Once upon a time there was a very special man named Jesus. All the people who met him felt how much he loved them. Jesus told people about God and did many wonderful things, such as healing the sick and feeding the hungry. But one day something sad happened.
Jesus had many friends, but some people didn’t like him. These people were afraid of him because Jesus was telling them the truth about God. They made a mean plan to arrest Jesus. They sent soldiers to catch him.
Jesus was taken captive and brought before a judge. Although he had done nothing wrong, they condemned him, and he had to die. Jesus was nailed to a large wooden cross, and there he died. His friends were very sad and cried. They put his body in a cave and rolled a large stone in front of it.
Three days later, very early in the morning, something miraculous happened. Some women who were friends of Jesus went to the cave. They wanted to bring good scents to his body, as was customary at the time. But when they arrived, the big stone had rolled away, and the cave was empty!
The women were surprised and wondered what had happened. Suddenly they saw an angel who told them: “Do not be afraid! Jesus is no longer dead. He’s alive again! Go and tell your friends!”
The women quickly ran to Jesus’ friends and told them what had happened. At first they couldn’t believe it. But then Jesus appeared alive and well to his friends. They were so happy to see Jesus again! He told them, “Do not be afraid. I am always with you.”
Message of history
Jesus conquered death, and we never have to be afraid, because he is always with us and loves us.
Bible passage
Here are the relevant passages from the Gospels about the death and resurrection of Jesus:
Matthew 27:45-50 (death of Jesus) and Matthew 28:1-10 (resurrection):
Matthew 27:45-50:
“But from the sixth hour a darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lama asabtani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” And some of those who stood by when they heard this said, “He is calling Elijah!” And immediately one of them ran, took a sponge, filled it with vinegar, put it on a pipe, and gave him something to drink. But the rest said, “Stop, let it be seen if Elijah comes to save him.” But Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and gave up the spirit.”
Matthew 28:1-10:
“After the Sabbath, when the first day of the week dawned, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and came up and rolled away the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning and his dress white as snow. But at the sight of him the guards trembled and became as if dead. But the angel turned to the women and said, “Do not be afraid. For I know that you are looking for Jesus, the Crucified One. He’s not here, because he’s risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord has lain, and go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead. And behold, he is going ahead of you into Galilee; There you will see him. Behold, I have told you! And they went quickly out to the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to proclaim it to his disciples. And behold, Jesus came to meet them and said, “Greetings! But they came to him, clasped his feet, and fell down before him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brethren that they are to go to Galilee; There they will see me.”
Mark 15:33-37 (death of Jesus) and Mark 16:1-7 (resurrection):
Mark 15:33-37:
“But when the sixth hour came, darkness arose over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama asabtani?” And some of those standing by, when they heard it, said, “Behold, he is calling Elijah!” Then one of them ran and filled a sponge with vinegar, put it on a reed, and gave him something to drink, saying, “Stop, let it be seen if Elijah comes to take him down.” But Jesus uttered a loud cry and died.”
Mark 16:1-7:
“And when the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome bought fragrant oils to go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, they come to the tomb as the sun rose. And they said to one another, “Who will roll the stone from the entrance of the tomb for us?” And when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away; for he was very tall. And they went into the tomb and saw a young man sitting at the right hand, who wore a white robe; and they were terrified. But he said to them, “Do not be afraid. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the Crucified One; He is risen, he is not here. Behold the place where he had been laid! But go and tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you into Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you.”
Luke 23:44-46 (death of Jesus) and Luke 24:1-7 (resurrection):
Luke 23:44-46:
“Now it was about the sixth hour, and darkness came over all the land until the ninth hour, and the sun was darkened; but the curtain of the temple was torn in two. And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” And when he had said that, he died.”
Luke 24:1-7:
“On the first day of the week they came to the tomb very early and carried the fragrant oils that they had prepared. But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, and when they went in, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass, when they were perplexed, behold, there were two men standing by them in bright garments. And when they were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” He is not here, but He is risen! Remember how he spoke to you when he was still in Galilee, when he said, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, crucified, and rise again on the third day.'”
John 19:28-30 (death of Jesus) and John 20:1-8 (resurrection):
John 19:28-30:
“Afterwards, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, Jesus said, so that the Scripture might be fulfilled, ‘I thirst!’ There was now a vessel full of vinegar; but they filled a sponge with vinegar, put it around an usop, and brought it to his mouth. When Jesus had taken the vinegar, he said, “It is finished.” And he bowed his head and handed over the Spirit.”
John 20:1-8:
“On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and came to Simon Peter and the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” Then Peter and the other disciple went out and went to the tomb. But the two ran together, and the other disciple ran ahead, faster than Peter, and came first to the tomb, looked inside, and saw the linen cloths lying there, but did not go in. Then Simon Peter, who was following him, came and went into the tomb and saw the linen cloths lying there, and the sudarium that was on his head lying there not with the linen cloths, but wrapped up in a special place. Then the other disciple who had come to the tomb first went in, and he saw and believed.”
These passages describe the central events of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ as recorded in the four Gospels.
