Jesus Shouts in a Loud Voice

Lesson Learned:  Jesus healed Lazarus and gave credit to God.

Materials Needed:  none

32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked.

   “Come and see, Lord,” they replied.

 35 Jesus wept.

 36 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”

 37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”

Jesus Raises Lazarus From the Dead

 38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 “Take away the stone,” he said.

   “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”

 40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

 41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”

 43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.

   Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

Talking Points:  Jesus’ friend, Lazarus, had been sick and died.  Jesus went to the cave where Lazarus was buried and shouted in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”  Jesus could have whispered but he wanted everyone to know that God had healed him.  We should always give God credit for answering our prayers and we shouldn’t be afraid to let others hear us give Him praise.

Questions:  There are times it is appropriate to be loud and times it is appropriate to whisper.  Where is a place it’s okay to be loud? Where are some places you should be quiet and whisper? 

Have the child shout in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”  Then, have the child whisper it.  Have them alternate shouting and whispering so they learn the difference between a loud voice and a quiet voice.

 

Prayer:  Dear Lord, there are times to be loud and times to be quiet.  You are with us always and we pray that you guide us to know when to use the right voice. Amen!