The Easter Poem – Our 2016 Easter story for children

Описание: A children’s re-telling of Easter through the eyes of Peter – a close friend of Jesus. Based on the Bible’s Gospel of John.

Get Easter resources, including booklets, videos and more to help you share the Easter story: https://bit.ly/3dw2pO8

TRANSCRIPT:
The Easter Poem

Written by Bob Hartman
Illustrated by Honor Ayers
Narrated by Dai Woolridge
Animated by Whitestone Media
© Bible Society 2016. All rights reserved
Address Bible Society, Stonehill Green, Westlea, Swindon, United Kingdom, SN5 7DG
www.biblesociety.org.uk
Email [email protected]

The Easter Poem

When Jesus said, ‘Come follow me.’ Peter went along
to be Jesus’ disciple, with Andrew, James, and John.
So Jesus taught them how to live,
the way God wants for everyone. Jesus -
their teacher and their friend.

So, when Jesus healed the sick, or turned water into wine.
Peter was amazed.
But then there came the time that Jesus was arrested,
And three times he denied that he knew him -
that Jesus was his friend.

So Peter left, and Peter wept, the day that Jesus died.
He was so full of guilt that he just went away and cried.
He could not bear to be there with the one he had denied.
With Jesus - Jesus, his dying friend.

And then, just three days later, Mary went to see the tomb
just before the sun rose, in the early morning gloom,
to cover Jesus’ body with spices and perfume.
And honour Jesus - Jesus, her dead friend.

But when her journey ended and Mary had arrived,
she found the stone was rolled away.
The tomb was open wide!
‘What happened here?’ she wondered but she dared not go inside.
‘Where is Jesus - Jesus, my dear friend?’

So Mary went to Peter and told him what she’d seen.
Then John and Peter went and looked
and where their friend had been lay nothing but his burial cloths,
neat, and folded clean. No sign of Jesus -
Jesus, their dear friend.

Then Mary went back to the tomb
and when she looked inside,
she saw two angels sitting there,
shining bright and white. She asked,
‘Where have you taken him?
Please tell me, now!’ She cried.
Jesus - Jesus my dead friend.

‘Why are you weeping, woman?
a voice asked, soft and kind.
Mary turned and thought she saw the gardener behind.
But when he said her name she knew he was nothing of the kind.
He was Jesus - her somehow living friend!

‘Go, tell my friends,’ he told her,
‘tell them all that I’m alive. Not for now, but for forever,
I will never, ever die.’
So Mary went to Peter and the others and she cried,
‘I’ve seen Jesus - our forever-living friend!’

Then Jesus came into the room, although the door was locked.
His friends all thought he was a ghost.
They trembled there, in shock.
‘Don’t be afraid,’ said Jesus,
‘here, look at the nail marks. It’s me, Jesus -
your forever-living friend!’

Then Peter went out fishing, and on the beach he spied
someone cooking breakfast.
‘That’s Jesus there!’ John cried. Then Jesus forgave Peter,
for each time that he’d denied knowing Jesus -
his forgiving, living friend.

So Jesus came to life again, to live his life forever.
And Peter also came to life,
in a different way altogether. Forgiven, he could start again,
be certain of, and treasure the love of Jesus -
his forever-living friend.

Then Jesus rose into the sky
and bid his friends goodbye. And Peter told his story
to thousands at a time.
‘Jesus’ gift to you is new life now, and life after you die.
Come follow Jesus -
my forever-living friend!’