August 2010 Week 3 Jesus Christ Has Power Over Death: A Reader’s Theatre

(Lazarus Image from Gospel Art Book)

Jesus Christ Has Power Over Death: A Reader’s Theatre
By Sofia Lykes

**This is more geared toward Senior Sharing Time**

Characters:

Student #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6 (You can add more or less, just change to suit your needs)

Teacher (As in having a child be the teacher)

Props:

GAK pictures (Lazarus image above, 233, 315)

Table and Chairs, small wrapped gift

Scriptures

(Whole Primary Sings I Know That My Savior Loves Me)

Teacher: Wow students, thank you so much for teaching us through song and music. Jesus does live!

Student #1: But didn’t Jesus die a long time ago?

Student #2: Yeah, I thought he was crucified.

Teacher: Good point. If Jesus died, how could He live again?

Student #3: I know! I know!! He has power over death!!

Teacher: That’s right, thank you! Jesus Christ has power over death.

Student #4: Is that what John 12:47 means?

Teacher: Well, let’s turn to it and see! “…For I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.” Hmmm… that’s a great thought. In His lifetime, Christ saw quite a few things! He met quite a few people who loved Him and even more who hated Him. Why do you think He would, as the scripture says, save them anyways?

Student #3: I don’t know! I don’t get it. Sometimes when people are rude to me, all I want to do is ignore them and pretend they aren’t there!

Student #5: I don’t understand either. It seems like there are so many wicked people in the world, why should they get to be saved?

Student #6: Jesus loves us more than anything. His love is from sea to sea, from here to there to everywhere. It is humbling to know of His love for us.

Student #1: Ok, are you ready for some deep doctrine? We had Family Home Evening last Monday and my mom gave me this quote to put in my scriptures, it's from our latter day apostle Elder Dallin H. Oaks. "The love of God is so universal that His perfect plan bestows many gifts on all of His children, even those who disobey His laws. Mortality is one such gift, bestowed on all who qualified in the War in Heaven. Another unconditional gift is the universal resurrection: 'For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive' (1 Corinthians 15:22). Many other mortal gifts are not tied to our personal obedience to law. As Jesus taught, our Heavenly Father 'maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust' (Matthew 5:45)."

Student #3: Woah, totally deep man.

Teacher: (holding up gift) Boys and girls, what if I told you there was a gift out there that has been given to every single person. It doesn’t matter what age you are, what color you are, whether you are good or bad, if you have green or blue eyes… everyone will get the gift.

Student #4: I’d say that’s pretty cool, that person must be super rich!

Student #1: Is the gift something you can eat, because I’m sure hungry!

Student #2: I think I know what the gift is. Is it life after death?

Teacher: Let’s turn to John 11:25. Can you read it please?

Student #5: Sure, it says, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.”
Teacher: The gift is The Atonement. And because of The Atonement, all men- and women too- will be resurrected. Their bodies and their spirits will come back together.

Student #6: That seems impossible!

Student #2: There’s nothing impossible about it. It’s very real, as real as you and me talking right now! A way better way to describe it would be a miracle!

Student #3: I think you’re right. Christ having power over death is nothing but a miracle.

Teacher: Class, I’m going to put some pictures in front of you and then you can choose the right one for the question I ask. Who was Mary and Martha’s brother, from the New Testament?

Student #1: (Holding up picture) His name was Lazarus. While Jesus was away, Lazarus died. 4 days later Jesus came back and everyone was weeping. In the book of John is the shortest scripture, 2 words. Those 2 words were, “Jesus wept.”(John 11:35) Everyone was really sad about him dying, but it was God’s will and Jesus was able to raise him from the dead. Lazarus came out of the tomb with all his bandages on, even his face was covered.

Student #4: He was dead 4 days?

Student #2: Yup. But it didn’t matter because Jesus Christ has power over death.

Teacher: Excellent. Who was the first to see Jesus after He was resurrected?

Student #5 (Holding up Picture) Mary Magdalene! We learned about that last Easter. This is one of my favorite pictures ever because it helps me to remember that Jesus really did live again. I think we should sing that song.

Teacher: Great idea, let’s sing Did Jesus Really Live Again?

(Primary sings Did Jesus Really Live Again? CS p.64)

Student #6: I’m so happy that I can live again too.

Teacher: Me too! Who else were witnesses to the resurrected Christ?

Student #3: I know! I know! (Holding up picture) The Nephites! I wish I had been in the ancient Americas to hear Heavenly Father say, “This is my beloved Son in whom I’m well pleased. Hear ye Him.”

Student #1: I feel another song coming on! Boy, there sure is a lot of songs about the Resurrection.

(Primary sings This is My Beloved Son CS p.76)

Student #2: I think I know why there are so many songs about the Resurrection. Because it’s just happy to think about!

Teacher: You’re right! And thank you everyone for singing so beautiful and helping with the lesson today!

ALL: We know Jesus Christ has power over death!

Student #4: In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.