Free Bible lesson for kids · He Is Risen
The Road to Emmaus
Two disciples walked to Emmaus, sad about Jesus’ death. Jesus walked with them and explained the Scriptures, but they did not know Him until He broke bread at their table.
- Bible passage
- Luke 24:13–35
- Big idea
- The whole Bible points to Jesus.
- Memory verse
And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
Luke 24:32 (KJV)- Ages
- Preschool to preteen (3 to 12), with tips for each age
- Time
- About 45 minutes
- Included, free
- Animated story film, coloring page, class sheet, teacher guide, questions and answers, a game
The story
On the day Jesus rose, two of His followers were walking to a village called Emmaus, talking about all that had happened (Luke 24:13–14). Jesus Himself came near and walked with them, but they did not know Him (Luke 24:15–16). They were sad. They told Him that Jesus had been crucified, and that some women said angels had told them He was alive (Luke 24:17–23).
Jesus said they were “slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken” (Luke 24:25). Then, beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He explained what all the Scriptures said about Himself (Luke 24:27). At the village they asked Him to stay. At supper He took bread, blessed it and broke it, and their eyes were opened. They knew Him, and He vanished (Luke 24:29–31). They hurried back to Jerusalem, where the others said, “The Lord is risen indeed” (Luke 24:33–34).
Read it in the Bible: Luke 24:13–35 (KJV)
13And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. 14And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. 16But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. 17And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? 18And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? 19And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: 20And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. 21But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. 22Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; 23And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. 24And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not. 25Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 27And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. 28And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. 29But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. 30And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. 31And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. 32And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? 33And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, 34Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. 35And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.
Questions to ask
Where were the two disciples walking?
To a village called Emmaus.
When did they recognize Jesus?
When He took bread, blessed it, and brake it.
What did they do right after?
They rose up the same hour and returned to Jerusalem to tell the others.
What this story teaches
- Jesus drew near to His followers when they were sad (Luke 24:15–17).
- All the Scriptures tell us about Jesus (Luke 24:27).
- Jesus had to suffer before entering His glory (Luke 24:26).
- Jesus opens our understanding when we read His Word (Luke 24:32, 45).
- Good news about Jesus is too good to keep (Luke 24:33–35).
Jesus Fulfills the Scriptures
Jesus said the Scriptures testify of Him. When we read the Bible, we learn who Jesus is and why He came.
John 5:39
A 45-minute lesson plan
| 5 min | Welcome and pray. Greet each child by name and pray: Ask God to help us see Jesus in His Word. |
|---|---|
| 10 min | The story. Play the story film: each verse appears on screen in the King James Version while the scene plays. Pause to ask what happens next. |
| 10 min | Talk about it. Ask the three questions below. Then ask: “The whole Bible points to Jesus.” What does that mean for us? |
| 5 min | Memory verse. Say Luke 24:32 together, covering one word at a time until the children can say it alone. |
| 10 min | Activity. Younger children color the coloring page while you retell the story; older children do the class sheet (memory-verse fill-in, word search and questions). |
| 5 min | Pray and send home. Pray together and send the sheet home so families can talk about the first question this week. |
- Preschool: keep it short and physical. Act out the story, use a simple prop, and repeat the big idea in one sentence.
- Elementary: let children find the passage in their own Bibles. Ask “who, what, where” questions first, then “why.”
- Preteens: read the verses before and after the passage, and ask how this story fits the whole story of the Bible.
Game time
For kids · game · indoors · about 8 minutes
Where Is the Bread?
You need: Three paper cups, a small cracker
- Hide the cracker under one cup and slowly slide the cups around.
- Kids guess which cup has the bread.
- Whoever finds it breaks the cracker and says, “They knew Him when He broke the bread!”
The two friends walked with Jesus and didn’t know Him, until He broke bread with them.
For youth group · activity · outdoors · about 25 minutes
Walk and Talk
You need: Question cards, a safe walking route
- Pair up and take a slow walk, like the two on the road to Emmaus.
- Each pair draws question cards as they go: “When did faith first become real to you?” “Where have you seen God this month?”
- Back together, share one thing you heard.
“Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way?” Jesus walks with us too.
Pray
Ask God to help us see Jesus in His Word.