Lesson 24: Not Here—He’s Alive!

Distribute name tags and snacks. Choose one of the following activities to do together while children eat their snack.

Collect prayer requests from the students. The leader or a student can pray for the entire group, or a leader can pair up students and invite them to pray for one another.

• “Have you ever gone looking for something and it was not where you thought it would be?”
• “How did that make you feel?”
• “Has anyone ever surprised you with really good news?”
• “Did it change your day or make you want to tell someone else?”

Objective: Help kids engage with the idea of expecting something to be there—but finding it gone (like the empty tomb).

Instructions:

• Sit the kids in a circle or close group so everyone can see.
• One by one, pull each item from the box and show it to the group.
• Name each item clearly: “This is a toy car… this is a small cross… this is a penny…”
• After all items have been shown, place them back in the box.

“Try to remember everything that’s inside! You’ll need to pay close attention.”

• Cover the box completely with the cloth or bandana.
• Without letting the kids see, secretly take one item out and hide it behind your back or under your leg.

Remove the cloth and dramatically say: “Uh-oh! Something is missing… Can you figure out what it is?”

• Let the kids raise hands or take turns guessing what’s missing.
• Once they guess correctly, show them the missing item and return it to the box.
• Cover the box again and remove a different item.
• Repeat this game for 4–5 rounds, depending on time and interest.

Wrap-Up Discussion:

• “How did it feel when something was missing?”
• “What if you expected something really important to be there—but it wasn’t?”
• “In today’s Bible story, some women went to Jesus’ tomb, expecting to find His body. But something amazing happened instead—let’s find out what!”

“What if you showed up somewhere and were expecting one thing… but everything changed?

That’s what happened to some women in our story today.”

Welcome the students to Crossroads and tell them you are glad they came this week.

(Tell God why you know he is good—maybe because he always loves, forgives, helps people, takes care of his creation, or keeps his promises.)

Tell kids that closing their eyes and folding their hands together can help keep them focused and not distract those around them.

• “What’s the biggest mess you’ve ever made?”
• “Were you able to clean it up by yourself, or did someone help you?”

“Sometimes in life, we make big messes—not just with paint or toys, but with our choices. Today, we’re going to hear an incredible story about how Jesus came to clean up the biggest mess of all—our sin—and how he did it because he loves us and wants us to be with God forever.”

Objective: To have fun while learning new words and reviewing a Bible story or theme in a silly, engaging way!

Tell the kids not to read the story yet (if they have it) because it’s more fun when it’s a surprise!

Ask kids for words based on the list below.

“I need someone to give me:”

• Time of day (e.g., 11:00am)
• Holiday (e.g., Christmas)
• Object (e.g., spices, flowers)
• Big object (e.g., stone, rock)
• Emotion (e.g., surprised, happy)
• Adjective (e.g., glowing, bright)
• Color (e.g., white, gold)
• Emotion (e.g., amazed, afraid)
• Past-tense verb – Leader fill-in (e.g., climbed)
• Past-tense verb – Leader fill-in (e.g., discovered)
• Plural noun (e.g., animals, clouds)
• Place (e.g., Chicago)
• Emotion (e.g., joy, wonder)
• Adjective (e.g., sleepy)
• Adjective (e.g., funny)

Once all the blanks are filled, read the story out loud using their funny answers.

Laugh together and enjoy the silliness!

Early in the (time of day: ___________), after (holiday: ____________), some women went to Jesus’ tomb. They brought (object: ____________) to take care of his body.

As they walked, they asked, “Who will move the big (big object: ____________) for us?” But when they arrived, they saw that it had already been moved!

They went inside and were (emotion: ____________) to see a (adjective: ____________) angel wearing a (color: ____________) robe.

The angel said, “Don’t be (emotion: ____________). Jesus was (leader: fill in – past-tense verb, like ‘crucified’), but he has (leader: fill in – past-tense verb, like ‘risen’)!”

“Go tell his (plural noun: ____________) that he is going to (place: ____________) and you will see him there!”

The women were filled with (emotion: ____________) and ran away, because they were (adjective: ____________) and (adjective: ____________).

“That was a crazy and surprising story but that was not a true story. Our story today is more surprising and a true story.”

Read Mark 16:1-8.

Follow-Up Questions:

• “What were some of the funniest parts of our Mad Lib version?”
• “How was the real story in the Bible different from the one we made?”
• “Why were the women going to the tomb early in the morning?”
• “What did they expect to find when they got there?”

Questions based on the passage:

• “What did the women actually find when they got to the tomb?”
• “How do you think they felt when they saw the tomb was empty?”
• “What does it mean that Jesus is alive?”
• “Why is the empty tomb good news for us today?”

“That was a fun and silly story we made—but the story we read from the Bible is even more surprising, and it’s completely true. Jesus really did rise from the dead! When the women went to the tomb, they expected to find his body, but instead they found an empty tomb—and a message: “Jesus is not here. He is alive!”

Because Jesus is alive, we can know three amazing things:

1. “We’re never alone—He’s with us.”
2. “God’s power is real—He’s stronger than sin and death.”
3. “We can trust him no matter what.”

“The empty tomb isn’t just a part of history—it changes everything for us today. When you’re scared, when you feel alone, when life is hard—you can remember: Jesus is alive, so you’re never alone, and God’s power is with you.”

Hide the 6 clues in your room or space. As kids find each one, gather them together to read and discuss before continuing to the next.

Clues:

1. A spice jar (women bringing spices)
2. A stone (the stone was rolled away)
3. A robe or light (the angel’s clothes)
4. An empty box (the tomb was empty)
5. A scroll or message (the angel’s announcement)
6. A heart or feet (go and tell others—living for him!)

Share with kids that there are 6 clues. In order to tell the story they need to find each one. Kids find the clues in order and build the story together. You may need to share what item they need to look for to help them with their search.

What to hide: Small spice container or bag of herbs

“Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went out and purchased burial spices so they could anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on Sunday morning, just at sunrise, they went to the tomb.”

Ask:

• “Why do you think they brought spices?”
• “What do you think they expected to find at the tomb?”

What to hide: A small rock or cardboard “stone”

“On the way they were asking each other, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” But as they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled aside.”

Ask:

• “What would you be thinking if you saw the stone already moved?”

What to hide: A piece of white cloth or a mini robe

“When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a white robe sitting on the right side. The women were shocked,”

Ask:

• “What would you feel if you saw an angel?”
• “Would you be scared or curious?”

What to hide: A small, open, empty box

“But the angel said, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body.”

Ask:

• “What does it mean that Jesus rose from the dead?”
• “Why is the empty tomb such good news?”

What to hide: A rolled paper with: “Go and tell His disciples—Jesus is alive!”

“The Angel said, “Now go and tell his disciples, including Peter, that Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you before he died.””

Ask:

• “What would you do if you had this message to deliver?”
• “Why do you think Jesus wanted his friends to know right away?”

What to hide: Paper heart or footprint cutout

“Then they briefly reported all this to Peter and his companions. Afterward Jesus himself sent them out from east to west with the sacred and unfailing message of salvation that gives eternal life.”

Ask:

• “What’s one way you can live for Jesus now that he’s alive?”
• “Who could you share this good news with?”
• “Why is the tomb being empty such good news?”

“Just like you were looking for some clues, the women who were friends of Jesus went searching for his tomb to give spices to honor him. But when they arrived they found an incredible surprise!

Jesus didn’t stay in the tomb—he rose from the dead just like he said he would! The women were shocked to find the tomb empty, but it was the best surprise ever. Jesus is alive, and that changes everything. Because Jesus is alive, we know he’s powerful, loving, and always with us. We don’t have to be afraid or figure life out on our own. Because Jesus is alive, I can trust him with everything.”

Thank Jesus for rising from the dead and being alive today.

Ask God to help us trust Jesus with everything in our lives—our fears, our choices, and our future.

Pray for courage to share the good news that Jesus is alive with others.

How to Play:

• Choose 2-3 kids to be the “guards.”
• All others start at the “Tomb” side.
• On the leader’s signal, kids try to run to the “Galilee” side without being tagged by the guards.
• If tagged, they join the guards in the middle.
• Remind kids that the goal is to “share the good news that Jesus is alive” by reaching Galilee.

Connection to Lesson: Recreates the excitement and urgency the women felt when they ran to tell others Jesus was alive.

How to Play:

• Divide kids into teams.
• Each player must roll the ball (the “stone”) from the start line to the finish line and back.
• First team to have all players finish wins.

Connection to Lesson: Helps kids imagine the stone being rolled away from the tomb, reminding them of the power of Jesus’ resurrection.

How to Play:

• Assign 1-2 taggers in the middle (representing guards).
• All other players start at one side of the room.
• When the leader shouts, “He is Alive!” all kids must run to the other side.
• If tagged, they freeze until another player tags them and says, “Jesus is alive!”
• Play continues until everyone makes it to the other side.

Connection to Lesson: Encourages movement and excitement, while showing that the resurrection message sets people free.

How to Play:

• Leader calls out actions from the resurrection story:
  • “Run to the tomb!” (run in place)
  • “See the angel!” (hands over eyes)
  • “Stone is rolled away!” (make a rolling motion)
  • “Tell others the good news!” (pretend to shout)
• Occasionally call out “Jesus is Alive!” and kids freeze in a big joyful pose and yell “He is Alive!”

Connection to Lesson: Helps kids remember key parts of the story through motion and repetition.

How to Play:

• Secretly hide the “Alive!” object under one of the cups.
• Mix up the cups.
• Kids take turns choosing and lifting one cup at a time to find the object.
• When the “Alive!” object is found, the whole group shouts together: “He is Alive!”

Reset and play multiple rounds.

Connection to Lesson: Builds anticipation and celebrates the joy of the unexpected discovery of the empty tomb, reinforcing the surprise and excitement that Jesus is alive—without requiring any reading.

Give each child a piece of paper.

Ask them to write or draw answers to:

• “Where do you see Jesus’ power in your life?”
• “When have you felt his presence?” (Examples: in answered prayers, in creation, in feeling peace when afraid, in a Bible story, etc.)

Take turns sharing.

Place the papers in a circle on the floor.

Say: “All these are ways we know Jesus is alive and powerful today!”

Teach a Simple Action Phrase: “Jesus is powerful, and he is always with me!” (Say it loudly, then whisper it, then say it with motions.)

Objective: To help kids see that the resurrection of Jesus was unexpected, powerful, and a reason we can trust God with anything.

Instructions:

• Before the activity, fill most of the eggs with something fun or meaningful, and leave a few eggs empty.
• Give each child an egg and let them open it.
• Watch their reactions—some will be excited, some might be surprised or confused by the empty ones.

Ask:

• “How did it feel to open your egg?”
• “If your egg was empty, what did you think?”

“An empty egg can be a disappointment—but in the Easter story, an empty tomb was the best surprise ever! It meant that Jesus had risen from the dead!

Because Jesus is alive, we are never alone and we know God’s power is real.”

• “What’s something that feels hard in your life right now?”
• “How could trusting Jesus help you in that situation?”
• “If Jesus really is alive and his power is in you, how might that change the way you act, speak, or treat others?”

• “How can you remind yourself this week that Jesus is always with you?”
• “What’s one way you can show someone else that Jesus is alive and powerful?”

Consider giving students a sticker or a small object (like a small cross or mini flashlight) to take home.

“Whenever you see this, remember: Jesus is alive, and his power is with you.”

Have each child complete this prayer:

“Jesus, thank You for being powerful and always being with me. Help me trust you when I feel _______.”