Jesus Raises Lazarus: Sunday School Lesson for Ages 6-10
Ages 6-10 · 45 minutes · free lesson plan · John 11:1-44
Children hear how Jesus wept with Mary and Martha and raised Lazarus from the tomb. They play a wrapping and unwrapping game, make an open tomb card, and learn John 11:25.
Memory verse
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: (John 11:25, KJV)
Lesson objectives
- Retell the story of Jesus raising Lazarus in order.
- Explain that Jesus loves us, is with us when we are sad, and has power over death.
- Say John 11:25 from memory with motions.
The full lesson plan
Welcome: When Help Seems Late (5 min)
Greet each child by name. Ask: 'Raise your hand if you have ever waited a long time for someone to help you.' Let two or three children share.
Say: "Good morning! Today's story is about a family who waited for Jesus, and it felt like he was too late."
Say: "Let's get ready to listen. Stand up, shake out your wiggles, and sit back down like we are in Bethany."
Background: Bethany was a village near Jerusalem. Mary, Martha and their brother Lazarus lived there.
Say: "Now let's hear what happened."
The Story: Lazarus Is Sick (8 min)
Tell the story in order. Children do the action each time you say the key word.
1. Lazarus is sick (cough). His sisters Mary and Martha send word to Jesus: 'He whom thou lovest is sick.' (v. 3)
2. Jesus says this sickness is for the glory of God. He stays two more days where he is. (vv. 4-6)
3. Jesus tells his disciples Lazarus is dead. When he arrives, Lazarus has been in the tomb four days. (v. 17)
4. Martha says, 'Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.' Jesus says, 'I am the resurrection, and the life.' Martha says she believes he is the Christ, the Son of God. (vv. 21-27)
5. Mary comes, weeping. Jesus sees her and the others weeping. 'Jesus wept.' (v. 35) (wipe eyes)
6. At the tomb, Jesus says, 'Take ye away the stone.' (v. 39) (push hands)
7. Jesus prays to his Father. Then he cries with a loud voice, 'Lazarus, come forth.' (v. 43) (cup hands to mouth)
8. Lazarus comes out, wrapped in graveclothes. Jesus says, 'Loose him, and let him go.' (v. 44) (stand up)
Say: "Jesus loved this family, and he is stronger than death."
Say: "Now let's talk about what this means for us."
Teaching: Three Big Truths (7 min)
Say: "Truth one: Jesus loves us. The Bible says, 'Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.' He loved them even while they waited."
Say: "Truth two: Jesus cares when we are sad. 'Jesus wept.' He did not say, 'Don't cry.' He was with them in their sadness."
Say: "Truth three: Jesus has power over death. He called, and Lazarus came out."
Gently connect to the gospel: Later Jesus died on the cross and rose again. Because of him, everyone who believes in him will live with him forever.
Teach the memory verse, John 11:25, in two parts with motions:
- 'I am the resurrection, and the life' (arms rise up)
- 'He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live' (hands on heart, then jump up)
Repeat three times, getting faster each time.
Say: "Now let's play a game from the story."
Game: Loose Him and Let Him Go! (6 min)
Setup before class: Put one toilet paper roll and one stuffed toy at each of the team tables. Make teams of 3-4.
1. Each team wraps its toy in toilet paper strips. Do not wrap any child. (2 min)
2. Teams sit with their wrapped toy. Call out together, 'Lazarus, come forth!' and hold up the toy.
3. Say: 'Loose him, and let him go!' Teams unwrap their toy gently.
4. Ask: 'Who has the biggest pile of paper?' Cheer for all teams.
5. Have children toss the paper into a bin. (1 min)
Total time: 6 minutes.
Safety: Keep paper away from faces. Walk, do not run. Check that no one wants to be touched or wrapped.
Say: "Now let's make something to remember our story."
Craft: The Open Tomb Card (8 min)
Setup before class: Cut gray paper into 6x8 inch rectangles (one per child). Cut white paper circles for stones. Fold the gray paper in half like a card.
1. Draw a small tomb door on the front of the card. Glue a white stone circle beside it. (2 min)
2. Open the card. Draw Lazarus with graveclothes inside, with Jesus beside him. (3 min)
3. Write or glue the verse strip: 'I am the resurrection, and the life.' John 11:25. (2 min)
4. Open and close the card and say the verse. (1 min)
Total time: 8 minutes.
Safety: Use safety scissors and glue sticks under adult supervision. Check for allergies to craft materials.
Say: "Take this card home and tell someone what Jesus did."
Talk About It (5 min)
Ask these questions. Give every child a chance to answer. It is fine to say 'pass.'
1. Why do you think Mary and Martha were sad? (Their brother died, and Jesus had not come yet.)
2. What did Jesus do when he saw Mary and the others crying? (He wept.)
3. What did Jesus say to Martha about himself? ('I am the resurrection, and the life.')
4. What does this story teach us about who Jesus is? (He loves us, cares about us, and is stronger than death.)
Say: "Jesus knows when we are hurting, and he is with us."
Say: "Let's finish by praying together."
Closing and Prayer (6 min)
Review: Say the memory verse together with motions once or twice.
Say: "Today we learned that Jesus loves us, cries with us, and has power over death."
Pray one line at a time. Children repeat after you.
Prayer points:
- 'Jesus, thank you for loving us.'
- 'Thank you that you care when we are sad.'
- 'Help us trust you when waiting is hard.'
- 'Thank you that you are the resurrection and the life.'
- 'Be with anyone we know who is sad today.'
Amen.
Say: "Take your card home, say your verse, and share the story with someone this week."
Dismiss children to their parents, one at a time.
Materials
- Bible (KJV)
- Toilet paper rolls (one per team)
- Small stuffed toys (one per team)
- Gray construction paper (tomb)
- White paper (Lazarus and stone)
- Crayons
- Safety scissors and glue sticks
- Printed verse strips (John 11:25)
Teacher notes
- Do not add details the Bible does not give, such as the names of the people at the tomb or what Lazarus said. Say 'the Bible doesn't tell us.'
- Some children may have lost someone. Be gentle, do not press for sharing, and let a child pass at any time.
- Safety: Check for allergies and ask parents first. Use safety scissors and glue sticks with adult supervision. Keep paper and toys away from faces.
- Adaptation: Use picture cards of the story steps for visual learners. Offer pre-cut shapes for children who find scissors hard. Pair younger children with older buddies.
Send it home with parents
Today we studied John 11:1-44. Jesus loved Mary, Martha and Lazarus. He wept with them, then raised Lazarus from the tomb. We learned that Jesus loves us, cares when we are sad, and has power over death.
- Tell me about a time you felt sad. How might Jesus care about that?
- What does it mean that Jesus is 'the resurrection and the life'?
Read John 11:32-44 together. Have each person say the verse with the motions, then thank Jesus for loving your family.
Each day, say John 11:25 and pray for someone who is sad or hurting.
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