Dry Bones

Fifth Sunday in Lent

From “Saving the Ants” (Download book at left!) 

Scripture Reference: Ezek. 37:1-14 and John 11:25  

In the Old Testament reading today, Ezekiel describes a valley full of dry bones. This was a vision or dream that the Lord was showing to his prophet Ezekiel. It must have been quite a sight, a whole valley full of dry bones lying around. How do you think Ezekiel might have felt when he saw that? (Let children share.)

The Lord was showing this vision to Ezekiel for a very important reason. Those bones represented the Israelites, God’s people, who had lost hope and had lost faith in God. Because they had turned so far from God, and had lost their spiritual life inside, they were like those lifeless bones.

Now if I gave you a skeleton of something like a chicken (show your bone as an illustration), could you make that chicken alive again? Could you put the muscles and feathers back on the chicken and then make it start breathing again? (Children may respond.) That would be impossible for us, but for God, nothing is impossible. When Jesus was walking around here on earth, he raised people from the dead.

Ezekiel watched this valley of bones, and he spoke to the bones, just as the Lord told him to do. Do you know what happened to the bones right before his eyes? (Children may answer.) Those bones were connected back together and soon they had muscle and skin and they were human again. Then God breathed into them, and they stood up and were alive.

Ezekiel was given this dream to show him that God could do anything. The people of Israel were alive, but they felt very sad inside. They had stopped listening to God. It was as if their spirits were dead, like those dry bones. God sent the prophet Ezekiel to them to bring their hope and their spirits back to life.

Sometimes we feel sad and far away from God. We may feel like the Lord doesn’t hear our prayers. We don’t have to stay that way, far away from God like a dry bone. God wants us to be alive in him, full of the Holy Spirit and happy to be children of God. If we open our hearts and lives to him, the Spirit of God will come whooshing into our lives again.

Do you know what Jesus said to Mary and Martha before he raised their brother back to life? He said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die… will live again” (John 11:25 NLT). Can you say the verse with me? (Repeat with children.)

Prayer:  Lord, we’re thankful that you can do anything. Fill us with your Holy Spirit so that we will truly be alive in you.