I was preparing for my Sunday School lesson late last Saturday night

I read through the story of Lazarus again and again,

Thinking hard of my personal goals for the children.

The memories of Christina and Henry came to my mind…

 

I didn’t share the story with the children in the end.

But as I read the personal notes that I jotted down in my lesson plan few days later,

My heart was touched by the power of God once again.

Jesus is, indeed, the life and the resurrection…

Easter is never the same when you know that your redeemer lives!

 

Lesson Plan (9th March 2008)

 

Focus: Jesus has overcome death and given us the hope of resurrection.

Bible reading: John 11: 1-45

Memory verse: Jesus said, ‘I am the resurrection and the life.’

 

Let me tell you a story

It’s a true story –

It happened years ago… when I was only twelve…

 

It’s about an eight-year-old girl… whose name is Christina

Her beautiful eyes smiled at all times

Her chubby cheek was just nice to pinch

She had a happy family –

Her mom was the principal of Sunday School

Her dad served among the indigenous in our church

Her brothers treasured her and they looked up on her

They trusted in God and followed Him with all their hearts

Everybody loved Christina – for she’s a little girl full of joy…

She’s the darling of her parents – the precious jewel of the family

She’s endearing to her peers around her

She sang beautifully in Sunday School

She has the loveliest ever voice one could expect of a little girl

One day, Christina fell sick… she had dengue fever

Her body temperature went up… and she was sent to emergency ward

We prayed… but nothing happened…

A few days later, she passed away…

Nothing could be done to bring her back to life…

The cold and lifeless body in the cedar coffin would soon be buried…

Hymns were sung in the funeral and testimonies were shared…

My dad preached the sermon and I played the piano…

It was a gloomy day… and everybody wept

But I remember her mom’s cries

“How could you leave mummy behind?”

Our tears dropped… our hearts ached… Where are you, Lord?

If only you were here, she would not have died?

Why would you want to take her away?

Eight years.

If she’s still alive today, she would be 16 years old now.

A beautiful teenage girl she would certainly be

Her smile would have captivated many hearts

Her voice would have moved many souls

Her life would have touched many others

A beautiful rose she is…

But God has taken her away

For His beautiful plan yet to be unfolded

Out of His tender care, He brings her back to His arms

Out of His sovereign will, He takes her away from this world

He gives and takes away

One year later, another child in our church went to heaven

Henry is a nine-year-old boy

He’s a very quiet boy in the Sunday school

And he has the most caring sister I’ve ever seen

He loved to cling to his dear papa and sit on his lap

Everybody in the church loved him

He smiled, and his grandma too, smiled

He brought delight to his family

And he found favour in the eyes of his grandparents

However, fever took his life away…

With no warning signs prior to the sudden attack, he’s gone.

Flowers were given to console the heart of the family

Bible verses were quoted to comfort their souls

Prayers were said and songs were sung

Yet, we grieved with the family

Our hearts dripped with tears

How could you take away their only son?

Nine years.

If he’s still alive today, he would be a seventeen-year-old now.

A youthful boy he would certainly be

A good helper in the family he would certainly make

A tough and strong guy he would certainly have grown up to be

But God has taken him away

He gives and takes away

We praise Him still

Even as our tears wet the tomb on that sunny and warm morning…

After all, He knows the pain when His only Son died on the cross…

 

Three years had passed before another death struck me…

My friend passed away in a car accident

Few hours after his motorcycle crashed into a car in a stormy night

He did not realize how bad the impact was upon his chest wall

Not so until the sharp and crushing pain came upon him

He was admitted to hospital early the next morning

With fractured rib bones fractured and ruptured soft tissue in his lung cavity

But it was too late

He died… at the age of seventeen

Not knowing that he could have been in heaven if he had Jesus in his heart

He looked so pale in the coffin

I could not even lift up my eyes to see him

Because I feel terribly sorry for him

Forever… he’s gone

We mourned for him as classmate for years

But my heart was deeply cut… because I owed him the gift of salvation.

 

Death becomes so real to me

Even in my childhood memories, I could easily pick up those moments of grief

Having a pastor as my dad would mean funeral is a norm to our family

Dad has to be there overseeing the funeral and delivering the sermon at the pulpit

Mom has to be there praying for the family of the deceased

They have to be there giving comfort to the aching heart

            Death has become just another ritual to me at my innocent age

Not until my heart was stirred by the story told in the Bible…

Long time ago in the small town called Bethany

When Jesus declared that – I’m the resurrection and the life…

Finally I understood: The fountain of life was found in Jesus alone

And that He alone has the ultimate control over life and death

 

Story of the Day: Lazarus, Come Out!

 

A brother and two sisters – one day, the brother fell sick.

The sisters became panicked – they didn’t know what to do.

They sent for their friend – a man called Jesus…

Maybe Jesus would know what to do… They thought.

But Jesus delayed His journey.

On His arrival, Lazarus had died and buried for 4 days…

 

Martha and Mary mourned for their brother.

They cried out loudly… if only you were here, my brother would not have died.

Jesus saw their tears.

He wept…

 

And He declared: I am the resurrection and the Life.

He who believes in me will live, even though he dies.

And whoever lives and believes in me will never die…

 

Do you believe this? He asked.

 

Yes, Lord.

 

They came to the tomb where Lazarus was laid.

Take away the stone… a command as simple as that…

Are you sure? They began to doubt.

What are you going to do? Many began to question in their hearts.

 

Who are you?

 

Jesus prayed.

And He said – Lazarus, come out!

Are you mad?

All the Jews held their breath – what could they expect?

Would they see a dead man walking out of his own tomb? Nonsense!

 

Hey, wait a minute!

Who’s that?

Wrapped with strips of linen… with cloth around his face… walking out of the tomb…

It’s LAZARUS!

Impossible! With their mouths wide open in disbelief and shock, they removed the linen.

Who could this Jesus be?

 

Could He be the Son of God that He claimed to be?

Could He be another prophet from God?

Who could He be?

 

They didn’t have a clue in their hearts.

But many believed in Him – He’s the Messiah they were awaiting.

He raised the dead! He worked miracles!

What more can you expect?

 

He claimed Himself to be the Resurrection and the Life.

Would you deny that?

What is your choice today?

Would you choose to believe Him today?

Jesus is the Resurrection – and the Life

Physical death may take our lives away –

Sickness and ageing may cause the degeneration of our physical body

Accident and disaster may snatch away the lives of many

But nothing can take away our spiritual self

 

Our physical self may die and vanish

But our spiritual self may go to heaven O.R. hell

Jesus said – He’s the life –

If you believe in Him – you would have eternal life

Not that you will live forever, but that your spiritual body will go to heaven

If you reject Him – your spiritual body will die.

Would you rather believe in Him today?

 

He has conquered death and He is alive today!

Would you make the choice to believe Him?

Just like Martha and Mary, they put their faith in Him –

And they witnessed the power of Jesus demonstrated in front of Lazarus’ tomb.

He wept – He understood the pain and grief

He did more than just weeping and giving comfort –

He did more than wiping away their tears –

He gave life to Lazarus –

 

Today, He offers new life to all of us.

Christina has died, but she’s now in the loving arms of Jesus in heaven.

Henry has died, but he’s now sitting on the lap of Jesus in heaven.

Because they have believed in Jesus and accepted Him…

 

He understands our sadness and uncertainty

He knows the fear and loneliness facing us every day

Therefore He wants us to know that

He’s the Resurrection and Life

With Him holding you firmly, you can be sure that tomorrow is no longer the same

He wipes away your tears

He consoles your soul

He gives you new life

 

This is Jesus… my Saviour

What does the word Jesus mean to you today?

 

It spells L-I-F-E

Jesus = Life

With Him, I know I have eternal life.

Would you make the same choice today?

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