Introduction for students: the Risen Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene.
The setting for the event is early in the morning on the first Easter Sunday. On Friday Jesus was crucified, and His body was quickly laid to rest in the tomb. Mary Magdalene, in a state of profound grief, has come to the tomb with the intention of anointing Jesus’ body with sweet-smelling oils. It is the last act of love that Mary can do for Her Lord.
As you will see, profound grief soon turns to profound joy when the Risen Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene.
Present the classroom meditation.
Download the HD video below for display on large screens. Or, create your own Easter meditation using the hymn In the Garden by Austin Miles, the text of John 20:11-18, and some or all of the illustrations. You may download and display the items below for classroom or ministry use only.
1 Mary Magdalene arrives at the garden alone. But, the tomb is empty!
I come to the garden alone,
While the dew is still on the roses;
2 Mary hears a familiar voice.
And the voice I hear,
Falling on my ear,
The Son of God discloses.
3 Jesus and Mary stroll together.
And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.
4The birds listen to His voice.
He speaks, and the sound of His voice
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
And the melody
That He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing.
5Mary’s heart sings with joy.
I’d stay in the garden with Him
Though the night around me be falling,
6Jesus bids her to go and tell the others.
But He bids me go;
Through the voice of woe,
His voice to me is calling.
In The Garden
By Austin Miles
I come to the garden alone,
While the dew is still on the roses;
And the voice I hear,
Falling on my ear,
The Son of God discloses.
CHORUS
And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.
He speaks, and the sound of His voice
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
And the melody
That He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing.
I’d stay in the garden with Him
Though the night around me be falling,
But He bids me go;
Through the voice of woe,
His voice to me is calling.
Credits/Sources/Terms of Use:
Illustrations by Rita Leamy.
“In The Garden” from Catholic Classics Volume VII: African American Sacred Songs by ValLimar Jansen. Released: 2003. Genre: Gospel & Religious. GiaMusic.com.
Video meditation created by Jean Furgal, 2017.
All materials are provided exclusively for Classroom and Ministry use only.
Hi there! Your Easter meditation could not be any better! Looking at this reminds me of my previous roommate. He always kept telling me about Jesus. I am going to send this post to him. Pretty sure he’s going to have a good read. I appreciate you for sharing!