BIBLE EXPLORE / NEW TESTAMENT / JOHN / JOHN 20

Book of John: Chapter 20

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Easter Day (John 20:1-19)

The aim of today is to understand that Jesus rose from the dead and brings us hope of new life in him, and that something happy and wonderful can come out of something very sad.

Intergenerational Services

Intergenerational Services from Scripture Union

• The rocks will cry out: Palm Sunday​
• The Colours of Easter: Easter Sunday
• Breakfast on the Beach: Jesus appears to the disciples​
• Create an Easter Wordle (SUNZ)

Printable Easter Holiday resources

The Children's Mission (children's ministry in the Salvation Army NZ) have some great printable resources, including an Easter booklet - perfect for printing out for visiting families, or including in Eater isolation packs. 

Wrapping the Cross

Wrapping the Cross is a powerful visual way to tell the Easter story, as the cross is wrapped up in clothes on Good Friday, and revealed on Easter Sunday. You may need to adapt the story if greater sensitivity is needed (like young children).

Intergenerational Worship

Intergenerational worship ideas from Intergen Australia, written by Rev Sandy Brodine. THey have two offerings for telling the Easter story, from both Mark's Gospel (shorter!) and John's gospel (more detail!)

I wonder questions

• "I wonder what Mary was thinking when she saw the empty tomb?  Turn to the person next to you (if you have many kids) and tell them"  or ( with a small group) "Would anyone like to share what they're thinking?"
• "I wonder why Mary didn't recognise Jesus when she first saw him?"
• "I wonder what you would have been thinking if you'd gone to Jesus' tomb and found it empty?"

Pebble Easter Eggs

A simple and beautiful craft, great for all ages make, and could be used in a treasure hunt activity too. Source: Sunhats and wellieboots

Rocky Road

An edible rocky road activity from for children to make - and enjoy! Source: Sunhats and wellieboots

Activities and crafts

Some more creative Easter activities from the sunhats and wellie boots website. 
Weave an Easter cross 
Easter small world play and in a sand tray 
Life of Jesus board game 

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Seven minute sermon

Centuries of speculation have given Mary Magdalene a bad reputation. But her life actually provides a great example to follow. This 7 minute sermon podcast from Rev. George Penk is based on Luke 8.1-2 and John 20.14-17

Bead activity

Using different coloured beads to tell the story of holy week, which can be made into a bracelet, keychain, etc. 

• Green - Palm Sunday
• Brown and red - Maundy Thursday, for the bread and wine. 
• Black - Good Friday sadness
• White - resurrection

Gospel Conversations

Easter Day! If you're not preaching this week, perhaps hold off watching this until Sunday, because this is a real celebration of the resurrection, and over Holy Week we still have Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday to work through before we get there. But when we do, what an amazing, glorious story we are given! Grace, Peg and Anne have a thoroughly enjoyable time thinking about the women at the tomb and the mind-blowing Good News they are tasked with sharing. Christ is risen!

Gospel Conversation conversation from last year! 
A huge thanks to the Diocese of Dunedin for this Gospel Conversation in 2023. In one of the most moving Conversations we have had, Lisa, Gary and Mannie join Michael to rejoice in the deep mystery, love and hope of Mary Magdalene's encounter with the risen Jesus in the garden. You won't want to miss this one!

Visio Lectio

A beautiful image from the Visio Lectio project, created by the Anglican Diocese of Auckland. © Sarah West. All Rights reserved, shared with permission. ​
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Hand printed cross

This activity could be done on a large sheet of newsprint paper, to include everyone's handprints on the one sheet, or each child could have their own smaller piece of paper to make a cross.  It could be done as described, with the hands forming a cross, or in reverse, with the handprints providing the background to a white cross (as per the pictures below). Craft idea was taken from this website
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"PAINTED HAND PRINTS: Spread some paint on each child's one hand and let them place their painted hand print on a poster board and all the hands need to be in a formation of a cross when the prints are completed. When I did this activity, I did these cross-formation-hand-prints on our class room wall for decoration. The kids loved it and enjoyed it for years!"

Transformation

There is a sermon from the Church of Scotland, which uses a simple upside down face as a visual aid, to describe the transformation between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. This could be helpful for families with younger children. 
Source: Rev Rosie Frew, Church of Scotland

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Papier Mache Tombs

Note: These tombs take a long time to dry.  If possible, children should take them home still wet on their paper plate. Those that are left will be dry by the following week. 
What you need:

• A partially blown up balloon for each child and a few extras
• school glue watered down a little in shallow bowls
• newspaper to spread on your work surface
• scissors
• lots of string and yarn cut into 10-15 cm pieces (older children will be able to handle slightly longer pieces)
• paper plates or trays for drying the tombs
• a bucket of warm water (or access to a sink) and paper towels for washing and drying hands
• Felts for naming the plates

What you do:

1. Put the cut pieces of string and yarn and the bowls of glue on the newspaper on each table.
2. Give each child a balloon, explaining that everyone is going to make an empty tomb to help remind us of the empty tomb that Mary found.  When we see what we make, we'll be able to remember that Jesus was dead, but then he was alive again.
3. To make the empty tomb, dip one piece of yarn in the glue and then wring it out gently by sliding your fingers down the length of the yarn.  
4. Wrap the yarn around the balloon. 
5. Repeat this process until the balloon is about 3/4 covered with yarn. 
6. Leave to dry.  
7. Once the yarn framework is completely dry, pop the balloon and pull it out through any of the openings to create the empty tomb.

Easter Egg Relay Race

This is a great game for people of all ages; children and adults can both be accommodated easily.

What you need:

• 1 teaspoon, tablespoon or soup ladle per 2-4 players
• 1 hard boiled egg or plastic egg that's weighted with lollies per 2-4 players
• Tape, rope or chalk to mark the two starting points- point A and point B
• If desired, kind of small prize for the winning team

What you do:

1. Divide the players into teams of 4.  If you have a small group, you can have teams of 2.  
2. Divide each team into two groups, 2 players at Point A, and 2 players at Point B. 
3. The first player at point A is given an egg in a spoon to carry from Point A to Point B. At that point the egg and spoon are handed off to the next player in their team who carries it back to Point A to the third player and then to the fourth.  If players are using different sized spoons, allow them to use their fingers to move the egg between the implements. A dropped egg means that the person carrying the egg must go back to where he or she started from. The first team to complete the relay wins.

Variations:

• For younger children, allow them to carry the egg in a ladle. 
• Adults and old children can use a teaspoon or tablespoon.
• If the teams are mixed age (which is fun) give each team one of each kind of spoon so that play is fair.
• If you fill plastic eggs with lollies, allow each team to eat their lollies at the end.

Bead Necklaces

A bead crosses to take home and hang up somewhere, or wear to remind you that God loves you, even when you forget about him. God will never forget about you!

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Media

Songs

Doubting Thomas (John 20:19-31)

This story looks at Jesus appearing to his disciples, and how Thomas doubted that he was really the resurrected Jesus. 

Doubting Thomas

• Look up! Even though he was one of Jesus’ closest friends, Thomas had big doubts and questions about whether Jesus was really alive again. God is not disappointed by our questions or doubts! Write down any questions you have about God, and find someone to talk to about them. 
• Look in! Even though Thomas didn’t believe the other disciples were telling the truth, they still remained his friend. We can disagree with people, and still love them. Pray for someone you have disagreed with recently.  
• Look out! Thomas’ friends showed they could be trusted, by telling him the truth about Jesus. Being a trustworthy and honest friend can show others what God is like. How can you be a trustworthy friend this week? 

Gospel Conversations

We have a collection of three gospel conversations fo this passage, collected over the years! They are listed from newest (this week!), 2023 and 2022. 

Jesus appearing to his disciples huddled in a room with doors locked; Thomas refusing to believe until he can see it with his own eyes - there is so much here to dig into! Simon Martin joins us for the first time, and together with Gillian, Jonathan and Michael, gives us a taste of just how much there is to glean from this amazing passage.

Gospel Conversations 2023 
Jesus appears to his confused, scared, doubting disciples - 2000 years ago and still today! Joel Stutter joins Michael Godfrey and the Dunedin Diocese 'Gospel Conversations' team for the first time, with James Harding and Trish Franklin, as we move deeper into the joyful season of Easter.

Gospel Conversations 2022
​In an earlier Gospel Conversations, Michael talks with Katie Marcar (Otago University Programme and All Saints’, North Dunedin), Tony Martin (St Paul’s Cathedral and Emergency Management Otago) and Richard Johnson (Dean for Rural Ministry and Interim Priest, Winton) on this passage from John 20: 19-31.

Reflection questions

In small groups discuss

• Which was your favorite part of the story?
• ​Why did you like that part?
• In the story the disciples felt afraid, very happy, disbelieving and faith fulled. Which of these feelings do you related to most at present?
• Why do you think that is?
• What do you think God might be saying to us today through this story?
• Pray for one another.

Blind bag Icebreaker game

Collect a range of different items that the children would know, and put them in a thin drawstring bag. Take it in turns to pass the bag around and ask children to guess what item is inside. You can either have different bags for different items, or have several in the same bag (to make it more challenging!). How do they know what's inside, when they can't see it? Are they certain? Items could include non-breakable items like a tennis ball, wooden spoon, cuddly toy, book, etc. 

Interviewing Thomas

Write a script for a 'Resurrection Interview', where a journalist can interview Thomas. Thomas can describe the impact the resurrection had on the disciples and then on himself. You can do this sketch live, or pre-record it using a camera or phone. It is a great way to get young people involved in your all age services.

Questions can include:

• Thomas, we hear you weren't in the room with the disciples, when Jesus visited... where were you? 
• What did you think when you heard their stories? 
• Why didn't you believe them? 
• What happened next? 
• What did you think when Jesus appeared again? 
• What did you say to Jesus? 
• What do you think of the other disciples calling you 'Doubting Thomas'? Do you think it will stick? 

​You can adapt and change this interview to suit your congregation and needs. Let us know how you get on. 

For a script of a similar idea, see the All-Age Lectionary Services: Year C from Scripture Union.

Peace be with you!

You can read today’s story in John 20:19–23, and the Jesus Storybook Bible p. 318-321

• Look up! ‘Peace be with you!’ Jesus says this to his friends twice, so it must have been really important! God’s peace can calm, reassure and comfort us when we are fearful. If you are worried about something, ask God for His peace. 
• Look in! Do you hold grudges? Jesus talked about forgiveness, and how the Holy Spirit can help us forgive others. If you need help to forgive someone for hurting you, ask God to show you how.   
• Look out! When we worry about something, we can feel like the disciples – stuck (in a locked room!) and scared. God’s peace changed the minds of the disciples, and they were ‘overjoyed.’ Pray for a friend who is worried and ask God to send them His peace. 

From 'Journey to Pentecost' by Strandz

Preschool brainstorm

Young children can have difficulty distinguishing between fact and fantasy, so do not worry too much about explaining things that are not real to them in today's session. 
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Brainstorm a list of things that we know are real, including things we can touch, taste or see, e.g.

• I know flowers are real
• I know my food is real
• I know my pet is real
• I know the sun is real
• I know the wind is real
• I know my family is real
• I know that Jesus is real

Intergenerational Worship

Heading into Easter 2, this resource from Intergen Australia looks at a couple of reading from John, and will offer opportunities to be creative and engage with the scripture. These resources written and compiled by Beth Waldron Anstice.
Available for download from https://intergen.org.au/

Visio Lectio

A beautiful image from the Visio Lectio project, created by the Anglican Diocese of Auckland. © Sarah West. All Rights reserved, shared with permission. ​
Download
Terms of Use

Activities

• Circles into Squares? (Flame Creative
• Crazy glasses (Picklebums)
• Hole in Hand Illusion (Instructables)
• Game Idea (Creative Youth Ideas)
• Recognising Jesus Game (Flame Creative Kids)
• Hands Craft (Godly Play Blog)
• Hand Prints
• Bookmark Idea (God's Grace)
• Hope Playdough Mat (Flame Creative)

Telescope Craft

One of the key messages in today's passage is in John 20:29b - Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. We may never see Jesus face to face on earth, like his disciples, but we are reassured that we will be blessed by believing in what we have not seen.
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What you need

• Print out of this template (shown below)
• Cardboard tubes if printing template out on on A4 paper. You can print on thicker card if available. 
• Pens, felts
• Glue
• Decorations, googly eyes

What to do

• Print out the template for the telescope
• Today we're going to make a telescope to remind us that we don't need to see Jesus face-to-face to believe that he is real. 
• Give one sheet to each child and talk through the memory verse on the paper. Talk about how Jesus says we are blessed by believing in him, even though we have not seen him face-to-face. 
• Decorate sheet with felts, pens, glitter, googly eyes. Be creative and add your own decorating ideas! 
• Glue one edge of the paper and roll into a cylinder. 
• Get the children to look through their telescope and tell you what they can see.

Doubting Thomas game

A game with paddles and true/false questions, from the Easy Breezy Sunday School website. See the website for instructions on how to make the paddles. Each child gets an "I Doubt It" sign, which they use to respond to a list of unusual facts about the bible/life etc. If they doubt the fact, they show the 'I doubt it' side, but if they believe the statement, they do nothing. Give the correct answer and award a point 
Possible statements could include: 

• The disciples were hiding in the room because they were afraid of dinosaurs (false)
• Jesus appeared and all the disciples were in the room (false)
• Thomas wasn't there when Jesus appeared, but he believed everything that his friends said (false)
• Thomas wanted to see Jesus for himself before he believed his friends (true)
• Jesus showed Thomas his ears and fingers (false)
• Jesus showed Thomas his hands and his side (true)
• When Thomas saw Jesus' wounds, he replied, “You are my Lord and my God!” (true)
• Even if we haven't seen Jesus, we can still believe in him (true)

Alternative collect or prayer

Alleluia! 
God of calm, you bring peace in the midst of distress; still our troubled hearts 
when we struggle to believe, give us the courage to doubt, give us peace in believing. Through Jesus Christ, 
who is alive and reigns with you now and forever, 
and in the strength of the Holy Spirit. 
Amen.

Reflection

A daily devotion reflection on 'Doubting Thomas' from Scripture Union USA

Media

Songs in times of uncertainty or doubt