Lesson | Date: June 4th

Story of the Day: The Resurrection & Ascension

Games/Activities
● Musical Chairs
● Hot potato
● Creeping closer
Music & Opening Prayer
● Prayer lead by Youth

Groups 1 and 2 Lesson

Story: Matthew 28:5-7
When Joseph of Arimathea, one of Jesus’ followers, saw that Jesus had died, he asked
Pilate’s permission to bury His body. Joseph took Jesus’ body down, wrapped Him in a clean
linen cloth, and put it in His own tomb. He rolled a large stone across the entrance. Mary and
Mary Magdalene watched as the stone was rolled into place. Early on the Sunday
morning,they returned to the grave to anoint Jesus’s body with perfumed oil.
Suddenly the earth shook beneath them as God’ angel appeared to them and rolled
aside the stone from in front of the tomb. His face shone like lightning and his garments
shimmered as white as snow. The guards at the tomb were scared to death and fainted.
The angel addressed the women: “Don’t be afraid! I know you are looking for Jesus,
who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as He said would happen.
Come, see where His body is lying. And now, go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen
from the dead, and He is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see Him there.”
The women were scared, but also very happy. It was great news that Jesus was alive.
They hurried away from the tomb to tell His disciples the good news.

John 20:15-17
The Gospel of John tells about Mary Magdalene’s visit to the tomb. She was grief-stricken
because Jesus’ body was no longer in the tomb. She wondered whether it had been stolen.
When she looked around, she saw a man standing behind her. “Why are you crying?” He
asked. “Who are you looking for?”
Mart thought perhaps He took away the body. “Sir, if You have taken Him away, tell me
where you have put Him, and I will go and get Him.”
Jesus said, “Mary!”
When Mary heard His voice, she recognized Him immediately. “Rabboni!” she said, which is
Hebrew for “Teacher.” Mary was so overjoyed that she embraced Him.
“Don’t cling to Me,” Jesus said, “for I haven’t yet ascended to the Father. But go find My
brothers and tell them that I am ascending to My Father and your FAther, to My God and your
God.”
A delighted Mary went on her way to tell the news to the disciples. “I have seen the
Lord!” Then she repeated everything He had said to her.
John 20:19-21
The same night all the disciples, except Thomas, were gathered together. The door of the
room they were in was locked, for they were still afraid that the Jewish leaders would arrest
them, too. Suddenly Jesus stood before them. “Peace be with you,” He said.
At first, the disciples thought they were seeing a ghost and were scared. Then He
showed them His hands and side. They could see the marks of the nails in His hands and the
wound in His side from the soldier’s spear. He invited them to touch Him. They still couldn’t
believe what they were seeing. It seemed too good to be true. He asked for something to eat
and they gave Him a piece of fish and watched while He ate.
Jesus said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me,so I am sending you.” It
would be their task to tell people how much God loved them.
Then Jesus breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. “If you forgive
anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
Still referring to the Holy Spirit, He continued, “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just
as My Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with
power from heaven.”

Acts 1:9-11
Even before His crucifixion, Jesus told His disciples that God would give them the Holy Spirit
after he had gone up to heaven. He ordered them not to leave Jerusalem until they received
the Holy Spirit, The Holy Spirit would empower and inspire them so that they would be able to
tell people all over the world about God. It was their task to tell people not only in their own
country, but also in far-away places, how much God loved them.
While Jesus was speaking with His disciples, He was taken up in a cloud and
disappeared from sight. His disciples were straining their eyes to see Jesus when two men in
white stood among them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into
heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday He will return from heaven
in the same way you saw Him go!”

Story Discussion:
● How would you feel if you saw Jesus in person?
● What would you say? Would you ask any questions?
● How do you think the disciples felt when they saw Jesus?
● Do you think they doubted at all?
● Did Jesus really leave us or is He always with us?
● How do you get to know Jesus in your own lives?
Activity (if you have time):
● Stone roll: split the group into two teams, and they have to roll stones to the other side,
whoever finishes rolling the stones wins!