L E S SON

Year B
He’s Alive!
1st Quarter
Lesson 12 WORSHIP We praise Jesus for what He has done for us.

References
Luke 23:26–24:12; The Desire of Ages, pp. 741-794.

Memory Verse
“We believe that Jesus died and rose again” (1 Thessalonians 4:14, NIV).

Objectives
The children will:
Know that Jesus is their Savior.
Feel happy that though He died, Jesus lives again.
Respond by thanking Jesus for loving us so much that He died for us.

The Message

 e praise Jesus because He died and rose again.

W

Getting Ready to Teach

The Bible Lesson at a Glance alive. The women tell Jesus’ friends.
Jesus is taken away and is nailed to a
cross to die. His cross is between those of This is a lesson about worship.
two thieves. One thief taunts Jesus; the Jesus loves us so much that He
other believes in Him. Jesus promises that willingly died for us. Only through
the one who believes in Him will go to His death may we have eternal life.
heaven someday. While suffering a cruel We praise Him because He loves us
death, Jesus forgives those who persecute and died for us. We worship Him
Him, even though they don’t ask Him because He gave Himself so freely.
to do so. After death Jesus is buried in
Joseph’s tomb. Joseph is a good man and Teacher Enrichment
a friend of Jesus. On the third day the “In silence the people watch for the
women go to the tomb and find that He end of this fearful scene. . . . Jesus cries,
is gone. An angel tells them that Jesus is ‘It is finished.’ . . . He then bowed His

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TWELVE
Program Outline
LESSON SECTION MINUTES ACTIVITIES MATERIALS NEEDED

Welcome ongoing Greet students at door; hear none

pleased/troubled

1 Readiness up to 10 A. Resurrection Hunt tiny symbols of Jesus’ death and

Options  resurrection, small empty container
B. Crucifixion Picture cutout patterns (see p. 133), colored
pencils or crayons, scissors, gray
construction paper, glue sticks
C. Jesus Rose Up! helium-filled balloons, boxes
with lids
* Prayer and up to 10 See page 126.
Praise* *Prayer and Praise may be
used at any time during the program.
2 Bible Lesson up to 20 Experiencing the Story none

Bible Study Bible

Memory Verse Bible

3 Applying up to 15 Jesus Wipes Sin Away whiteboard or chalkboard, marker

the Lesson or chalk, eraser

4 Sharing up to 15 Jesus’ Cross craft sticks, art supplies, glue sticks,

the Lesson paper cups, scissors, paper

head upon His breast and died” (The dominion over Him no longer. Jesus arose
Story of Redemption, p. 226). from the dead, a triumphant conqueror. In
“Joseph went boldly to Pilate, and solemn awe the angelic host gazed upon
begged from him the body of Jesus for the scene. And as Jesus came forth from
burial” (ibid., p. 227). the sepulcher, those shining angels pros-
“The body . . . was carefully wrapped trated themselves to the earth in worship
in a linen sheet, and the three disciples and hailed Him with songs of victory and
bore their precious burden to the new triumph” (ibid., p. 231).
sepulcher. . . . Then . . . the heavy stone What difference does Jesus’ sacrifice
[was] rolled against the entrance of the make in your life?
sepulcher, and the Son of God was left
at rest” (ibid., p. 228). Room Decorations
“Then the angel from heaven, with Continue with decorations from
a voice that caused the earth to quake, last week. Add a large wooden or
cried out, ‘Thou Son of God, Thy Father paper cross, and drape a purple cloth
calls Thee! Come forth.’ Death could hold over it.

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 LESSON 12

Teaching the Lesson

Welcome
Welcome students at the door. Ask how their week has been—what
they are pleased/troubled about. Encourage them to share any expe-
riences from last week’s lesson study. Have them begin the readiness
activity of your choice.

1 Readiness Activities
Select the activity most appropriate for your situation.

A. Resurrection Hunt
In advance, place tiny symbols of Jesus’ death and resur- You Need:
rection around the room. Invite the children to find them.
Ideas for symbols: cross, perfume ball, lightning rod, q t iny
stone, angel, spear, soldier, linen strip, crown of thorns, nail, symbols
and small empty container (to symbolize the empty tomb), of Jesus’
etc. Many can be purchased from a craft store, or you can death and
just draw the symbols on tiny pieces of paper. resurrection
q s mall empty
Debriefing container
Allow response time as you ask: What did you find?
How does it remind you of Jesus? We are so happy that Jesus died
for us, but the really good news is that He didn’t stay dead! He rose
back to life. Because He did, we can be saved and live in heaven with
Him someday. Today’s message is:

We praise Jesus because He died and rose again.

Say that with me.

B. Crucifixion Picture
Note: The following activity is best used with older You Need:
children.
In advance, copy for each child the drawings on page 133. qc
 utout
Have the children color the items as follows: brown hills, three patterns
brown crosses, white lightning bolt, white cloud, a gray tomb, (see p. 133)
a gray rock, two white angels, several gray people shapes. q c olored
Invite the children to cut out the pictures and glue the cutouts pencils or
onto a piece of gray construction paper to form a picture of crayons
Jesus dying on the cross. q s cissors
q g ray con­
Debriefing struction
Allow response time as you ask: What does your pic- paper
ture remind you of? Our story today is about Jesus q g lue sticks
dying on the cross. We are so grateful that Jesus died

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 LESSON 12

for us so that our sins can be forgiven. But the really good news is
that He didn’t stay dead! He rose back to life. Because He did that,
we can be saved and live in heaven with Him someday. Today’s mes-
sage is:

We praise Jesus because He died and rose again.

Say that with me.

C. Jesus Rose Up!

Prepare in advance several helium-filled balloons and
boxes big enough to hold one balloon each. Put a balloon You Need:
in each box, close the box, and give it to the children, asking q s everal
them to keep the boxes closed. Say: The box that you are helium-
holding represents Jesus’ tomb, the grave in which filled
He was placed after He died. Now carefully open your balloons
box. (The balloons will rise to the ceiling. Leave them on the qb
 oxes
ceiling for now.) with lids
Debriefing
Say: Our Bible story today tells how Jesus died for us because He
loves us so much. But the good news is that He didn’t stay dead.
God brought Him back to life. Jesus rose up out of the grave. The
way your balloon rises up out of the box reminds us of Jesus’ res-
urrection. Because Jesus lives, we can have life forever with Him in
heaven. Today’s message is:

We praise Jesus because He died and rose again.

Say that with me.

* NOTE: Prayer and Praise appears on page 126.

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 LESSON 12

2 Bible Lesson

Experiencing the Story The sky became dark as night. People

See Room Decorations for background were afraid! What could be happening?
props. Ask the children to respond “He did Why was the sky so dark in the middle
it for me!” and point upward on “He” and of the day? The earth shook. Lightning
to themselves on “me” when you give them and thunder crashed all around.
a cue. Have an adult help them practice Then Jesus, the Messiah, the Savior
and lead them in saying it together. of the world, died. [Children say: He did
it for me!]
Read or tell the story. Joseph, a good man and a friend of
Roman soldiers took Jesus up on a Jesus, took Jesus’ body down from the
hill. In those days the Roman soldiers cross. He wrapped it in a long cloth and
took the lives of criminals by nailing put it in a new tomb. A big rock was
them to wooden crosses. It was called rolled in front of the tomb to close it.
crucifixion. The soldiers put Jesus’ cross Then Pilate ordered the tomb sealed. He
on the ground. They shoved Him down wanted to be sure the tomb stayed shut.
on it. They nailed Jesus to the cross with And then the sun went down. It was
big nails in His hands and in His feet. Sabbath.
[Children say: He did it for me!] Then Jesus’ friends rested on the Sabbath
they lifted the cross up and dropped the day. They were sad, disappointed, and
bottom of it into a hole in the ground. discouraged. They had believed that
Jesus looked at the soldiers and Jesus really was the Messiah. And now
prayed. “Father, forgive these people. He was dead! They didn’t understand
They don’t know what they are doing.” what had happened. What would hap-
[Children say: He did it for me!] pen next?
The Jewish leaders looked up at Jesus Very early Sunday morning, just as
on the cross and laughed. “He saved the sun was coming up and the birds
other people,” they said to each other, began to stretch their wings and
“but He can’t save Himself!” [Children sing, some of the women who loved
say: He did it for me!] Jesus went to the tomb. They carried
The soldiers laughed at Jesus too. sweet-smelling spices to put on Jesus’
They put a sign on the cross above His body. Tears ran down their faces as
head. The sign said “This is the king of they walked to the tomb.
the Jews.” [Children say: He did it for me!] When they got there they noticed
Two thieves hung on crosses next to that the stone had been rolled away and
Jesus—one on either side. One robber the tomb was empty!
began to make fun of Jesus. [Children Two angels in dazzling robes ap-
say: He did it for me!] But the other rob- peared before the troubled women.
ber shouted at him, “We did bad things. The women were afraid!
We deserve to die! But this Man hasn’t “Why are you looking in a tomb for
done anything wrong!” Then he asked someone who is alive?” the angels asked,
Jesus to remember him. And Jesus prom- smiling. “Don’t you remember that Jesus
ised him that one day he would told you He would be crucified but that
be in heaven. He would rise again on the third day?”
At noontime the sun disappeared. [Children say: He did it for me!]

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 LESSON 12

The women who loved Jesus were the the sign over Jesus’ head say? What
very first people to hear the good news. did the earth do when Jesus died?
They ran to tell their friends. The good (earthquake, darkness, lightning) Who
news spread quickly. “Jesus is alive! Jesus took care of Jesus’ body after He
is alive!” [Children say: He did it for me!] died? When did Jesus come back to
He is alive today. And the good news life again? Who wanted to care for
about Jesus is still spreading around the Jesus’ body early Sunday morning?
world. And it is this: Jesus loves us. He Whom did they meet? What were
really, really, really loves us! Jesus died for they told? Let’s say our message
everybody’s sins. And He rose from the together:
dead. Jesus is in heaven right now. And
He will come soon to take everyone who We praise Jesus because
believes in Him to heaven too. [Children He died and rose again.
say: He did it for me!]

Debriefing Memory Verse

Allow response time as you ask: Hold your Bible so the chil- You Need:
What did Jesus say when He prayed dren can see; then turn to
q Bible
for the people who had been mean 1 Thessa­lonians 4:14 and say:
to Him? How do you think the This is where we find our
women felt Sunday morning when memory verse in God’s Word,
the angels at the empty tomb the Bible. Read the text aloud. “We
spoke to them? believe that Jesus died and rose
What did Jesus do for you? Why again.” Then use the actions as outlined
did He do it? Where are we going below to teach the memory verse.
with Him when He comes back
again? Do you remember our mes-
“We Point to self, then
sage? Let’s say it together:
others.
We praise Jesus because
He died and rose again. believe Point to head.

that Jesus Point upward.

Bible Study
Open your Bible
You Need: to Luke 23:26–24:12. died Palms up, then
Point to the text and turn them down.
q Bible
say: Here is where
we find today’s story in God’s
and rose again.” Lift hands
Word, the Bible. Read selected verses
upward.
aloud, paraphrasing as necessary.

Debriefing 1 Thessalonians Palms together,

Ask: How did Jesus die? What did 4:14 then open.

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 LESSON 12

PRAYER AND PRAISE *

Fellowship
Report the students’ joys and sorrows (pleased and troubled) as reported
to you at the door (as appropriate). Allow time for sharing experiences from
last week’s lesson study and review the memory verse. Acknowledge any
birthdays, special events, or achievements. Give a special, warm greeting to
all visitors.
Suggested Songs
“God So Loved the World” (Little Voices Praise Him, no. 181)
“Oh, Friend, Do You Love Jesus?” (for ending, sing: “because He died for
me”) (Little Voices Praise Him, no. 210)
“For Me” (Little Voices Praise Him, no. 154)
“Jesus Died Upon the Cross” (Little Voices Praise Him, no. 155)
“Jesus Is Risen” (Little Voices Praise Him, no. 156)
“I’m Forgiven” (Little Voices Praise Him, no. 76)
Mission
Say: Many people in the world can’t thank Jesus for dying for
them because they don’t even know about it. Missionaries all over
the world tell people how much Jesus loves them. Use a story from
Children’s Mission.
Offering
Say: When you bring your money to Sabbath School, it helps
others to find out that Jesus came and died for them and that He
is coming again. Your offering helps others to learn about Jesus
so they will want to go to heaven too.
Prayer
Ask for volunteers to name something for which they want to praise and
thank Jesus. Then sing “God Is So Good” as a prayer (all four verses) (Little
Voices Praise Him, no. 88).

*Prayer and Praise may be used at any time during the program.

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 LESSON 12

3 Applying the Lesson

Jesus Wipes Sin Away forgive us of our sins? He just

Prepare in advance a whiteboard or wipes them away when we You Need:
chalkboard. Ask the children to tell you are truly sorry and ask Him qw hite-
some of the things that children may for forgiveness. How does it board or
have done wrong. List each response feel to know that Jesus loves chalkboard
on the board. you so much? Who wants to qm arker or
Say: Jesus died to take away our go to heaven to live forever chalk
sins so that we could go to heaven with Jesus? Because Jesus died qe raser
with Him. Have the children say: “He and rose again, we can go to
did it for me!” as you read, and use the heaven. He will come for us soon.
eraser to wipe away the sins one by one. Let’s always remember:

Debriefing We praise Jesus because

Allow response time as you ask: He died and rose again.
Aren’t you glad that Jesus wants to
Say that with me.

4 Sharing the Lesson

Jesus’ Cross Debriefing

You Need:
In advance, copy today’s message Allow response time as you ask:
(We praise Jesus because He died and Did making a cross help you q c raft sticks
rose again) onto a strip of paper the think about Jesus? Take this q a rt supplies
height of a paper cup for each child. home and share it with some- q g lue sticks
Also, on the bottom of each paper cup, one this week. You can tell q p aper cups
cut a slit large enough for a craft stick to them that Jesus loves them q s cissors
slide through. very, very much! And remem- q p aper
Help the children glue two craft sticks ber to tell them the good
together to form a cross. Have each child news:
glue their message paper onto an upside
down paper cup, then place the cross We praise Jesus because
into the slit that you cut earlier. See the He died and rose again.
illustration in the margin.

Closing
Offer a short prayer such as the following: Thank You,
Jesus, for dying on the cross for us. Thank You for
rising from the grave and for loving us so much.
Thank You for planning to take us to heaven to live
with You forever. Please come soon. Amen.

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 LESSON 12

S T U D E N T L E S S O N

He’s Alive!
References Have you ever known someone who died? Jesus died. But He didn’t stay dead. God
Luke 23:26- raised Him back to life so He could save us and take us to heaven someday.
24:12; The Desire
of Ages, pp. 741-
When Jesus lived on earth, criminals down from the cross and put it in a new
794
were put to death by nailing them to tomb. A big rock was rolled in front of
wooden crosses and leaving them to the tomb. The sun went down. It was
Memory Verse
die. Jesus wasn’t a criminal, but He was Sabbath.
“We believe that
treated like one. Jesus’ friends rested on the Sabbath
Jesus died and
Three men were to be crucified that day. But they were very, very sad. They
rose again”
Friday: Jesus and two thieves. Soldiers didn’t understand what had happened.
(1 Thessalonians
nailed Jesus to the cross with big nails in What would happen next?
4:14, NIV).
His hands and feet. Sunday morning
Then they lifted the some of the women
The Message
cross and dropped who loved Jesus
We praise it into a hole in the went to the tomb.
ground. The stone had been
Jesus because Jesus prayed rolled away, and the
He died and for them. “Father, tomb was empty!
rose again. forgive these peo- Two angels in
ple. They don’t white robes ap-
know what they peared suddenly
are doing.” before the troubled
The Jewish lead- women.
ers looked up at “Why are you
Jesus. “He saved looking in a tomb
other people,” they for someone who
shouted, “but He is alive?” an angel
can’t save Himself!” asked. “Jesus told
The soldiers you that He would
made fun of Jesus. die, but that He
They put a sign above His head that said, would rise again on the third day.”
“This Is the King of the Jews.” These women ran to tell Jesus’ other
The two thieves hung on either side friends, and the good news spread
of Jesus. One began to make fun of quickly. “Jesus is alive! Jesus is alive!”
Jesus. But the other said, “We deserve to He is alive today. And the good news
die! But this Man hasn’t done anything about Jesus is still spreading around the
wrong!” Then he asked Jesus to remem- world. And this is it: Jesus loves us. Jesus
ber him. And Jesus promised him that died for us. And He rose from the dead.
one day he would be in heaven. Jesus is in heaven right now. And when
At noontime the sky became dark as He comes again, He will take everyone
night. People were afraid! Soon Jesus died. who believes in Him to heaven to live
Joseph, Jesus’ friend, took Jesus’ body with Him forever.

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 LESSON 12

Do and Say
Sabbath Tuesday
Each day this week, read the lesson story together, Help your child look at a calendar and name and
and review the memory verse. count the days that Jesus was dead before He rose
“We. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Point to self, then others. again. Let your child hold a big nail as you talk about
believe. . . . . . . . . . . . Point to head. how much Jesus loves us.
that Jesus . . . . . . . . . Point upward.
died. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Palms up, then turn them
down. Wednesday
and rose again.”. . . . Lift hands upward. Help your child use a candle to
1 Thessalonians . . . Palms together, then open. drip some hot wax on a paper. Put
  4:14 a stamp or design in it before it gets
hard. Talk about the way Jesus’ tomb
was sealed and how the angel broke
Sunday the seal and rolled the stone away.
While reading the story, pause at the appropriate
places, and let your child say: “He did it for me!”
Talk about how much you love your child and how Thursday
you would die for them. Talk about how much more Help your child use two sticks or twigs to make
Jesus loved us, to die for all, even those who treated a cross. Tie them together with string. Share them
Him cruelly. with someone, and tell them that Jesus loved them
so much that He died for them. Sing “Oh, Friend,
Do You Love Jesus?” For the ending, sing “because
Monday He died for me.”
Encourage your child to share Jesus’ cross made
in Sabbath School. (Or help them draw a picture of
a cross.) As Friday
they share For family worship, read aloud portions of Luke
with someone, 23:26-24:12. Have your child open an empty box or
remind them to jar. Tell them why it is like the place where Jesus was
share the good news: buried. Talk about why the tomb was empty on Sunday
Jesus loves us all very morning.
much, and He died Help your child make a crown and wear it during
to save us. family worship as you talk about Jesus’ coming.

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