The Third Sunday After Easter
for Legionary Nathan and his Friends
ALMIGHTY God, who shows to them that are wrong the light of truth, so that they may come back to being right; Help everyone that becomes a Christian, to keep away from the things that are bad, and follow all things that are good for Christians; through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Read the Bible Story
Read the Lesson
Do the Lesson Exercises
John 16:16
"In a day or so you're not going to see me, but then in another day or so you will see me."
That stirred up a hornet's nest of questions among the disciples: "What's he talking about: "In a day or so you're not going to see me, but then in another day or so you will see me'? And, "Because I'm on my way to the Father'? What is this "day or so'? We don't know what he's talking about."
Jesus knew they were dying to ask him what he meant, so he said, "Are you trying to figure out among yourselves what I meant when I said, "In a day or so you're not going to see me, but then in another day or so you will see me'? Then fix this firmly in your minds: You're going to be in deep mourning while the godless world throws a party. You'll be sad, very sad, but your sadness will develop into gladness.
LESSON
Grace and Peace be with you Legionaries!
Today we here another story about Jesus. He was talking to his disciples about going away. They did not understand what he meant. They asked themselves, "What is he talking about, that he will go away for a little while, but then come back?"
Jesus knew that they did not know his secret. You see, Jesus knew that the bad men would take him away. He knew that he would die on the cross, so that all men that loved him could come to heaven. He knew that he would go into the grave for three days. And he knew God would raise him up with a new and wonderful body. And he knew that latter, God would bring him in his new body into heaven. But this was a secret and a mystery. That is why the disciple did not understand.
Jesus died and went into the grave with a regular body like ours, and all his disciples were sorry and scared. In three days he rose up out of the grave. He showed himself to his disciples on that Sunday. The next Sunday he visited them again. Later he saw them at the lake fishing and fixed them breakfast. They were very glad and happy that Jesus was alive and special. Then after 40 days he went up into heaven to be with God the Father, but told them he was going to send the Holy Spirit to live with them in the Church forever.
This news made the disciples very happy. They new that Jesus was with them in their hearts, and they could talk to him anytime they wanted. He would always be there to comfort them, and to cheer them up. Their sadness changed into happiness!
Let us pray:
O God the Father, who raised up Jesus to be with you in heaven; thank you for letting him be with us too today. Gladden our hearts that the Holy Spirit is with us. Hear us when we speak to you, and to Jesus, and to the Holy Spirit. You deserve all praise and thanks for all your kindness to us. Though the same Jesus Christ. Amen.
- Can you draw a picture that tells the Gospel story? Do so and then explain it to your friends.
- Can you think of anyone who is like Jesus? Someone who will always listen to you, and comfort you?
- Can you think of a time when you were very sad, but then later you sadness turned to happiness?