Name: __________________________________ Date: _______________________

A. Gap fill. Study the vocabulary on the next page, then fill the blank spaces in the story with the
missing words.

The Easter Story

Some people saw Jesus coming and came running towards Him. They had heard he might be coming to
their town and they wanted to see him because he had just helped a dead man come back to life. They
1____ their coats and palm branches on the ground for Jesus
to step on as a sign of respect. These people knew that
Jesus was special.

Some men named Pharisees (these men thought they were

important; a lot of the people listened to them) wanted to kill
Jesus because he was getting so popular.

A few days later Jesus and his friends were eating a meal.
Jesus said to his friends, "One of you here will 2_____ me."
His friends looked at each other in shock. Then Judas, with
his head down spoke quietly to Jesus, "Is it me?" Jesus answered, "Yes, you are the one." After that,
Jesus poured water into a large bowl and began to wash his friend’s feet. This surprised his friends very
much. Jesus is like a King - but even greater than a king: He's the King of Kings! By washing his friend’s
feet, he was doing something that only a 3_______ would do. This would be like if someone famous
came to your house and started to clean your room. It probably would never happen.

This is an example of how you should treat others. You don't have to actually wash other people's feet,
but doing nice things for others and acting like a servant for Jesus, that is what He wants you to do. If
you do these things, Jesus will bless you.

While Jesus was still washing their feet, Judas went to the
Pharisees - who did not like Jesus and wanted to kill him - and told
them where He was eating. The Pharisees came and 4_____
Jesus. They brought Jesus to Pilate, the governor at the time.
Pilate asked Jesus, "Are you the king of the Jews?" Jesus replied,
"Yes, I am."

This upset the Pharisees because they were jealous of him and
the friends He had made. Pilate wanted to let Jesus go, so he
tried to talk to the Pharisees and the crowd that had gathered, but
they wouldn’t listen. They just kept shouting, "Crucify Him! Crucify
Him!" Pilate tried again, yelling, "What has Jesus done wrong? He doesn't deserve to die!" But the
people just shouted louder to 5_____ Jesus and Pilate wanted to please the crowd so he sent Jesus to
die.

Soldiers led Jesus toward a hill called Golgotha. They made Him carry a large, heavy wooden cross on
His back. The soldiers beat Jesus while he walked. When they reached the top of the hill, they nailed
Jesus to the cross. There were three crosses: Jesus was in the middle, there was a 6_____ on his right,
and on his left.

The soldiers watched Jesus and 7_________ him; they even stole his clothes to be even more mean.
Some people walked by and shouted, "You saved others, why can't you save Yourself?" Jesus could
have saved himself, but he chose not to. He wanted to save us instead.

Eventually, Jesus could not handle the pain any longer and he said, "It is finished." That is when Jesus
bowed his head and went to 8________. Suddenly, a huge curtain that hung at the town’s temple was

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torn in half, from top to bottom, which was a sign of God’s anger. A Pharisee that had wanted Jesus to
die saw this and he said, "Surely this man was the Son of God!" He realized he had been wrong about
Jesus.

It seems like a really sad story, but its one of the greatest stories
of all! Jesus died knowing that you would do things wrong (that
is what a sin is) -- things that you're not supposed to -- not
obeying your parents, saying something mean to your friends,
or not telling the truth. He knew what you would do when he
died so many years ago. Jesus died for everybody's sins, so
now when we ask God to forgive us, and we are truly sorry for
what we've done, he will act like it never happened. That's right
he forgets what we did!

So, next time you do something

you're not supposed to, remember to say sorry to Jesus, and remember what
he did for you!

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,
that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

arrested (verb) past tense - to use the power of the law to take and keep
(someone, such as a criminal)
servant (noun) - a person who is hired to do household or personal duties
such as cleaning and cooking
Heaven (noun) - the place where God lives and where good people go after they die
made fun of (exp.) - past tense - to laugh at, mock, tease someone
crucify (verb) - to kill (someone) by nailing or tying his or her hands and feet to a cross
criminal (noun) - a person who has committed a crime
laid (verb) past tense - to place (someone or something) down gently in a flat position
betray (verb) - to give information about (a person, group, country, etc.) to an enemy

B. Comprehension – Answer the following questions about the story so far:

1. Why were the people excited to see Jesus coming to their town?

2. Why did the Pharisees want to kill Jesus?

3. How did Jesus act like a servant?

4. Why did Jesus not save himself?

5. What happened when Jesus died?

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Name: __________________________________ Date: _______________________

C. Gap fill. Study the vocabulary on the next page, then fill the blank spaces in the story with the
missing words.

The story continues….

After Jesus died, some men put Jesus’ body in a 9____. The tombs they used in those days were cut out
of rock, almost like a cave. The men also rolled a large heavy stone in front of the tomb.

A couple of days later, some women who were friends of Jesus made spices and oils as a sign of respect
to Jesus and went to go see his body. When they arrived at the tomb, the earth suddenly shook and an
10_____ came down from heaven. He easily rolled away the stone at the entrance of the tomb and sat
on top of it.

Then the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid. I know you are looking for Jesus who has died. But
he isn't here; He has risen just as he said he would! Come and see for yourself, the tomb is empty."

The women ran home and told Jesus’ friends that Jesus was alive. They were sitting around talking
about it when Jesus walked into the room and said to them, "Peace be with you."
They immediately stopped talking. Even though they had heard he was alive, they were 11_____ to see
him standing there with them.

Then Jesus told them, "You have seen these things that have happened, so stay in the city and soon I am
going to give you what God has promised you: the Holy Spirit.

When we become Christians, Jesus 12_______ gives us the Holy Spirit to live inside of us. The Holy
Spirit makes us know when we have done something wrong. We might feel sick to our stomach, or just
get a bad feeling but that is the Holy Spirit reminding us that we are doing something wrong, or that we
need to stop and say sorry and ask for forgiveness for what we've done.

Jesus’ friends told a man named Thomas the good news that Jesus was alive and had visited them, but
he would not believe until he saw Jesus with his own eyes. A week later when Thomas finally saw Jesus,
Jesus said to him, "Touch my hands. Stop 13______ and believe." But Jesus continued, "Because you
have seen me, you have believed; but it is more amazing for those who don't see me, and believe
anyway."

Jesus was actually talking to you, today, when he said this. If you believe in him, without seeing him, he
will think you're very special! That is exactly what 14______ is: believing in God even though you can't
see him.

When Jesus visited his friends he asked his best friend Peter some important questions. He asked him,
"Peter do you love me more than your parents and all your friends?"

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Name: __________________________________ Date: _______________________

"Yes, Lord," he said, "You know the answer, you know that I love you."

"Then follow me," Jesus said.

********

We have learned that Jesus died on the cross

because he loves us, no matter what bad things we
do! Some people just like you, have many
difficulties in life but they still love Jesus! We need
to remember that no matter what, Jesus loves us
and will never ever stop loving us! Sometimes
things happen that we don't understand, but Jesus
knows everything and he will help us if we ask him
to.

doubting – verb – cont. - to be uncertain about (something) : to believe that (something) may not be true
or is unlikely.
automatically – adverb - happening or done without deliberate thought or effort
tomb – noun - a building or chamber above or below the ground in which a dead body is kept
faith – noun - strong belief or trust in someone or something
shocked – (verb) - surprised and/or upset
angel – noun - a spiritual being that serves especially as a messenger from God

D. Comprehension – Answer the following questions about the second part of the story:

1. Why were the women visiting Jesus’ tomb?

2. What was the first thing that Jesus said to his friends when he visited them after his death?

3. What gift does Jesus automatically give Christians? What does this mean?

4. What is faith?

5. What instruction did Jesus give Peter (and also us)?

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