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Jesus Raises Lazarus Craft for Kids

An easy Lazarus craft for kids in three levels. Kids slide the graveclothes off a stick puppet: "Loose him, and let him go" (John 11:44). Free template.

Preschool–Grade 5

Jesus Raises Lazarus Craft for Kids

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Free to print and copy for your church, classroom, VBS and home. Please don't resell or re-post our files; link to the page instead.

Ages
Preschool (3–5), Early Elementary (K–2), Upper Elementary (3–5)
Time
15 to 30 minutes
Scripture
John 11:1–44
Bible story
Jesus Raises Lazarus

What you need

  • The printed template (page 2), one per child (cardstock is sturdiest)
  • 1 craft stick per child
  • A blue crayon or marker, plus crayons for drawing Lazarus' face
  • Scissors, clear tape and a glue stick
  • The printed cave card (page 3), one per child, plus light blue, gray, light brown and green crayons (harder level)

Steps

  1. Color the robe part of the Lazarus piece (everything below the window) blue. Leave the graveclothes, the napkin and the verse strip white.
  2. In the window, draw Lazarus' face, happy and alive, because Jesus called him out of the grave (John 11:43–44).
  3. Cut out Lazarus, the graveclothes, the napkin and the verse strip on the dashed lines.
  4. Turn Lazarus over. Glue the verse strip on the back, at the top. Tape the craft stick on the back below it, so most of the stick hangs down below his feet.
  5. Wrap the graveclothes around Lazarus' robe and the stick, and tape the end down on the dotted tape spot so it makes a loop. Tape it only to itself, not to Lazarus. Make the napkin into a loop the same way, around his face.
  6. Read the verse strip together.
  7. Tell it: hold Lazarus down low. Jesus said, "Take ye away the stone" (John 11:39). Then He cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth" (11:43): lift Lazarus up high! He came out "bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin." Jesus said, "Loose him, and let him go" (11:44): slide the napkin off over his head and the graveclothes down off the end of the stick.

This Lazarus craft for kids turns one printed page into a stick puppet of Lazarus, the friend Jesus loved (John 11:5). Kids draw his face, wrap him in paper graveclothes and a napkin, and lift him up when Jesus cries, "Lazarus, come forth" (11:43). Then they slide the graveclothes off, because Jesus said, "Loose him, and let him go" (11:44). The memory verse is on the back. It costs under 50 cents a child, takes about 20 minutes and comes in three levels, from preschool to 5th grade.

The finished craft, easy and medium level

The finished craft, harder level

What it looks like finished: easy and medium (first photo) and harder (second photo).

Why this craft works

  • Cheap and simple: one printed page, a craft stick, tape, crayons, scissors and a glue stick.
  • Kids act out the story: Lazarus comes forth, and kids really loose him and let him go (John 11:43–44).
  • Gentle and full of hope: no scary grave, just Lazarus alive and set free, and later an open doorway with the stone taken away.
  • It points to Jesus: "I am the resurrection, and the life" (11:25). Jesus is not drawn.
  • It carries the verse home: John 11:25 (KJV) is glued on the back of Lazarus.

Three ways to make it

  • Easy (preschool, ages 3–5): you cut out the pieces, tape on the stick and make the loops. Kids color, draw his face and pull off the graveclothes. No scissors.
  • Medium (grades K–2): the craft in the first photo. Kids color, draw, cut out the pieces, tape on the stick and wrap the loops.
  • Harder (grades 3–5): the craft in the second photo. Kids also make a cave card from page 3 with the doorway cut open and the stone taken away (John 11:38–41), and Lazarus comes forth from under it.

Questions to ask

While kids work, ask where Lazarus lived (John 11:1), how long he had been in the grave (11:17), what Jesus told Martha (11:25), what Jesus did when He saw Mary weeping (11:35) and what Jesus said at the grave (11:43–44). Then read John 11:25 together.

Tips for the classroom

For preschoolers, cut out the pieces, tape on the sticks and make the loops ahead of time, so all they do is color, draw and pull. Make the loops loose so they slide off easily. Call the strips graveclothes, the Bible's word, and keep the focus on Lazarus alive and set free.

Teaching the story first? Use the free Lazarus lesson and the word search.

Frequently asked questions

How do you make a simple Lazarus craft for preschoolers?

Cut out each child's pieces ahead of time, glue on the verse strip, tape on the craft stick and make the two loops. Preschoolers color the robe and draw Lazarus' face. Then you slide the loops on, and they pull them off when you say, "Loose him, and let him go" (John 11:44). About 15 minutes, no cutting by the kids.

How much does this Lazarus craft cost?

Under 50 cents a child: one printed page, one craft stick, a little tape and glue, and crayons you already have. The template is free to print. The harder level adds a second page.

What Bible verse goes with this craft?

John 11:25 (KJV), "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live." It is printed on the verse strip that kids glue on the back of Lazarus.

How can older kids make this craft harder?

Use the harder level for grades 3–5. Kids also make the cave card from page 3: a gray hill with the doorway cut open and the stone taken away (John 11:38–41). They slide Lazarus under the card so his face shows in the doorway, then pull him out on "Lazarus, come forth" (11:43).

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