Transcript
Speaker: following podcast is a Jill dev Divine Media production.
Speaker: We're just normal kids learning about God's big story. Welcome to Normal Goes a Long Way. For kids! Hello, my friends. It's Miss Hannah, and I am back.
Speaker: I had to take a little break from telling you guys' stories, and I'm so glad that Miss April did a wonderful job of keeping us on track, learning more about God's big story.
Speaker: But I'm so thrilled to be back because I love today's story. It might. be actually one of my favorite stories from the Bible. But first, I want to share some answers that you guys gave us about last week's question.
Speaker: Ms. April asked, what would you like to say to Jesus? Here's what you had to tell us. I wish I could do miracles like you. I would wanna say hi. i love that friends. You know, I have a lot of things that I wanna say to him too.
Speaker: And in fact, I have a long list of questions for Jesus. You know, I talk to Jesus when I pray and you can do that too. So those things that you shared that you wanna tell Jesus, you really can. You can tell him that right now, no matter where you are, no matter what you're doing, Jesus can hear you talk to him.
Speaker: So go ahead and tell him today. But I have to say, I'm really excited for when I can talk to him face to face someday. That will be amazing. Today, we get to hear some fun facts about a special holiday.
Speaker: While you're listening to these fun facts, see if you can guess which one we're talking about.
Speaker: It's time for us to float back! Decorating eggs is a craft that came from the country of Ukraine. The most popular candy eaten in the United States at Easter is the Reese's peanut butter egg.
Speaker: Most people eat the ears of a chocolate bunny first. Mmm, love chocolate bunnies, but I do you have to say my very favorite Easter candy is Cadbury eggs. So, you know. If you ever find your Easter basket full of Cadbury eggs, you know who to share them with.
Speaker: Okay, during the last episode, Miss April told us the incredible story about Jesus dying on the cross. But that was not the end of the story. And I'm so glad because that would be a really sad story.
Speaker: So today i get to share with you what happened next after Jesus died on the cross. Now, this Easter story is one of the best stories ever told, and I love a great book, a great storybook Bible called the Jesus Storybook Bible. So today I'm going to read for you the way that the Jesus Storybook Bible tells the Easter story.
Speaker: All right, you have those listening ears on? Here we go. Jesus' friends were sad. They would never see their best friend again, and how could this happen? i thought Jesus was the rescuer.
Speaker: Wasn't he the king that God had promised? It was not supposed to end like this with him dying on the cross. But who ever said anything about the end? Because just before sunrise, on the third day, on a Sunday, God sent an earthquake and an angel from heaven.
Speaker: When the guards who were guarding the tomb saw the angel, they fell down in fear. And the angel rolled the huge stone away. They sat on top of it and they waited." At the very first glimmer of dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other women who were friends with Jesus headed to the tomb to wash his body.
Speaker: The early morning sun slanted through the olive trees, drops of dew glittered on the leaves and the grasses, kind of like little tears. The friends walked quietly along the hilly path through the olive groves until they reached the tomb.
Speaker: And immediately they noticed something odd. It was wide open. The stone was rolled away and they peered through the opening into the dark tomb.
Speaker: But wait, Jesus' body was gone? oh and something else. A shining man was there with clothes that looked like they were made out of lightning. Don't be scared, the angel said, but they really couldn't help it.
Speaker: They were scared and they ran away screaming. But the angel said, what are you doing here? This is a tomb. Tombs are for dead people. The woman couldn't speak. "'Jesus isn't dead anymore,' said the angel. "'He is alive again!' And suddenly their hearts leapt with joy.
Speaker: And then the angel laughed with so much gladness that they felt. And for a moment, it was if they had woken from nightmare. The other women, they rushed home, but Mary stayed behind.
Speaker: Could it really be true?' she thought." She knew she saw Jesus die, but how could he be alive again? Just then Mary heard someone else in the garden.
Speaker: h perhaps it's the gardener, she thought. Maybe he'll know where Jesus' body is. I don't know where Jesus is, Mary said urgently. I can't find him. But it's okay, because Jesus knew where she was.
Speaker: He found Mary and said her name. Only one person could say her name like that, she thought. She could hear her heart thumping, thumping. She turned around and she saw someone.
Speaker: She looked up and thought that she was dreaming. But she wasn't dreaming. She was really seeing. Jesus, she said. Mary fell to the ground and suddenly tears of joy filled her eyes and shook her whole body.
Speaker: She wanted to cling to Jesus, hug him tight and never let him go. You can hold on to me later, Mary, Jesus said gently, but I will always be close to you. Now go and tell the others that I'm alive.
Speaker: So Mary had a big smile on her face. She ran and she ran all the way to the city. She had never run so fast or so far in her whole life. She thought that she could run forever.
Speaker: She didn't even feel like her feet were touching the ground. She was so full of joy. The sun also seemed to be dancing and gleaming across the sky, racing with her and shining brighter than she could ever remember.
Speaker: And there was clean, fresh air, and it seemed to her that that morning, as she ran, it was like the whole world was new. Almost as if the whole world was singing for joy. The trees, the tiny grasses, the birds.
Speaker: Even her heart, everything was singing for joy that morning. Was God really making everything better? He was turning the sad things untrue? Was he making even death untrue?
Speaker: She couldn't wait to tell Jesus' friends. They won't believe it, she laughed. And she was right. But for now, she was so happy. Friends, I think about what it must have been like to be Mary.
Speaker: She saw Jesus die on the cross, but then the tomb was empty. First she was confused, and then when Jesus appeared to her, she was filled with joy.
Speaker: It meant that Jesus was stronger than death. Jesus was more powerful than the cross, and his love for me and for you is what rose him from the dead. Jesus is not dead, friends.
Speaker: He came to life at that first Easter and he is still a alive. dave The good news is not only is Jesus alive, but he can do that for us too.
Speaker: Let's get to the point. God gave Jesus new life. He can give me life too. New life from God means that he can make our hearts new. Because he died and rose again, he can wash away all of the bad and wrong things that we have done.
Speaker: He can turn our hearts new and We get to live in heaven with him forever. He can give us new life with him. and that is the best news ever.
Speaker: Friends, I am so glad be able to share with you that God's love is so big. that he died for you and rose again.
Speaker: Now, here's the question I want you to discuss with your family. If you got to be the first one to see Jesus alive, just like Mary, who would you tell? i really can't wait to hear your answers for this one. So record yourself answering these questions just on a voice memo on your phone.
Speaker: Have your grownups text it to the number six three six two eight zero five four three three We can't wait to hear what you talk about. And never forget, God loves you with a great big love.
