Scripture: John 20: 1-18 and 21: 1-14
Memory Verse: Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life!” John 14:6
Concepts:
Objectives:
1. The class will hear and dramatize the Gospel of John stories of the resurrection appearance to Mary at the tomb and the appearance to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberius using props and narration.
2. Children will make a fish representing one of Jesus’ gifts to place in a net decorating the Great Hall.
Procedure:
Welcome and Introductions:
1. Greet the children and introduce yourself. Wear your nametag. Make sure the children are wearing name tags. If not, ask the shepherd to supply a temporary badge. Remember you are interacting with a different group of students each week who may not know you.
2. Explain the purpose of the workshop. Today we will hear and act out two stories from the Gospel of John. In the first story Mary Magdalene goes to Jesus’ tomb and finds it empty. In the second story Jesus appears to the disciples at the lake when they are fishing. When Jesus appeared to Mary and the disciples he showed them the power and miracles of God’s love for us.
Scripture/Bible Story:
Help all children to find the reading John 20:10-31 in their Bibles. Extra Bibles are with Apostles Playhouse supplies on the stage. Read the scripture to the children. Practice reading so you can read with feeling and emphasis. You may also choose to tape the scripture reading using different voices for the various people speaking and to play this for the children. In later weeks you may choose only to summarize the story with the class’s assistance. (A flip chart can be used to write down the sequence of events, this may also help when the children are acting. One should be located on stage.)
Application:
First talk about/review the stories. Here are some suggested questions and answers, you may choose other questions and some can be answered in more than one way. You may need to review the stories more in the beginning of the rotation so the class will remember the sequence of events.
Warm up acting exercises
Explain that class will now warm up to acting with practicing some emotions or actions in the play. You may select other emotions/actions as desired. Some suggestions:
Action
Divide the class in two (girls & boys or randomly) one half with act out the Mary and the empty tomb story, the other with do Jesus appearing to the fishing disciples. If there are not enough children in the class select one or the other story to act out (both if you have time).
Two options for acting include: allowing children to make up their own skit using props and the Bible verses-works best with the older grades and later in the rotation. The other option is providing narration (workshop leader & shepherd will need to narrate for younger kids) and allowing the children to make up actions to the narration with guidance from adults. Script below in bold, actions in italics.
After practicing several times present plays to each other. Clap and praise each group!
Narration for Mary and the Empty Tomb
The Sunday after Jesus was buried Mary went to his tomb and to her surprise saw that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance and the tomb was empty.
Mary shows surprise.
Mary ran back and told the disciples.
Mary runs to disciples and tells them what happened, everyone runs back to tomb.
The two disciples find the tomb empty except for cloth that covered Jesus and they return to the tell the other disciples what has happened. Mary is left at the tomb crying and alone.
Disciples leave. Mary is on her knees crying. Angels appear in tomb.
Suddenly angels appear in the tomb and ask Mary why she is crying. Mary looks up at the angels and then realizes someone else at the entrance of the tomb.
Jesus/gardener appears near tomb. Mary looks up in surprise.
Mary asks the gardener where they have taken Jesus’ body. She is still very upset. Then the gardener says, “Mary” and she realizes he is Jesus! She cries Teacher! In happy surprise and hugs Jesus.
Speaks lines if desired. Mary jumps up and hugs Jesus.
Jesus kindly hugs Mary and says “Don’t hold on to me!” I will be going to my father. Go tell the disciples that I am going to my Father and God.
Mary listens and runs to tell disciples what she has seen and heard.
Jesus explains while Mary listens intently then runs to tell disciples everything that has happened.
Narration for Jesus appearing to disciples fishing
One day Simon Peter decided to go fishing; six other disciples decided to go too. They launched their boat into Lake Tiberius and fished and fished all night long but didn’t catch one fish!
Disciples gather their fishing supplies, climb into boat and pretend to fish without success.
The next morning they were coming home with empty nets when they see a man on the shore waving and calling to them. “Hey friends”, Jesus called “Did you catch anything?”
Jesus stands on shore waving to get their attention and calling to them.
No we didn’t catch anything the disciples cried and we have fished all night. The man on the shore then told them to lower their nets on the right side of the boat so the disciples lower the nets again although they didn’t expect much.
Disciples grumble a bit, then put nets out of the right side of boat. The workshop leader/shepherd places goldfish or gummy fish in baggies into each net.
All of a sudden the nets were full of fish and very heavy, too heavy to lift into the boat! One of the disciples recognizes Jesus and cries “It’s the Lord!”
Everyone is tugging at the heavy nets trying to lift them when one of the disciples points to Jesus and cries out in recognition.
Peter is so excited he jumps into the water and swims to shore. The other disciples bring the boat and the bread to shore, get out and greet Jesus. They are all glad to see each other.
Peter leaps out and “swims”. The disciples pull the boat and fish to shore. Everyone greets each other happily.
Jesus has built a campfire and has some bread. He says, “Let’s eat”. Everyone gathers around the campfire with Jesus. This was the third time Jesus appeared to the disciples after he rose from the dead.
Everyone sits around the campfire pretend to eat, cook etc.
At 10:35 a.m. ask the shepherds to pass out the journals and pencils/markers.
Prompts for journal writing: Have outline of a fish on paper. Explain that when Jesus filled the disciple’s net with 153 fish he was showing them the abundance of God’s gifts. God’s love and gifts are many, too many to count! We have God’s gifts all around us. Write the name of one of God’s gifts on your fish. Color and cut out the fish and hang it on a net hanging in the great hall. Allow children to make more than one fish if desired and time allows. Will there be 153 fish by the end of this rotation? Allow them to bring home fish papers if desired and bring more fish for the net next week. Try to keep track of the number of fish, have adults and older children add some too.
At 10:45 ask the students to close their journals and sit quietly for prayer. Remind them that their offering is going to One Great Hour of Sharing.
Prayer: Thank you for this glorious day and each other’s company. Just like you gave the disciples many fish you also give us many blessings. Let us be thankful for each gift you share with us.
Amen
Tidy and Dismissal: Ask children to help tidy up. Place materials in box on stage to be used for next week.
Teacher preparation in advance:
1. Read the scripture passages and attend the Faith Quest Leaders Bible Study.
2. Prepare a closing prayer.
Check out the room before your first Sunday workshop so that you know where everything is located.
Supply List
Angel wings and robe
Tomb (table covered with dark cloth)
Rocks to cover entrance of tomb (pillows)
Nets to catch fish (like small bug catching nets) or netting like tulle as a large throw net to catch fish
Baggies of gummy fish or gold fish
Boat
Large net for wall to hang fish from
Costumes (in box on stage)
Other suggestions: sticks for Jesus’ camp fire, buckets and or other pretend fishing supplies such as dowels with strings attached for poles.
References
Curriculum writer’s Bible study materials prepared by Lori Houck Dec. 7, 2003
Narration for Mary and the Empty Tomb
The Sunday after Jesus was buried Mary went to his tomb and to her surprise saw that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.
Mary shows surprise.
Mary ran back and told the disciples.
Mary runs to disciples and tells them what happened, everyone runs back to tomb.
The two disciples find the tomb empty except for cloth that covered Jesus and they return to the tell the other disciples what has happened. Mary is left at the tomb crying and alone.
Disciples leave. Mary is on her knees crying. Angels appear in tomb.
Suddenly angels appear in the tomb and ask Mary why she is crying. Mary looks up at the angels and then realizes someone else at the entrance of the tomb.
Jesus/gardener appears near tomb. Mary looks up in surprise.
Mary asks the gardener where they have taken Jesus’ body. She is still very upset. Then the gardener says, “Mary” and she realizes he is Jesus! She cries Teacher! In happy surprise and hugs Jesus.
Mary jumps up and hugs Jesus.
Jesus kindly hugs Mary and says “Don’t hold on to me!” I will be going to my father. Go tell the disciples that I am going to my Father and God.
Mary listens and runs to tell disciples what she has seen and heard.
Mary listens intently then runs to tell disciples everything that has happened.
Narration for Jesus appearing to disciples fishing
One day Simon Peter decided to go fishing; six other disciples decided to go too. They launched their boat into Lake Tiberius and fished and fished all night long but didn’t catch one fish!
Disciples gather their fishing supplies, climb into boat and pretend to fish without success.
The next morning they were coming home with empty nets when they see a man on the shore waving and calling to them. “Hey friends”, Jesus called “Did you catch anything?”
Jesus stands on shore waving to get their attention and calling to them.
No we didn’t catch anything the disciples cried and we have fished all night. The man on the shore then told them to lower their nets on the right side of the boat so the disciples lower the nets again although they didn’t expect much.
Disciples grumble a bit, then put nets out of the right side of boat. The workshop leader/shepherd places goldfish or gummy fish in baggies into each net.
All of a sudden the nets were full of fish and very heavy, too heavy to lift into the boat! One of the disciples recognizes Jesus and cries “It’s the Lord!”
Everyone is tugging at the heavy nets trying to lift them when one of the disciples points to Jesus and cries out in recognition.
Peter is so excited he jumps into the water and swims to shore. The other disciples bring the boat and the bread to shore, get out and greet Jesus. They are all glad to see each other.
The disciples pull the boat and fish to shore. Everyone greets each other happily.
Jesus has built a campfire and has some bread. He says, “Let’s eat”. Everyone gathers around the campfire with Jesus. This was the third time Jesus appeared to the disciples after he rose from the dead.
Everyone sits around the campfire pretend to eat, cook etc.