Easter: The Resurrection

Jesus is alive!

by the Revd Oliver Harrison (revised, originally published in 2012)

Suitable for Key Stage 2

Aims

To consider the significance for Christians of the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Preparation and materials

• You will need two cheap drinking glasses (one will get broken!), a hammer, two identical cloth shopping bags and one large handbag or small travel bag – ideally with an internal zipped compartment.
• Before the assembly, place a glass inside each of the two cloth shopping bags (so that you have two identical ‘sets’) and then hide one of the bags in the handbag or small travel bag – ideally in a zipped internal compartment. You are going to use this to perform a trick!
• You may wish to light a candle for the ‘Time for reflection’ part of the assembly.

Assembly

1. Show one of the cloth shopping bags to the children.
   
   Take out the drinking glass and talk about it briefly.
   
   Ask the children to imagine that Jesus was whole and perfect, just like the glass.
   
   
2. Show the hammer to the children.
   
   Ask the children what would happen if you hit the glass with the hammer.
   
   Listen to a range of responses.
   
   Talk about the crucifixion in an appropriate way. For example, ‘Some bullies were jealous of Jesus. They took him prisoner, and had him killed.’
   
   
3. Put the glass back in the cloth bag and hit it with the hammer – once is enough!
   
   Shake the bag so that the children can hear the broken glass tinkle. (Warn very young children of the dangers of broken glass.)
   
   Explain that Jesus was ‘broken’ after the crucifixion.
   
   
4. Briefly show that the handbag or small travel bag is empty (although it isn’t). You could hold it upside down and shake it (being careful to hold the other bag inside it), or show it to be empty (but only if it has a zipped internal pocket).
   
   
5. Place the cloth bag containing the broken glass into the handbag or travel bag.
   
   Talk about Jesus being wrapped in a cloth and buried in a cave.
   
   
6. Finally, take out the cloth bag with the unbroken glass – voilà!
   
   Explain that Jesus came back to life. God can mend and make new. Talk about the resurrection.

Time for reflection

Light a candle and place the unbroken glass on the table. Let the children enjoy looking at the glass.

Prayer
Dear God,
Thank you that you showed your love for us by bringing Jesus back from the dead.
Help us to remember that when we feel we’re being broken, your love can help us to heal too.
Amen.

Song/music

‘Colours of day’, available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fo-3lf08y-Y (2.56 minutes long)