They Thought it Was all Over

Short Talk (SHT091) They thought it was all over BUT.... © Jane Hulme 2018 SHORT TALK: “They thought it was all over BUT....” Aim of Short talk: Use of Short talk: Main themes: Biblical references: Lectionary: Props: To teach that on Easter Sunday Jesus rose from the dead. Because Jesus is alive, we can know God the way Jesus knew God, as our loving Heavenly Father and receive the gift of eternal life. 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. Easter Sunday, Jesus, Eternal Life John 20:1-18, Mark 16:1-8 Year B – Easter Sunday You will need: Three large plastic Easter eggs1 (preferably all the same colour), a clothes peg or small piece of wood, some white toilet paper or white cloth, and a table to lay the eggs on i) Wrap up your peg completely in white toilet paper/white cloths to look like a dead body. Wrap an extra piece of toilet paper or white cloth around the “head” part of the peg. Place the wrapped peg onto the table next to the first egg, which you leave open ii) Place two pieces of white toilet paper or white cloths inside the second egg, close up the egg and place on the table iii) Place some small chocolate Easter eggs inside the third egg, close it up and place on the table. If you are able to project words, prepare 3 Power Point slides that say: i) SAD ii) SHOCKED – “Oh No!” iii) SURPRISED – “Oh Yes!” ........................................................................................................................ Have any of you ever watched a game of football or rugby on television where your team, after a huge battle on the pitch, is losing and you think it is all over?  Then suddenly in the last few seconds of the game, someone on your team scores a winning goal and everything changes.  You go from sadness to excitement in a few seconds. 1 You can purchase large plastic eggs on Ebay at: www.ebay.co.uk or Jell plastics at: www.jellplastics.co.uk that are approximately 19cm high and 35cm wide. Put in the search bar: “Large plastic Easter egg.” © Jane Hulme 2018 2 On Good Friday it looked like it was all over for Jesus. (Pick up the wrapped up peg)  Although He had done nothing wrong, He was crucified on a cross and then when He had died, He was taken down from the cross, wrapped head to toe in grave clothes like these (hold up wrapped peg) and put inside a tomb. (Put the peg inside egg 1)  The tomb was sealed with a large stone so that no-one could get in or out of it. (Close up egg 1 and place back on the table.) Jesus’ disciples were very very SAD. (Project the word “SAD”)  They thought that Jesus was the Messiah, God’s King, come to set them free and they couldn’t understand what had happened. Two days later, early on the first Easter morning, one of Jesus’ disciples, Mary Magdalene went to Jesus’ tomb and she had the shock of her life.  The large stone that had been rolled in front of the tomb had been removed from the entrance. (Pick up egg 2 and pull the 2 pieces apart)  Would anyone like to come and see what was left inside the tomb? (Volunteer comes forward)  Is there a body inside the tomb? No!  What is left? Cloths representing the grave clothes. (Send volunteer back) Jesus’ body had gone from the tomb.  Can you imagine how Mary must have felt?  She must have felt SHOCKED mustn’t she?  She probably thought something like, “Oh no, what has happened now?” (Project the words “SHOCKED – Oh No!”) Sometimes in life we have “oh no!” moments don’t we when we think that there is no hope. As Mary was standing beside the tomb crying, a man started to talk with her.  She thought that it was the gardener and she asked him if he knew what had happened to Jesus’ body.  This person then said, “Mary!” Instantly Mary recognised the voice.  It was Jesus.....alive again.....raised from the dead. What an amazing SURPRISE for Mary.....  Instead of “Oh No!” it was “Oh Yes!”  She thought it was all over, but it wasn’t.......Jesus is alive! Do you like good surprises?  Ido. The good surprise of Easter.....  the “Oh Yes!” of Easter is that because Jesus is alive, we can know God the way Jesus knew God, as our loving Heavenly Father.  We can enjoy the freedom of having our sins forgiven and the joy of being loved.  We can receive the gift of eternal life. (Project the words “SURPRISED – Oh Yes!”) I wonder what is inside my 3rd Easter egg.  Would someone like to come and find out? (Volunteer comes forward and opens egg)  What is inside the egg? Chocolate eggs. Oh Yes! © Jane Hulme 2018 3 Chocolate eggs are a good surprise aren’t they?  Later we will share them with the children who are here.  These eggs remind us that Easter is good news for us. (Send volunteer back) It is good news because Jesus is alive.....  They thought it was all over on Good Friday but it wasn’t.  Jesus is alive today; here with us and willing to give to all who come to Him forgiveness, freedom and eternal life. Alleluia. Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia! © Jane Hulme 2018 4