YEA Lesson Library
Enemy to be Conquered
About This Lesson
This lesson teaches that God has the power of life and death. If you believe in Him, you can have Eternal life.
Scriptures
Luke 8:40-45
John 3:14-16
John 5:24-25
John 11:1-44
Romans 6:8-9
Romans 6:20-23
Romans 8:1-2
1 Corinthians 15:26
1 Corinthians 15:54-55
2 Timothy 1:9-10
Words to Know
KENNEL - a house or shelter for dogs or cats.
MOURNING - an act of grieving for a person’s death
HUMANE - tenderness, compassion or sympathy for another being
The Lesson
As Nancy walked one morning, her neighbors stopped to say hello. Nancy had missed seeing Chelsea, their Collie dog, so she asked, “How is Chelsea?” With tears in her eye, Mrs. Davis ex- plained that they put Chelsea to sleep in September. “It was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do,” Mrs. Davis explained. “When Chelsea returned from the kennel the last time, she was totally disoriented. That night she dug a fox hole in the flower bed and couldn’t get out. Mr. Davis heard her crying in the middle of the night, got out of bed and helped the suffering Collie out of the hole she had dug.”
As much as they hated to do it, they knew the humane thing was to put her to sleep and end her suffering. Unlike humans, dogs don’t learn lessons and build character when they suffer. They simply don’t understand suffering. God has a wonderful plan for humans that He doesn’t have for animals.
We don’t like to talk about death. It seems so final and unpleasant. But death is as sure as life. Jesus had to deal with death time and again. You’ve heard it said that we should turn lemons into lemonade. Jesus did exactly that. Death is an enemy to be conquered, and He conquered it time and again. And He will conquer it yet again.
Jesus was on a tour of the cities and villages around Galilee with His disciples. Jairus, a leader of a Jewish synagogue approached Him. When he got to Jesus he fell at His feet. “Come home with me quickly, my only child – my twelve year old daughter – is very sick and is dying,” Jairus said. The two of them quickly pushed their way through the crowds to get to his daughter.
A woman drew near who had been bleeding for twelve years! She spent everything she had on doctor’s bills. Stories of Jesus’ miracles were well known, and this woman must have heard them. Pushing her way through the crowds, she got close enough to touch Jesus. She knew in her heart that Jesus could heal her – if she could only touch Him. Jesus didn’t see the woman, but instantly knew that healing power had gone out from Him. He asked who had touched Him.
While Jesus was still talking with the healed woman, news came that Jairus’ daughter had died. The messenger said, “She’s gone, there’s no use troubling Jesus now.” Just because the girl had died didn’t mean that was the end for Jesus. Death is an enemy that is meant to be conquered.
When Jesus and the girl’s father arrived at Jairus’ home the house was filled with mourning people. Jesus told them to stop their mourning, that the girl was only asleep. They made fun of Him for saying that, because they knew the girl was dead. Jesus, along with the girl’s parents and Peter, James, and John went into the room where the girl’s body was. Jesus took the girl by the hand and said, “Get up, little girl!” At that very moment life returned to the girl and she jumped up. Jesus told them to feed the girl and not tell anyone what He had done.
Mary, the woman who poured expensive perfume on Jesus and wiped His feet with her long hair, had a brother named Lazarus. He was very ill. So Mary went to Jesus and asked Him to come heal her brother. Even though Jesus loved Lazarus, Martha and Mary very much He didn’t go to Lazarus for two days. He told His disciples that His friend Lazarus had died and He was going to wake him up. The disciples thought that Jesus meant that Lazarus was asleep. But Jesus explained that He was really dead. Why do you think that Jesus waited to go until Lazarus had died?
By the time Jesus made it to Lazarus’ home, he had been buried for four days! Many people were there with Mary and Martha to comfort them. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet Him.
“‘Lord,’ Martha said to Jesus, ‘if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.’” Jesus told her that Lazarus would rise again. Martha admitted that was true, but said that it would be in the resurrection at the last day.
“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; And whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’” Mary confessed to believing that Jesus was the Son of God. Mary, Martha and their friends made their way to Lazarus’ tomb weeping. Jesus also wept.
He told them to roll back the stone that covered the cave where Lazarus was buried. Martha thought that was a bad idea. After four days of being dead the odor would be very bad. They went ahead and took the stone away. Jesus prayed to His Father and then shouted with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” He came out with his hands and feet still wrapped. That’s awesome! Again, Jesus conquered death!
Why did Jesus allow the twelve year old girl and Lazarus to die? These miracles show that He has power over death. The miracles gave the people another opportunity to believe on Him. Jesus has so much love and compassion for us. He wanted the best for that twelve year old girl and for Lazarus. He wants the best for you too.
Death is an enemy that God will conquer. “He will wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor pain. All of that has gone forever” (Revelation 21:4 TLB). Life is a gift that is easy to take for granted. God put you on this earth to serve others and be all that you can be. He will help you to be a loving, dedicated Christian. He’ll make your life better. All you have to do is to believe Him and obediently follow Him each step of the way. He’ll see you through this life and make you a child of the King!
Student Prayer
Dear Father in Heaven,
We all love life and fear death. You are the resurrection and the life. It is through Jesus Christ that we can have eternal life and live forever. Help me to believe you and to follow you each step of the way. I want to be a child of the King.
In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen.
Daily Devotions
Sunday - John 5:24-25
Monday - Romans 6:20-23
Tuesday - Romans 6:8-9
Wednesday - Romans 8:1-2
Thursday - 2 Timothy 1:9-10
Friday - 1 Corinthians 15:54-55
Saturday - John 3:14-16
Objectives
At the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
1. State that death is an enemy to be conquered.
2. Tell that death is the last enemy to be conquered.
3. Explain that the reason Jesus delayed getting to Jairus’ daughter and Lazarus was to provide the people with another opportunity to believe in Him.
4. Discuss what life is, and why God gives us life.
Topics & Themes
Belief
Death
Eternal Life
Galilee
God’s Plan
Jairus
Jesus, His Miracles
Healing
Resurrection
Lazarus
Life
Mary and Martha
Resurrection
Suffering
Women
Mary and Martha
Materials Needed
Bible, YEA students and teacher’s books, attendance and memory verse charts, CD/cassette tape, music player, songbook, CD/cassette tape by a popular Christian artist, a balloon for each student
How to Teach This Lesson
By sequentially following the questions below, the objectives of the lesson should be met and there should be time to complete each section of the lesson.
Ask: How many of you have lost a pet? Allow them to tell their stories about how much they missed the pet and how difficult it was to lose it.
How many of you don’t like to talk about death? Why? Death seems so final, it’s morbid, it’s scary, it’s such a long way off for me and I don’t like to think about it, are possible answers.
How do you think Jesus felt about death? It provided Him with an opportunity to help someone. It provided Him with an opportunity to glorify His Father. It provided Him with an opportunity to conquer the enemy.
Did you loose hope for Jairus’ daughter when she died before Jesus got to her? Why?
How did you feel when people made fun of Jesus for telling them that the girl was only asleep, and to stop their mourning?
Do you think she was just asleep or dead? Why?
Jesus actually delayed getting to His friend, Lazarus. Lazarus died and was buried for four days before Jesus arrived. Did you think Jesus was negligent? Why or why not? What reason does the Bible give for His delay? This miracle was to give them another opportunity to believe in Him.
What does the Bible call death? An enemy. When will death be completely conquered. It’s the last enemy to be destroyed. How long will death be gone? Forever.
What is life? It is a gift from God. Do you always treat it like it is a gift? How can you show God that you value life? By being a loving, dedicated and obedient Christian.
What do you have to do for God to make your life better? Believe in Jesus Christ and obey Him each step of the way.
Teacher-Directed Activity
Start playing the music by a popular Christian artist. Give each student a balloon and have them blow it up. Allow them to play with the balloons and bat them back and forth to other students as the music plays.
Give them a few minutes to enjoy this game and then stop them. Tell them that God is the one who gave them their life to live and enjoy. Playing with the balloons can be a real joy and a lot of fun. Things like this help us to feel good about ourselves. Learning to love God more can make life even better. All we have to do is to believe Him and obediently follow Him each step of the way.
Have each student choose a partner. Give them a minute to think of one good thing they can say about their partner. After they say it, they are to puncture their balloon as an exclamation mark for their appreciation.
REACH Activity
Memory Verse Spotlight
Death is an enemy that God will conquer. Revelation 21:4 says that, “He will wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there will be no more. . .” What will there no longer be? In your Bible notebook write this lesson’s YEA memory verse and Revelation 21:4. Then respond to the following either through discussion as a class or family, or by writing a response in your Bible notebook: Who will no longer experience sorrow, crying, or pain? Could it be you, a friend, or a family member that comes to mind? If it is someone that does not know the truth of the memory verse, share it with them. Pray that they will understand the promises that God gives us and the truth of His Son Jesus Christ.
Where in the World?
The city of Bethany is mentioned several times in the New Testament. Using Bible tools, research Bethany to find out more about its history and its significance, both in Bible times and today. Present your findings to the class or family.
They Did What Back Then?
What were the procedures for burying the dead during the life of Jesus Christ? Were there any beliefs or customs that are still adhered to or used today? Research the topic of burial and discuss your findings with your class or family.
Making It Mine
Is there anything about your life or this world that you would change? Is there anything wrong with society today?
You don’t have to think very hard to come up with a litany of things wrong with our world. As people turn more and more away from God, it becomes a more miserable place to live. Some people believe this life is all there is. They believe that once they die, the ride is all over. They try to make this world a better place to live, but in the overall history of mankind, it does little to change the downward spiral of poverty, disease, strife, and immorality.
What do you believe? Do you believe there is life after death? No matter what your answer is to that question, all of your behavior is based on your belief. If you believe this life is all there is—eat, drink, and be merry, because tomorrow you die. If you believe God’s Kingdom is real, and that you will dwell with God for eternity—your actions likewise reflect that belief. This life is not all there is. When you know that, there’s an inner peace. You know that this life is not the goal. There’s a contentment in knowing that Jesus has conquered death for those who believe. What do you believe?
Worldview Collision
A true biblical worldview says that Jesus has conquered death and that He will set up His Kingdom on this earth. Other worldviews hold to a host of beliefs, ranging from believing that we come back as another life form, to believing that we are tormented with fire until we have paid for our sins, to believing that death is the final destination for all life.
What you believe determines your actions. Since your beliefs do impact the way you live your life, it would be a good idea to know what your beliefs are founded upon. The Bible is a great place to start. Pray that God will open your eyes to see His truth. Then, using a concordance, find out what God has to say about death, resurrection, His Kingdom, and life.
Song
“Kumbaya” is on page 4 of The Group Songbook.
Closing Prayer
Have the students form a circle and close the class by having every student give a one-word prayer.
Printable Pages
