Case for the Resurrection Egg #5

This dude is always our bad guy when we play LEGO with our kids.  Doesn’t he fit the part well?  It made sense to use him in this Egg that illustrates what happened to some ‘bad guys’ after Jesus’ resurrection.

EGG #5: ENEMIES BECOME BELIEVERS

Did you know that Jesus had a brother named James?  James did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah (John 7:5).  In fact, he thought Jesus was a bit crazy and needed help (Mark 3:21)!  But after Jesus rose from the dead, He appeared to his brother James and James finally believed that Jesus was the Son of God (1 Cor 15:7).  James became one of the leaders in the first Christian church (Gal 2:9).  We also know that James was later killed because he fearlessly told everyone that Jesus was the Son of God.  He did not change his mind even under threat!

Maybe James wasn’t completely a ‘bad guy’, but Saul was.  Saul was one of the first people to persecute Christians.  He wanted to find all the Christians he could and put them into jail.  But God had anther plans for Saul:

READ Acts 9: 1-6

Saul continued to oppose the Lord’s followers.  He said they would be put to death.  He went to the high priest.  He asked the priest for letters to the synagogues in Damascus.  He wanted to find men and women who belonged to the Way of Jesus.  The letters would allow him to take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.

On his journey, Saul approached Damascus.  Suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.  He fell to the ground.  He heard a voice speak to him.  “Saul! Saul!” the voice said.  “Why are you opposing me?”

“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.

“I am Jesus,” he replied.  “I am the one you are opposing.  Now get up and go into the city.  There you will be told what you must do.”  (NIrV)

READ Acts 9: 19b-22

Saul spent several days with the believers in Damascus.  At once he began to preach in the synagogues.  He taught that Jesus is the Son of God.  All who heard him were amazed.  They asked, “Isn’t he the man who caused great trouble in Jerusalem for those who worship Jesus?  Hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?”  But Saul grew more and more powerful.  The Jews living in Damascus couldn’t believe what was happening.  Saul proved to them that Jesus is the Christ.  (NIrV)

OPEN EGG #5.  WHAT DO YOU SEE INSIDE?  A BAD GUY

When someone who used to fight against you suddenly wants to join your side, and bravely tells everyone that he was wrong and has changed his mind, you know something amazing has happened!  What was the amazing thing that had happened to Saul?  (He saw Jesus risen from the dead, and was told to follow Him.)

Saul, changed his name to Paul when he became a Christian.  He was beaten and put in prison more than any of the other disciples.  He wouldn’t stop obeying Jesus and serving Jesus after he had seen Him risen from the dead!