Free Bible lesson for kids · He Is Risen
Mary in the Garden
Early on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene stood weeping outside the empty tomb in the garden. She thought Jesus was the gardener, until He said her name: “Mary.”
- Bible passage
- John 20:1–18
- Big idea
- Jesus is alive, and He knows us by name.
- Memory verse
Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
John 20:16 (KJV)- Ages
- Preschool to preteen (3 to 12), with tips for each age
- Time
- About 45 minutes
- Included, free
- Animated story film, coloring page, class sheet, teacher guide, questions and answers, a game
The story
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been taken away (John 20:1). She ran to tell Peter and the other disciple, and they ran to the tomb (John 20:2–4). They found the linen clothes and the napkin, but Jesus was not there (John 20:5–7). The other disciple “saw, and believed” (John 20:8).
Mary stood outside the tomb, weeping. Two angels in white asked her, “Woman, why weepest thou?” (John 20:11–13). She turned and saw Jesus, but she thought He was the gardener (John 20:14–15). Then Jesus said her name: “Mary.” She turned and called Him Rabboni, which means Master (John 20:16). Jesus sent her to His brothers, and Mary went and told the disciples that she had seen Him (John 20:17–18).
Read it in the Bible: John 20:1–18 (KJV)
1The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. 2Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. 3Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. 4So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. 5And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. 6Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, 7And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. 8Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. 9For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. 10Then the disciples went away again unto their own home. 11But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, 12And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. 14And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. 15Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. 16Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. 17Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. 18Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.
Questions to ask
Where was the tomb?
In a garden (John 19:41).
Who did Mary think Jesus was at first?
The gardener.
How did she know it was Jesus?
He called her by name.
What this story teaches
- Jesus rose from the dead, just as the Scriptures said (John 20:9).
- Jesus is alive, and Mary saw Him in the garden (John 20:14–16).
- Jesus calls each of His sheep by name (John 10:3).
- Jesus sees when we are sad and cares about our tears (John 20:15).
- Jesus’ Father becomes our Father too (John 20:17).
Jesus Is the Resurrection
Jesus did not stay in the tomb. He is the resurrection and the life, and whoever believes in Him will live.
John 11:25
A 45-minute lesson plan
| 5 min | Welcome and pray. Greet each child by name and pray: Thank Jesus that He is alive and knows us by name. |
|---|---|
| 10 min | The story. Play the story film: each verse appears on screen in the King James Version while the scene plays. Pause to ask what happens next. |
| 10 min | Talk about it. Ask the three questions below. Then ask: “Jesus is alive, and He knows us by name.” What does that mean for us? |
| 5 min | Memory verse. Say John 20:16 together, covering one word at a time until the children can say it alone. |
| 10 min | Activity. Younger children color the coloring page while you retell the story; older children do the class sheet (memory-verse fill-in, word search and questions). |
| 5 min | Pray and send home. Pray together and send the sheet home so families can talk about the first question this week. |
- Preschool: keep it short and physical. Act out the story, use a simple prop, and repeat the big idea in one sentence.
- Elementary: let children find the passage in their own Bibles. Ask “who, what, where” questions first, then “why.”
- Preteens: read the verses before and after the passage, and ask how this story fits the whole story of the Bible.
Game time
For kids · game · indoors · about 8 minutes
Name Roll
You need: A soft ball
- Sit in a circle. Roll the ball to someone and say their name, kindly and clearly.
- They roll it on and say the next person’s name.
- Speed up until everyone knows every name.
Mary thought Jesus was the gardener, until He said her name: “Mary.” Jesus knows you by name too.
For youth group · activity · outdoors · about 45 minutes
Sunrise Gathering
You need: A place to watch the sunrise, breakfast, a Bible
- Plan an early-morning meeting outside, like the women going to the tomb.
- Read John 20:1–18 as the sun comes up.
- Worship and share breakfast together.
Early on the first day of the week, the tomb was empty. Every sunrise reminds us He is risen.
Pray
Thank Jesus that He is alive and knows us by name.