ROTATION.ORG WRITING TEAM

JESUS RAISES LAZARUS
COOKING

PASSAGE

Scripture reference: John 11:1-44
Key Memory Verse: John 11:25

PURPOSE

At the end of this lesson the children will:

Find the story in the Gospel of John.
Retell the story in their own words.
Know that Jesus is human. He had friends; he felt sadness.
Know that Jesus is God. He performed the miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead, demonstrating his power over sin and death.
Understand that we have a new way of living: Jesus sets us free, unbinding us from our sins.

PREPARATION

Read Bible Background.

Materials List

Bibles
Equipment and utensils:

• Baking tray(s)
  
• Bowls
  
• Container or pan to melt butter
  
• Oven
  
• Oven mitts
  

Ingredients:

• Butter
  
• Cinnamon
  
• Crescent rolls, enough so each child can have one triangle
  
• Marshmallows, large – one per roll
  
• Sugar
  

Napkins

Advance Preparation Requirements

Melt butter in a safe container.

Preheat oven to 350.

Place cinnamon and sugar into bowls.

PRESENTATION

Open – Introduction

Greet children as they enter.

Dig - Main Content

Ask the children to tell about a time when they felt sad.

Tell the children that even Jesus was sad sometimes. Provide Bibles and have the children turn to John 11. Read, or have a child read, John 11:1–37.

Ask the children why Jesus was sad.

Move to a prepared work surface. Ask the children to wash their hands, if necessary, before touching the ingredients for the rolls.

Give each child a crescent roll triangle. Tell the children to pretend this is the cloth Lazarus would have been buried in.

Give each child a marshmallow. This represents Lazarus.

Have the children dip their marshmallow into the melted butter to represent embalming oil and into the cinnamon and sugar to represent spices.

Have the children wrap their marshmallow in the crescent roll so it is completely covered.

Bake the rolls in the oven (tomb) for ten to twelve minutes at 350 degrees.

While the rolls are baking, tell the children that Jesus said and did some extraordinary things that day. Have the children turn back to their Bibles. Read, or have a child read, John 11:25-26 and 38-44.

Ask the children what they think Jesus meant when he said, “I am the resurrection.” Did he really have power over the grave?

Ask the children what miracle Jesus performed after talking to Martha. Jesus could have come earlier and healed Lazarus. Why do you think he waited?

When the rolls are done, let them cool for a minute. Give each student a napkin and a roll.

Open the rolls to reveal that nothing is inside! The marshmallow melted, but the roll remains puffed up.

Let the children enjoy the rolls, then contribute in cleaning up.

Reflect – Closure

Tell the children that Jesus had power over the grave. Lazarus was raised by Jesus’ power and Jesus rose from the grave as well! Ask the children how this is like what Jesus does when we ask him to forgive our sins. (Our hearts are emptied of our sins, just like the graves were emptied.)

Close in prayer, thanking Jesus for his great works and asking him to forgive our sins.

ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS

Adaptations - Younger Children

Read the story to them using an illustrated Bible, or have figures the children can use to manipulate as you orally tell the story.

Young children can be impatient when waiting for food to cool. Use the waiting time to say a prayer before eating.

Adaptations - Older Children

Give older children the responsibilities of helping to prepare the ingredients. Dive deeper into the story and examine John 20:1–18, Jesus’ resurrection.

SOURCES

Homeschool Christian.com
http://www.homeschoolchristian.com/Almanac/Easter/

CONTRIBUTOR: Stephanie Smith