! Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
Many people saw what Jesus did. And they believed in him.
Jesus is the resurrection and the life. He loves his friends, and he is stronger than death. Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
3. Talk together (3 min)
- Why do you think Jesus cried with Mary and Martha?
- How do you think Mary and Martha felt when Lazarus walked out?
4. Move (3 min)
Refrain Freeze: move around the room; when you say the refrain, everyone freezes and says it together.
5. Make (4 min)
Draw a line to who said it.
6. Verse and prayer (2 min)
“I am the resurrection and the life.” — John 11:25 (I am → point up; the resurrection → crouch down low, then jump up; and the life → stretch your arms out wide)
Dear Jesus, thank you that you love your friends. Thank you that you are the resurrection and the life. Amen.
Lesson for older kids (ages 6–10)
Big idea: Jesus is stronger than any sad goodbye
Memory verse: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies.” — John 11:25 · WEB
The Bible story
When Jesus arrives four days too late, two sad sisters learn that even by a sealed tomb, love is stronger than goodbye.
Talk about it
- In which little town did Mary, Martha and Lazarus live? — Bethany
- How were Mary, Martha and Lazarus related to each other? — Sisters and their brother
- What message did the sisters send to Jesus? — The one you love is sick
- What did Jesus do when He first heard Lazarus was sick? — He waited two days
- How many days had Lazarus been in the tomb when Jesus arrived? — Four days
- What did Jesus promise Martha about her brother? — He will rise again
Where is Jesus in this story?
When Jesus called Lazarus out of the tomb, he gave us a beautiful picture of who he is. Jesus himself would later die and rise again on Easter morning, showing that his love is stronger than death for everyone who trusts him. Just as he called Lazarus into the sunshine, Jesus calls each of us to new life with him, promising that with him, goodbye is never the end of the story.
What God wants to tell us
This story shows us that Jesus cares deeply about the things that make us cry. He did not scold Mary and Martha for feeling sad; he cried right along with them. And then he showed that his love and his power are even bigger than death itself. When something feels too broken to fix, we can bring it to God and trust that he is working a bigger plan, full of hope, just like he did for Lazarus.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you that you are stronger than anything that makes me sad. Thank you that Jesus cries with me and loves me so much. Help me to trust you when things feel hard, and to remember that your love never runs out. Amen.
Read the story · Coloring page 1 · Coloring page 2 · Quiz · All lessons
Home · All stories · Topics · Coloring pages · Quizzes · Sunday school lessons
