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Children's Bible Stories & Paraphrased Texts

To go directly to specific Bible texts for Children and Youth, click on the following titles:

Saturday
Martha, Mary and Lazarus: Friends of Jesus
The Anointing at Bethany [Level 2)
The Raising of Lazarus
Sunday
Jesus Enters Jerusalem
Monday-Wednesday
The Wise and Foolish Virgins
The Parable of the Talents [Level 2]
Parable of the Householder and the Wicked Servants
Thursday:
Jesus' Last Supper with His Disciples
The Trial of Jesus
Friday
Jesus is Put to Death on a Cross
Women at the Foot of the Cross [Level 2]
Saturday
The Burial and Resurrection of Christ
Sunday
Christ is Risen!
Jesus Comes to See His Friends
Ascension
Jesus Christ Goes Back to Heaven

Levels 1-2
Stories from God is With Us, by Sophie Koulomzin, except for supplementary paraphrased texts included below.)

Sat.-Sun. The Feast of Palms

Focus references: John 11:1-45 (Lazarus); Mark 11:1-11 (The Entry to Jerusalem)
Level 1 (Supplementary Text, new paraphrase)
Tell or read one or more of the following stories (depending upon the ages and comprehension of the
children): "Martha, Mary and Lazarus: Friends of Jesus," "The Raising of Lazarus" and/or "Jesus Enters
Jerusalem."

Martha, Mary and Lazarus: Friends of Jesus

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 Many people followed Jesus and listened closely to the wonderful things He
said. They believed that He was God's Son. They wanted to come closer to
God and become part of His Heavenly Kingdom. Jesus chose 12 of these
men to be His disciples. A disciple is someone who follows a teacher and
learns from Him. They were also His close friends and helpers. They stayed
with Him and followed Him everywhere.
A faithful group of women also followed Jesus and His disciples. Some, like
Mary Magdalene, had been made well by Jesus. After they had been healed,
they continued to travel with Jesus and listen to His teaching. Others, like
Susanna, had money and helped Jesus and the disciples by providing food,
clothing and others things they needed. Joanna was one of these; her
husband, Chuza, was the manager of King Herod’s household. But these
women also listened carefully to what Jesus was teaching.
Jesus also had some very close friends who lived in the town of Bethany.
They were two sisters, Mary and Martha, and their brother Lazarus. Jesus
felt comfortable in their home and visited them often. On one visit, Mary sat
at Jesus’ feet as other people did to hear His teachings. Martha was busy,
worrying about getting things ready to serve the meal and arrange the table.
Martha complained to Jesus, “Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me
to do all the work by myself? Tell her to come and help me.” Jesus
answered, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled by many things.
Only one thing is important. Mary has chosen to listen to God's word and it
will always be with her."

For Level 2, Teachers may add the following story about Lazarus; or go directly to "The Entry to Jerusalem"
The Raising of Lazarus
One day, Jesus' friend Lazarus became very sick. His sisters, Martha and
Mary, sent a messenger to tell Jesus and ask Him to come quickly. Jesus
knew Lazarus was very
sick and would die, but He
waited two more days and
then went to Bethany.
Jesus knew Lazarus was
already dead, but He said
to His disciples, "For your
sake, I am glad I was not
there, so that now you
may believe."
The disciples did not
understand what Jesus
was saying. Martha ran to
meet Jesus and said to
Him: "Lord, if you had
been here, my brother
would not have died." Jesus told them: "Your brother will rise again." Martha
answered: "I know he will rise from the dead when everyone will be made

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alive again, when the resurrection comes on the last day." Then Jesus said:
"I am the resurrection and the life for all who believe in me. Do you believe
this?" Martha answered: 'Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah
(Savior), the Son of God."
Jesus went to the tomb where Lazarus was buried. He wept for his friend and
told the men to move the stone that covered the cave. Martha said: "Lord,
there will be a terrible smell, for Lazarus has been dead for four days!" But
Jesus called: "Lazarus, come out!" The dead man arose and walked out of
his tomb, covered with the bands of cloth that had been his burial clothes.
Jesus said: "Unwrap him and let him go." Many people saw this and were
excited about what had happened! They ran to tell their friends about the
miracle they had seen with their own eyes!

Jesus Enters Jerusalem

God is With Us pp. 82-84
The great Jewish holiday, called Passover, was drawing near. The city of
Jerusalem was full of people who had come from all parts of the country for
the holiday. The streets were crowded with people hurrying to the temple. It
was spring and the trees had fresh, green
leaves.
Jesus Christ and His disciples were also
going to Jerusalem for the holiday. Jesus
knew that the time was coming when He
would have to suffer and die. He also knew
that all this must happen in Jerusalem. As
they were approaching the city, Jesus said to
two of His disciples: "Go into the town ahead
and, as you enter it, you shall see a donkey
and a colt tied to a door. Untie them and bring
them to Me. If anyone asks you why you untie
them, tell them it is because the Lord needs
them."
The disciples obeyed, and as they came to a
road crossing they saw the donkey and the
young colt tied to a door. They did as Jesus
told them and brought them to Jesus Christ.
Then Jesus rode the colt to Jerusalem.
Very soon among the holiday crowds in the streets of Jerusalem the rumor
spread: "The Lord is approaching Jerusalem. He is the promised Savior. He
will be our King." The people hurried to the city gates. They hurried along the
road. More and more people joined the crowd. There were children running
among the grown-ups. Everyone was asking: "Where is the Lord? Where is
the Savior?"
Some important Jewish people came up to Jesus and said: "Master, tell Your
disciples to stop this noise." But Jesus answered them: "I tell you, if these

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 people will stop shouting and being glad, then the stones themselves, which
you see there, will cry out."
The crowd pressing around Jesus was slowly approaching Jerusalem. They
were coming down a hill, and there before them lay the beautiful city shining
in the sun. Jesus looked at the city sadly. He knew, even now, that in a few
days the people of Jerusalem would turn against Him. But the people
surrounding Him did not know this. They followed Jesus rejoicing and singing
until He entered the temple.

Mon.-Wed. The Bridegroom Services

The Wise and Foolish Virgins
Matt. 21:18-20

One day, Jesus began to speak about the Kingdom of Heaven. He said, The
Kingdom of Heaven shall be compared to ten young virgins who took their
lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were wise, and five
were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps, but they took no oil
with them in case their lamps went out. The wise virgins, however, took
flasks of oil with them to keep their lamps burning.
The night was long and the bridegroom was delayed. The virgins became
drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight a cry was heard, “Look! The bridegroom
is here! Come out to meet him!” Then all the virgins got up and trimmed the
wicks on their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, “Give us some of your oil,
for our lamps are going out.” But the wise answered, ‘No, for we may not
have enough for us and for you. Go to the dealers and buy some for
yourselves.’” While the five went to buy their oil, the bridegroom came, and
those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door
was shut.
Later the other virgins returned, saying, “Lord, Lord, open the door to us!” But
He answered, “Truly I tell you, I do not know you." Then Jesus said, “Watch
therefore and keep awake, for you do not know the day or the hour when the
Son of Man is coming.”

Thurs.–Friday The Supper, Betrayal and Trial of Jesus

.

Jesus' Last Supper with His Disciples

On the first day of the great Jewish holiday of Passover, the disciples came
to Jesus and asked Him: "Where do you want us to prepare the holiday
supper?" This holiday supper was a very special meal eaten with special
prayers and ceremonies.
Jesus answered: "Go into the city. There you will meet a man carrying a
pitcher of water. Follow him, and when he enters a house, go to the owner of

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the house and say to him: "The Master asks: Where is the guest room where
I shall eat the holiday supper with My disciples? Then the owner of the house
will show you a large room on the upper floor, furnished and ready. There
you can prepare our supper." Two of the disciples, John and Peter, went and
found everything as Jesus told them and made ready for the meal. Then, in
the evening, Jesus and the other disciples came to the house, and they all
sat down around the table.
You remember that in Jesus' time people did not wear shoes and stockings
or socks as we do. They either walked barefoot or wore sandals. The roads
were dusty and hot. When someone had guests, he would have a servant
bring a basin of water and a towel to bathe his guests' feet. It was a way to
welcome guests and make them comfortable.
On the day Jesus and His disciples gathered for the holiday supper there
was no servant to serve them. Therefore Jesus got up from His place, tied a
towel around his waist, took a
basin, filled it with water, and
began bathing His disciples' feet.
When He finished, He said: "Do
you know what I have done? Even
though I am your Master and Lord,
I have served you. Therefore, when
you go out into the world, you must
serve one another."
There were twelve disciples
gathered with Jesus on that night.
All twelve of them had been with
Jesus from the time when He
began to preach to the people. All
of them loved Jesus-all of them
except one. His name was Judas.
Judas had received thirty silver
coins from the enemies of Jesus
because he had promised that he
would betray Jesus. Jesus knew
that Judas would betray Him. As
the supper went on, He said to the disciples: "One of you shall betray Me,"
and He turned to Judas and said: "What you are about to do, do quickly!"
None of the other disciples understood what Jesus meant; but Judas got up
and left the room and went to call the Master's enemies.
During the supper, Jesus took a loaf of bread, blessed it, broke it, gave it to
His disciples, and said: "TAKE, EAT, THIS IS MY BODY." Then He took the
cup of wine, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying: "DRINK OF IT ALL OF
YOU; FOR THIS IS MY BLOOD, WHICH IS SHED FOR MANY."

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In this way, for the very first time, Holy Communion was given. Jesus Himself
gave the Holy Communion to His disciples, and told us to do so in His
memory.
Jesus is Betrayed
When the supper was over, Jesus and His disciples left the house. They
went to a garden that was just outside the city. It was a place where Jesus
often went when He wanted to pray alone.
This time He asked three of His disciples to stay and watch with Him while
He prayed. For a long time He prayed, for His heart was heavy and sad.
When He came back He found that the three disciples had fallen asleep.
"What! Could you not watch with Me one hour?" He said, and then He went
away to pray again. But the disciples were so tired that they fell asleep again.
At last Jesus woke them up and said: "Arise, and let us go. Here comes the
man who betrayed Me."
As He spoke, Judas, one of the twelve
disciples, came up, followed by a great
crowd of soldiers. Judas had told the
soldiers beforehand: "I shall show you
whom you must take. I will come up to
Him and kiss Him." When Judas saw
Jesus in the garden he came up to Him
and greeted Him with a kiss. "Judas,"
said Jesus, "is it with a kiss that you
betray Me?" Then the soldiers took
Jesus and led Him away. One of the
disciples, Peter, wanted to fight for
Jesus. He had a sword with him; he took
it out and struck one of the soldiers. But
Jesus told him to put the sword away.
Then Jesus healed the man that Peter had wounded. All of Christ's friends
and disciples were so frightened that they ran away; they left Jesus alone
with the soldiers. Only Peter followed Him from a distance.

The Trial of Jesus

At first the soldiers led Jesus to the high priest of the Jews. All the most
important Jewish people were gathered there. They all tried to find some fault
with Jesus so that they could put Him to death. But no matter how hard they
tried, they could not find anything wrong. At last the high priest asked Jesus:
"Are you Christ, the Son of God?" Jesus answered: "Yes." Then the high
priest was so angry that he tore his clothes and said: "This man calls Himself
the Son of God!" And all those who were there cried: "Put Him to death! Put
Him to death!" And the servants took Jesus in the yard, laughed at Him, spat
in His face, and struck Him.

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 Now Peter had followed the crowd
and was standing in the yard. He
was warming his hands over a fire
when one of the servant girls
recognized him and said: "You were
also with Jesus!" Peter was
frightened and said: "No, I do not
know Him." Then another servant
came up and said, pointing at Peter:
"This is one of the disciples of
Jesus," and again Peter said: "No."
Again someone said: "You must be
one of them, for you speak the
same way they do." But Peter,
speaking loudly, said he was sure he did not even know Jesus Christ. As
soon as he said this, he heard the cock crowing, and from the other side of
the yard Jesus turned around and looked at him. Then Peter remembered
how Jesus had told him during the supper: "This very night, before the cock
crows, you will three times deny Me," and Peter left the yard, crying.
The Jews led Jesus to the Roman governor of their country. The Roman
governor, Pontius Pilate, wanted to be fair in everything he did. He knew that
Jesus Christ had done no harm. He asked Jesus some questions and
wanted to let Him go. But the crowd began shouting: "Put Him to death, put
Him to death!" Pontius Pilate
thought that perhaps the people
would feel sorry for Jesus if
they saw Him treated badly. So
he told his soldiers to take
Jesus out and punish Him. The
soldiers made a crown of prickly
thorns and put it on Christ's
head, and they put a red robe,
like that of the king, on his
shoulders. They laughed at Him
and said: "Hail, King of the
Jews!" and struck Him again
and again. Then they brought
Him back to the front porch.
Pilate showed Jesus to the
crowd, His forehead bleeding, His face and body bruised.
Pilate said: "Here is your king," but the crowd shouted: "We have no king but
the Roman king! Put Jesus to death!" And Pontius Pilate had a bowl of water
brought to him. He washed his hands to show that it was not his fault if he did
this unjust thing. Then he told his soldiers to take Jesus and put Him to death
by nailing Him to a cross.

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Jesus is Put to Death on a Cross
When Pontius Pilate told
the soldiers to take Jesus,
they led Him away and put
a big wooden cross on His
shoulders. Jesus had to
carry the cross up a hill
called Golgotha. The cross
was heavy and Jesus
stumbled again and again.
Finally He fell to the ground
under its weight. The
soldiers had to call a man
who was passing by and
made him carry the cross.
The soldiers placed the cross on the hill of Golgotha. They then crucified
Jesus by nailing Him to the cross. There were two other crosses put up, one
on each side of Him. Two robbers were also crucified. They were being
punished for having killed and robbed many people. At the top of the cross
on which Jesus was crucified the soldiers nailed a board with the words:
"Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews."
A great crowd had followed Jesus to Golgotha. Some of them were His
friends who stood by crying because there was nothing they could do to help
Him. But many others laughed at Jesus, saying: "He saved others, let Him
save Himself." The soldiers stood at the foot of the cross and divided among
themselves the clothes of Jesus. Jesus, seeing them and the crowd gathered
there, prayed to His Father: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what
they do!"
One of the two robbers spoke
angrily to Jesus: "If You are Christ,
then save Yourself and us." But the
other robber stopped him, saying:
"We are punished because we did
many bad things, but this Man has
done nothing wrong." And turning
to Jesus, he said: "Lord, remember
me when You come into Your
kingdom." And Jesus answered:
"Verily I say unto you: Today you
shall be with Me in Paradise."
Then Jesus looked at His mother
and His favorite disciple, John, who
were standing at the foot of the
cross. He said to His mother: "This
will be your son." And He said to

10
 John: "See, this is your mother." And from that day on John took the mother
of Jesus to his home and took care of her.
About three o'clock in the afternoon Jesus said: "I thirst." One of the soldiers
dipped a sponge in vinegar, put it on a stick and gave it to Jesus. Then Jesus
cried out with a loud voice: "Father, into Thy hands, I commend Myself." And
having said this, He died.

Sat.–Sun. The Burial and Resurrection of Christ

On the sad day when Christ died the sun was covered with heavy clouds.
There was darkness everywhere. The earth trembled and rocks broke into
pieces. The curtain in the great temple of Jerusalem was torn in two. The
people who were gathered on Golgotha saw many of these things. They
became frightened and hurried home. The officer who commanded the
soldiers, after seeing all this, exclaimed: "Truly, this was the Son of God."
Jesus died on the cross on Friday. Every year we remember this very sad
day. We call it Great and Holy Friday. On the same evening a friend of
Jesus, called Joseph of Arimathaea, came to Pilate and begged that he be
allowed to take down the body of Jesus from the cross and bury Him. Pilate
agreed. Joseph and another friend of Jesus, called Nicodemus, took down
Jesus' body, rubbed it with precious scented oils, and wrapped it in a linen
cloth. Not far from Golgotha there was a garden, and in that garden was a
small cave, a tomb.
The tomb in the garden had never been used before, so Joseph and
Nicodemus took the body of Jesus and put it there. A few women, friends of
Jesus, stood by crying. They agreed that they would all stay home during the
next day, Saturday (the Sabbath day), which was a holiday when people
were not allowed to leave their homes. They also agreed that early Sunday
morning they would return with scented oils and spices and take care of
everything that had not yet been done.
A great big stone was rolled up close
to the entrance of the cave. Soldiers
remained at the entrance to guard the
body of Jesus.

Christ Is Risen
Sometime between Friday night and
early Sunday morning, the greatest
and happiest miracle took place -
Christ rose from the dead. This
miracle changed the lives of all the
people in the world.
While it was still dark Sunday morning,
the women who were friends of Jesus

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hurried to His tomb. They were carrying precious scented oil and spices to
rub on the body of Jesus Christ. This was the custom in those days to
prepare a body for burial. As they were hurrying they spoke to each other:
"Who will roll away the heavy stone that closes the entrance to the cave?" It
was a big, heavy stone, and they knew they were not strong enough to roll it
away themselves.
As the women approached the tomb, they saw that the entrance to it was
already opened and the stone was rolled away. An angel was sitting on the
stone. His face was shining like lightning, and his dress was white as snow.
The soldiers who were guarding the tomb were so frightened when they saw
the angel that they fell to the ground. But the angel said to the women: "Do
not be afraid. I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is
not here. He is alive again, risen from the dead. Remember what He said to
you when He was still with you: that He would be taken by evil men and
crucified, and that on the third day He would rise again. Go, tell His disciples
that Jesus Christ is risen and will meet them in Galilee."
One of the women, called Mary Magdalen, did
not stay at the tomb long enough to hear the
message of the angel. As soon as she saw
the stone rolled away, she hurried to tell the
news to the disciples. She found Peter and
John and said to them: "They have taken the
Lord out of the tomb, and we know not where
they have laid Him." Then Peter and John
hurried to the tomb as fast as they could. John
was younger than Peter, and so he ran faster
and was the first to arrive. He did not enter the
cave. He waited for Peter, and they entered
the tomb. Together they looked at the folded
linen cloth and the napkin that had covered
the Lord's head. They could not understand
what had happened and returned home to tell
the news to the other disciples.
Mary stood crying outside the cave. As she cried, she bent down and looked
into the tomb. Suddenly she saw two angels sitting where Jesus' body had
been lying. The angels said: "Mary, why are you crying?" And Mary
answered: "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know
where they have laid Him." As she said this, she turned back. Suddenly she
saw Jesus standing near her in the garden. But Mary did not recognize Him.
Jesus said: "Why are you crying? For whom are you looking?" Mary, thinking
it was one of the gardeners, said: "Sir, if you have taken Him away, tell me
where you have laid Him." Then Jesus said: "Mary." And suddenly Mary
recognized Jesus. "Master!" she cried and threw herself at His feet. Jesus
said: "Go and tell the disciples that I am going to My Father."
The greatest, the most wonderful miracle happened that first Easter morning:
Christ, who suffered and died for us on the cross, arose from the dead. He

12
was stronger than death, He opened the doors to heaven for everyone.
There is no greater holiday than Easter, no happier day in the year.

Jesus Comes to See His Friends

After that Easter morning, when Jesus Christ rose from the dead, He showed
Himself several times to His friends.
One day two of Jesus' disciples were walking along the road toward the
village of Emmaus. They were talking about the death of Jesus. They were
also talking about the strange news that the women had brought them that
Christ was risen. Suddenly a Stranger joined them and walked beside them.
The Stranger said: "Why are you so sad? What are you talking about?" They
looked at Him and said: "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not
know these things? Have you not heard the sad things that have happened
these last days?" And they told Him all that had happened to Jesus: how
Jesus was judged and put to death on the cross, how the women went to the
tomb and found it empty, and how the angel told them that Jesus was living.
Then the Stranger said: "Oh, how slow you are to understand! Didn't the
Bible tell you what would happen to the Savior?" Then He explained to them
everything that was said in the holy books about Jesus Christ; He explained
to them how Jesus would suffer, die, and rise from the dead.
When they entered the village, the two disciples asked the Stranger to have
supper with them. As they were about to eat, the Stranger took a loaf of
bread and broke it and gave it to them. He broke the bread the same way
Jesus Christ had broken it at the Last Supper. And their eyes were opened
and they recognized Him, but Jesus disappeared from their eyes.
"Did not our hearts burn within us, when He talked to us?" they asked each
other. Then they hurried back to Jerusalem. They found the other disciples
and said to them: "The Lord is risen indeed!"
Jesus Christ came to see and speak to the disciples when they were all
gathered together. The disciple Thomas was not there when Jesus came.
So, when later, they told Thomas about this, he would not believe them. He
said: "If I do not touch His wounds with my own fingers, I shall not believe it."
Eight days later Jesus came again when Thomas was with them and said:
"Come here, Thomas, touch My wounds with your fingers and believe." But
Thomas could only say: "My Lord and my God."

Jesus Christ Goes Back to Heaven

For forty days Jesus spoke to His disciples. He told them that God would
give them wonderful strength to teach people and also to heal people. Jesus
forgave them for the bad things they had done. He told them that they would
have to go to all the people of the world and tell them the good news about
Jesus Christ. He also said that He would soon go back to heaven. The
disciples were to remain all together in Jerusalem and wait there for the
Comforter whom God promised to sent them.

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 Paraphrased Bible Text (Levels 2-3)
Note: Page numbers refer to the OCA series of Holy Week booklets

See also: The Children's Illustrated Bible

Dorling Kindersley, NY [ISBN 0-7894-5331-2]

The Bridegroom Services: The Parables

Select one or more Parables that are read on the first three days of Holy Week.
Explain that a parable is a story that says something about our lives. Jesus told many such
stories to help people see how God wants us to behave. Check the following verses yourself
for ideas or main points to bring out during the story. Relate the stories to days of Holy
Week. See “My Guide to Holy Week‘.

The Wise and Foolish Virgins Matt. 25:1-14 (cf. Illus. Children's Bible, p.252)
The Parable of the Fig Tree Matt. 21:18-20
The Parable of the Talents Matt. 25:14-31 (cf. Illus. Children's Bible, p.254)
The servant said: “Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents
more.” His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful
over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.”

Jesus continued with another parable about a man who entrusted his
property to others while he went on a journey. The man called his servants
together and put them in charge of his property, which he distributed to them
in the form of talents (a talent was a large amount of silver or gold, measured
by its weight; one talent might equal a person’s earnings for ten years). To
one servant, he gave five talents, to another two, to another oneto each
according to his ability. Then he went away.
The servant who received the five talents went at once and traded with them;
and he made five talents more. The one who had two talents did the same
and made two talents more. But the servant who received only one talent
went and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.
After a long time, the master returned to settle accounts with his servants.
The one who had been given five talents came forward and brought five
talents more, saying: “Master, you gave me five talents; here I have made
five talents more.” The master was pleased and said, “Well done, good and
faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little; I will put you in charge of
much. Enter into the joy of your master.”
The man with the two talents came forward and said: “Master, you gave me
two talents; here I have made two talents more.” The master said to him,
“Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I
will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.”
Then the man who received one talent came forward and said, “Master, I
knew you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering
where you did not scatter seed. I was afraid, so I went and hid your talent in
the ground to keep it safe. Here is what is yours.”

15
But the master answered, “You wicked and lazy servant! You knew that I
reap where I have not sowed, and gather where I have not scattered! You
ought to have invested my money with the bankers, so when I returned I
would have received some interest. Take away his talent and give it to the
one who has the ten talents. For to all those who have, more will be given,
and they will have abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what
they have will be taken away. Now cast this worthless servant into the outer
darkness; where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth!”
In the two parables we read today, Jesus says that those who fulfill their
responsibilities and use their gifts creatively, fruitfully and wisely will be
rewarded with even greater gifts. He speaks here to every one of us. In
giving us our life, God has given us many gifts and talents. Not all of us are
artists, poets, skilled scientists or mathematicians. Not everyone has special
gifts for helping others who are sick or disturbed. But each of us has been
given the gift to love, to care, to use our minds to the best of our abilities, and
our strength to do His Will. If we bury our gifts, as the servant in today’s
story, we will not be doing God’s Will, and will be shut out of the Kingdom!
The Anointing at Bethany
Jesus visited another home in Bethany and
had dinner at the house of Simon the leper.
As He sat at the table, a woman came with
a jar of expensive, fragrant ointment. She
broke the jar open and poured it on Jesus’
head, as a sign of her love and respect,.
Some of the other guests were upset and
said, “Why was this expensive ointment
wasted in this way? It could have been sold
for a lot of money—three hundred denarii
and the money could have been given to
the poor." And they scolded the woman.
Jesus said to them, “Leave her alone. Why
do you trouble her? She has performed a
good service for me. You always have poor
people among you, and you can show
kindness to them whenever you wish. But you will not always have me with
you.”
Then Jesus said, “This woman has done what she could; she has anointed
my body as a preparation for my burial. I tell you, wherever the good news of
the Kingdom is proclaimed in the world, she will be remembered for what she
has done.”

Jesus Washes the Feet of His Disciples (supplementary text)

See above for story: Jesus' Last Supper with His Disciples
Psalm 58:1 Deliver me from my enemies, O God; save me from those who rise up against
me!

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Thurs.-Fri. Holy Thursday Vespers/Liturgy; Matins of Holy Friday
Children's Text: God is With Us pp. 88-91.
(Level 1: Note: The Parable of the Wicked Servants may be more appropriate for younger
children who may become disturbed by the details of Christ's Crucifixion.)
Jesus tells a story to His disciples that is really telling them what will happen to Him—that as the
Master’s (God’s) Son, He will be betrayed and be killed.

The Parable of the Landowner and the Wicked Tenants cf. Matt. 21:33-44.
(Substitute or Supplementary Parable of the Crucifixion Story)
The chief priests and scribes often questioned Jesus. They asked Him who
gave Him the power or permission to say and do the things He was doing. One
day, Jesus answered them by telling this story:
A man planted a field of vines to grow grapes. He put a fence around it and dug
a pit for a winepress. A winepress was used to press juice out of grapes to
make wine. He built a watchtower to protect his land and rented his vineyard
out to some farmers. Then he went to another country. When it was time to
harvest the grapes, the vineyard owner sent his servant to the farmers. The
servant said: "My master sent me to collect his share of what the vineyard has
produced." But the farmers seized the servant, beat him, and sent him away
empty-handed. The owner sent another servant, but they insulted this one also,
beat him over the head, and sent him away with nothing. When the owner sent
a third servant, the farmers killed him. It went on this way with the owner
sending more servants. Some the farmers beat, and some they killed.
The Owner Sends His Son
The owner had one person left to send. It was his only son, whom he loved very
much. He said to himself, “Surely they will respect my son.” But the farmers
said to one another, “This one will inherit his father's land and fortune; let us kill
him and then the land will be ours.” So when the son came, they seized him,
killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.
After Jesus had told this story, he said to the chief priests and scribes, “What
will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the farmers and
give the vineyard to others. Do you remember reading this scripture: ‘The stone
that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s
doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes.’”
The chief priests and scribes now realized that the story Jesus told was about
them! They wanted to arrest Jesus, but they were afraid that the crowd would
go against them if they did. So they left Him and went away.

Level 2: Depending upon the level of your students, you may add or substitute the story or
the actual text of the Crucifixion and Death of Christ. See Basic Bible References above.

The Betrayal and Trial of Jesus

See Text: God is With Us p. 88-91
Refer to Literature, Saints & Stories Resource Bin for "St. Helena and the Holy
Cross".

Fri.-Sun. The 3-Day Pascha; Death, Burial and Resurrection

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 See text God is With Us p. 91-100

Women at the Foot of the Cross

All four of the Gospel writers, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, tell us that
the women who had followed Jesus did not give up. In all four gospels
we read about women who stayed near Jesus as He suffered on the
cross. These women, and a few men, did not stop believing in Him,
neither did they hide out because they feared the authorities. They
stayed until Jesus died and watched as Joseph of Arimathea and
Nicodemus took His Body down from the Cross and buried Him in a
tomb in the side of a rocky hill.

Levels 2-3 Paraphrased Bible Text

For the following lessons for Middle School children, you may use the texts provided above and
supplement the Primary level content with verses that are indicated below. For additional texts, see
also: The Children's Illustrated Bible, Dorling Kindersley, NY [ISBN 0-7894-5331-2]

Sat.-Sun. Feast of Palms: References

Level 3: John 11-text above plus focus on John 12:1-18 emphasis on vs. 12-16, and 17-
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Mon.-Wed. Bridegroom Services
Level 2-3: cf. above for the Parables of the Talents, the Wise and Foolish Virgins, and the
Householder and the Wicked Tenants.
Thurs.-Fri. Holy Thursday & Friday
Levels 2-3: cf, full biblical text below and select passages related to the objectives you
have chosen.
Fri.-Sun. The 3-Day Pascha
Levels 2-3: cf, full biblical text below and select passages related to the objectives you
have chosen.

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