Children’s Lesson for May 31, 2020
Acts 1:1-11
Has there ever been a time where you felt alone? Maybe you were in a store and lost track of your family, or perhaps you were outside and couldn’t find your parents for a few minutes. At that moment, how did you feel? I imagine you were frightened, and I also imagine that you felt very relieved when you were reunited with your family!
Jesus’ disciples spend three years following Him. They heard Him teach about God’s Kingdom and witnessed Him perform many miracles. Before Jesus died, he told his disciples that he would suffer and rise again. Matthew 16:21. Even though the disciples were told by Jesus what to expect they were most likely frightened and overwhelmed when the things that Jesus said would happen were taking place.
Three days after Jesus was buried in a sealed tomb God raised Him from the dead! He did exactly what He told the disciples He would do!
To prove that Jesus was really alive, Jesus stayed on earth for 40 days after the resurrection. In Acts 1:3, Luke tells us that over those 40 days Jesus gave many convincing proof of his resurrection. Jesus also gave his disciples very important instructions. Jesus had chosen His apostles to be messengers for Him after He left. He said in Matthew 28:19-20 ”Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Think about what this means. What was Jesus telling the disciples to do? He wanted them to teach the world about Him, and teach the world to obey God’s word. These were very important instructions.
When Jesus finished instructing the apostles, His feel lifted off the ground and He began to ascend to the sky. Ascend means to go up. As He went up into the sky a cloud hid Him from the apostles’ sight. Close your eyes and imagine what the disciples must have seen. Do you think they might have felt alone? Might they have been a little scared? Do you think they were straining to see Jesus and get one last glimpse of Him? The Bible says in Acts 1:10 - 11, that “They were looking intently up into the sky as He was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
Who do you think these men dressed in white were? Angels! God sent these two men to give a message. The apostles had to do a job for Jesus. They had work to do and they needed to follow Jesus’ instructions. Jesus did not abandon them. He did not leave them, nor has Jesus abandoned us or left us! We will never be alone and wherever we go, Jesus goes with us!
If we ever feel sad, alone, or confused, we know that we have the entire Bible to instruct us how to live our lives while we wait for Jesus to return or until He takes us to be with Him in heaven!
You are so loved,
Ms. Shantelle
Review Questions:
1. How many days did Jesus stay on earth after His resurrection?
2. What instructions did Jesus give His disciples before He returned to heaven?
3. Why were the apostles staring up at the sky?
4. Who did God send with a message to the apostles?
Ask a parent to help you print off the activity sheets for this lesson. You can find them here.