JESUS ASCENDS G r a d es K - 2 L e a d e r G u i d e STORY AT A GLANCE Supplies: Holy Moly DVD Holy Moly Leaflets Holy Moly Bible Storybooks Crayons Clear Tape String/Yarn Scissors Hole Punch Disciples • In Jerusalem after Jesus’ resurrection. • Heard about the resurrection from Mary Magdalene, the other women at the tomb, and Cleopas. • Afraid when the risen Jesus first appears because they think he is a ghost (Lk 24:37). • Say good-bye to Jesus in Bethany, then go joyfully to Jerusalem to wait for the promised Holy Spirit (Lk 24:49-52). Bethany • Village outside of Jerusalem on the east side of the Mount of Olives. • Home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus (Jn 11:1). • Location of Jesus’ ascension in Luke. Jesus • Appears to the disciples for the last time in the Gospel of Luke. This ascension story is repeated at the beginning of Acts. • Eats fish in front of the disciples, showing he isn’t a ghost or vision, but has a physical body. • Leads disciples to the town of Bethany, outside Jerusalem, where he ascends to heaven. • Opens disciples’ minds to understand that he has fulfilled the law, prophets, and psalms (Lk 24:44-47). KEY VERSE While [Jesus] was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. Luke 24:51 It’s not the end when Jesus ascends.
• Heard about the resurrection from Mary Magdalene, the other women at the tomb, and Cleopas.
• Afraid when the risen Jesus first appears because they think he is a ghost (Lk 24:37).
• Say good-bye to Jesus in Bethany, then go joyfully to Jerusalem to wait for the promised Holy Spirit (Lk 24:49-52).
Bethany• Village outside of Jerusalem on the east side of the Mount of Olives.
• Home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus (Jn 11:1).
• Location of Jesus’ ascension in Luke.
Jesus• Appears to the disciples for the
last time in the Gospel of Luke. This ascension story is repeated at the beginning of Acts.
• Eats fish in front of the disciples, showing he isn’t a ghost or vision, but has a physical body.
• Leads disciples to the town of Bethany, outside Jerusalem, where he ascends to heaven.
• Opens disciples’ minds to understand that he has fulfilled the law, prophets, and psalms (Lk 24:44-47).
KEY VERSE While [Jesus] was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven.
Luke 24:51
It’s not the end when Jesus ascends.
(10-15 min.)
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Get ReadyLearn how to say good-bye in different languages. Do your best to pronounce them correctly. Invite kids who know how to say good-bye in these languages, or in some not listed, to teach everyone!
• Spanish: Adios! (ah-dee-OSE)
• Swahili: Kwaheri! (kqwa-HAIR-ee)
• Mandarin Chinese: Zai jian! (dza’i chi’en)
• Arabic: Ma’a salama! (mah-sah-LAH-mah)
• Polynesian: Aloha! (ah-LO-hah) [also means “Hello!”]
• French: Au revoir! (oh-reh-VWAR)
How would you say good-bye in Holy Moly?
Introduce the Characters• The disciples are sad because Jesus has died.
• Jesus suddenly appears in the room with the disciples. They are afraid at first and think he might be a ghost!
• Jesus shows he is alive when he eats fish and his disciples can touch him.
• Even though Jesus has to say good-bye to his friends, he promises them they will not be alone.
Watch what happens when Jesus blesses
his disciples before he leaves them.
If time permits, watch it again!
Play the Jesus Ascends Video
Talk about the Jesus Ascends Video• How did the disciples react when they first saw
Jesus? Why?
• How did Jesus show them he was really alive?
• Where did Jesus tell the disciples he had to go?
• I wonder what Jesus said to each disciple just before he left.
• What surprised you about how Jesus went back to God?
• How did the disciples react to Jesus’ ascension? Where did they go to tell others about it?
Open the Holy Moly Bible StorybookRead A Blessed Good-bye on pages 25-30.
The disciples thought Jesus was still dead.
• Would you be afraid if you saw someone you thought had died?
• What did Jesus do to prove he was alive?
• What would you ask Jesus if he suddenly appeared in your home?
I wonder what the disciples felt when they said good-bye to Jesus.
• Where was Jesus going?
• How can you share the love of Jesus with others?
Here are some of the people and things in today’s story. What can your child tell you about them?
About the VideoYet again, the disciples were surprised by the appearance of Jesus, who ate fish to prove he was not a ghost. They all traveled to Bethany, where they said their good-byes—with the promise that they would one day be reunited—as Jesus rose to heaven.
• Why were the disciples afraid when Jesus appeared?
• How do you think the disciples felt when Jesus left?
• When have you had to say good-bye to someone?
Try This!Use cotton balls to make several fluffy clouds. Hang them up high around your house to remember that Jesus ascended to be in heaven with God and that he is still with us.
PrayerDear God, thank you for helping the disciples and us believe that Jesus really is alive! You are AWESOME! Thank you for your blessing and promise to always be with us. Amen!
Jesus appeared to the disciples, but they were frightened and confused. Jesus was supposed to be dead. Could this be a ghost? After Jesus showed them his hands and feet and ate a piece of fish, the disciples realized that this was the real Jesus, risen from the dead! Promising that the Holy Spirit would come to them, Jesus ascended to heaven.
Bethany was a village outside of Jerusalem. It was the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus and the location of Jesus’ ascension.
Jesus ate fish in front of the disciples to show that he had a physical body. He opened the disciples’ minds to understand.
The disciples said good-bye to Jesus in Bethany and then went joyfully to Jerusalem to wait for the promised Holy Spirit.
