The Resurrection and the Life

Short Talk (SHT197) Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life © Jane Hulme 2020 SHORT TALK: “Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life” Aim of Short talk: Use of Short talk: Main themes: Biblical references: Lectionary: Props: To teach that if we put our faith in Jesus, He will give us life for all eternity; raising us from the dead on the “last day.” This is a short All Age talk picking out one issue from the Lectionary Gospel reading of the Sunday main service. The talk stands alone and assumes that the Gospel Bible reading may not yet have been read to the congregation. It could be used for example, for the whole congregation before the children go out to their age specific groups, leaving the adults with a full sermon later. Jesus, Resurrection, Life, Death John 11:1-45 Year A – The 5th Sunday of Lent You will need the following props: • A flower bulb that looks dead eg daffodil bulb • A flowering bulb in full glory! eg daffodil bulb .................................................................................................................. How many of you enjoy the season of winter? • It is a time of year when many natural things die back isn’t it? We see many green leaves on trees slowly dying, • turning yellow and brown and eventually falling off the trees dead, to be swept away. We see many flowers that have been really pretty in our gardens dying, • with eventually nothing to see in the borders but brown soil. Now some of those flowers have grown from bulbs like this one (Show dead looking bulb) • and if you dug up one of these bulbs during the winter, it would look completely dead. • It doesn’t look like there is any life in it does it? But then the season of spring comes..... • the weather warms up and something wonderful happens. From what appeared to be dead, comes life. (Show dead looking bulb) • Little green shoots start to poke through the ground, and before very long, flowers appear once again. • Look at this beautiful flower, full of life that has come from a bulb. (Show flowering bulb) © Jane Hulme 2020 2 In nature, we can see that there is death followed by life. • I wonder where else we might see death followed by life. The Bible tells a story in the Gospel of John of a man called Lazarus, who was a friend of Jesus. • Sadly, Lazarus became very ill and his sisters Mary and Martha were so worried about him that they sent for Jesus. • By the time that Jesus arrived at their home, Lazarus had died and he had been buried in a tomb for 4 days. When Martha spoke with Jesus, Jesus said to her: “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die....” (John 11:25) • It seems like Jesus was saying that He is the One who gives life, and that one day He will raise to life those who have died believing in Him, • a bit like bulbs being raised to life in the springtime to flower again...... • not just for a season, but forever. So, what is the proof that Jesus was speaking the truth and that we can trust Him? • Jesus went to the tomb where Lazarus was buried. • After having the stone removed from the tomb and praying, Jesus called out in a loud voice: “Lazarus, come out!” (John 11:32) Can you imagine the shock to Lazarus’ family and other people there when Lazarus walked out of the tomb alive again, • with his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen and a cloth around his face? • Lazarus was dead, but Jesus raised him to life again. • Jesus really is the One who gives life. Today, you and I can trust that if we turn to Jesus; believing in Him, • not only will He give us life now in all of its fullness, • but He will also raise us from death to live with Him forever. We don’t need to fear death; for the best is yet to come, • as our flowering bulb reminds us. (Show flowering bulb) © Jane Hulme 2020 3