was created especially for

Michael Jeremy Smith

at the age of 7

With love from

Grandma and Grandpa

April 21, 2001

Title Page

The whole town was stirring. Today was

the big day. This was the day that

Mike Smith and his 3rd grade class at

Atlanta Christian would put on the

biggest Easter Pageant that Fort Wayne had ever seen.

Page 3

Mike was a little nervous. He was

playing the role of Peter. He knew

the story of Easter very well and he

had practiced his lines everyday.

Today, all of his work would pay off.

Mike took a deep breath and walked

into the spotlight, center stage.

"Hello, my name is Simon Peter," said

Mike, "and this is the story of

Easter." The audience cheered and the curtains opened.

Page 4

As the curtains came to a stop, Mike's

friends, including Larry, Wayne and

John, were busy playing the roles of

Peter's family who were fishermen

working on the Sea of Galilee.

Page 7

Andrew, who was Peter's brother, ran

on stage and up to Mike. "Peter," he

said, "come quickly! We have found

the Messiah! I have spent all day

with a man who John the Baptist called

Jesus 'Lamb of God.' I want very much

for you to meet him."

Page 8

Mike was very excited. The play was going perfectly.

Peter and his family were fishing one

night with no luck at all. Not one

fish had been caught and they were very

sad. When Jesus came, He said to try

again. They did and the net was full

of fish. Jesus told Peter to follow

him, that he would "fish for people from now on."

Page 11

Peter was describing some of the many

miracles he had witnessed Jesus

perform. He told of the day Jesus

cursed a fig tree and it withered and died.

Then Peter told of the time they were

on a mountain and Jesus was shining

even more brightly than the sun and God spoke to him.

Page 12

"One day Jesus healed my mother-in-law.

She had a terrible fever and everyone

was very worried. He even raised a

girl from the dead once."

The curtains closed and Mike could hear

the applause from the audience. He was

not nervous any more!

Page 15

Mike entered the stage for his next big

act. Mike began, "Jesus' life was

amazing. He healed people, performed

miracles and spoke the word of God.

But the most important and exciting

days were those which we are about to portray."

Page 16

Mike, Larry, Wayne and John were very

excited. They were having lots of fun

and at the same time they were learning

how it could have felt to live around a man as great

as Jesus.  The play was a success and the

audience loved them all.

Page 19

Mike took his place on stage with

Larry, Wayne and John, and the curtains

opened. Jesus was sharing a Passover

meal with his twelve disciples and

speaking of his death.

Mike knew this meal is known as The

Lord's Supper, The Holy Communion and the Eucharist.

Page 20

Jesus washed the feet of each of the

disciples before sharing the bread

and wine. (Mike's class didn't

really use wine, just grape juice).

Jesus told of one of us betraying

him. He said Peter would deny Him

three times before the rooster crowed.

Page 23

When Jesus was accused of crimes he had

never committed, Peter said he didn't

know Jesus. As he said this the third

time, the rooster crowed and Peter

realized what a failure he was. He left in tears.

Page 24

"I can't believe how these people are

treating our Lord," said Mike

speaking his lines. "It is bad

enough that they mock him, but to hit

him and whip him... Why do they make him suffer?"

Page 27

Mike was disappointed that his

teachers wouldn't allow them to use a

cross for the final act. They said it

was too dangerous. "Jesus had to

suffer on the cross," he thought, "we

should be able to set it up somehow,

but the show must go on."

Jesus begged God to forgive the

people. He asked God why he had

forsaken him. Then he died. God was

angry and the sky turned black. Fear

was in the hearts of all the people

that day. Jesus was buried.

Page 28

When Sunday arrived, Mary Magdalene

went to visit the tomb of Jesus. She

couldn't believe her eyes. The tomb

was empty! Jesus had risen from the dead.

Mike, Larry, Wayne and John felt a joy

in their hearts. Even though they had

practiced the play and knew the story

of Easter, this was the first time they

had actually felt the reason for Easter.

Page 31

As the play continued, Mary Magdalene

ran to tell Peter and John of the

miracle. They rushed to the tomb and

rejoiced to find the clothes lying

undisturbed but the body of Jesus gone.

Then, as Peter, Mike explained how

Jesus appeared to him and to others.

He was alive!

Page 32