Easter Celebrations

UPDATED: 5.5.10 with pictures

Yesterday, Eli came up to me and said, Mommy, I want to draw a big cross on April 2nd and hang it up so we remember what Jesus did for us. Then on April 4th, I want to hang up a picture of how he rosed up and we can celebrate!"

These words were an encouragement to me because I do not want to at all forget why we do celebrate Easter Sunday! I also cannot waste this time to share about what Jesus did for us and why. So, here is our family plan and some great ways to involve kids in Easter week~ These are not scheduled to happen on the actually days as marked in history, but rather to help your children understand what happened the week leading up to Jesus' death as well as why we celebrate this special time of the year.
Monday:

John 10:1-10 The Good Shepherd

Talk as a family how Jesus is the Good Shepherd, he is the door (the only way to salvation) In verses 17-18 it talks of how Jesus willingly laid down His life, talk about what this means to help your children understand the greatness in His death on our behalf.

Tuesday:

John 13:1-20 The Washing of the Disciples Feet

What you will need: tubs of warm water, soap & towels

Read the scriptures, then talk with your children about why Jesus did this. Then take turns serving one another by washing one another's feet. Talk about how this meant Jesus was on the floor, how the disciples wore sandals and their feet would be very dirty. Talk about why this was so important for Jesus to do for the disciples.

Wednesday:

Matthew 26:17-30 The Passover

Prepare a special meal for your family to share and talk about Jesus' last supper with his disciples. Before the meal read Psalm 113 and at the end read Psalm 118:22-29.

Thursday:

Matthew 26:36-56 The Betrayal & Arrest

If possible take your children outside when it is dusk and read this to them. Talk of how Jesus was nearing the time of his death, his prayer and how the disciples fell asleep. Then talk about Judas and how he betrayed Jesus and he was then arrested. Lead your children in prayer thanking Jesus for his willingness to die for them, so that they may have the free gift of salvation.

Friday:

John 18-19:1-16
John 19:17-37 The Crucifixion

What you will need: a white pillowcase, washable markers, brown & red permanent markers

First read or re-tell the accounts of Jesus on trial and his beating. (You can make this age appropriate). Before reading of Jesus' crucifixion, draw a cross on the white pillowcase. Then have your children put their fingerprints all over the cross with the washable markers. Have your children name sins as they do this. Then you draw a heart around the fingerprints to represent Christ's love for us as He gave His life for us. Read the John 19 passage and then pray with your children.

Saturday:

Matthew 27:57-66 The Burial

Read and talk with your children about the burial of Jesus. Take the white sheet you made yesterday and put it in the dryer with your children. This is to represent how Jesus was place in a secure tomb. (You are also going to wash the sheet without them knowing and dry it!)

Wash sheet and dry overnight.
Make the special walk to the tomb: 1 sheet of paper (red, green, yellow, orange, black, white, purple and blue) In that order, write these on them and lay them out to lead to the tomb (dryer)

1. The blood Jesus gave
2. The grass he made
3. The sun so bright
4. The edge of night
5. The sins we made
6. The grace Jesus gave
7. The hour of Jesus' sorrow
8. The hope in our new tomorrow

Sunday:

John 20:1-18 The Empty Tomb!

On Easter morning, I always sing "Up From the Grave He Arose!" If you don't know this song, maybe you can find it in a hymnal. Wake up celebrating that Jesus is alive! Follow the special path to the tomb and take out the pillowcase~ the "sins" will be washed away. Celebrate!

Thank you...

As my boys and I were outside this morning, dark clouds began to roll in and the skies became overcast. I love thunderstorms, but this morning just really had me quiet. Thank you God for the reminder. Thank you for not letting me forget today.

And they began to accuse him, saying, "We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king." And Pilate asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" And he answered him, "You have said so." Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, "I find no guilt in this man."

Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, but they kept shouting, "Crucify, crucify him!" A third time he said to them, "Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him." But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will.

And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." And they cast lots to divide his garments.

It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun's light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!" And having said this he breathed his last. (From Luke 23)

Tonight, we are going to go the cross and spend some time in prayer and share with our two sons what today means. How might you find some time today to stop and just say "thank you." Although for such a free gift, thank you seems quite small, let God see your heart at sometime today. Honest before Him in absolute awe and gratitude for what He has done for all humanity.

Pray for someone that is not a believer and share the true hope of Easter this year with someone God's places in your path. Find some way to remember today, so that your heart will sincerely be ready to rejoice in the hope of Easter morning!

Come back tomorrow for a special Easter Cookie recipe to share with your kids Saturday night & Sunday morning!

Humility

It never fails, each year on Palm Sunday, I am awestruck by the picture of Christ riding in on a donkey.

Who is this King of Glory?

Yesterday I had the privilege to read from my favorite chapter in the Bible, Isaish 53. The words of this precious chapter in the Bible cause my heart to stir with much grief and gratitude. How could I despise such a Savior? How could He endure the scourging and shame for someone as wretched as I?

The smallness of my mind and the greatness of God's collide at these thoughts and I bow out and accept that I will not understand His ways, for He Himself tells me, "My thoughts are not your thoughts and neither your ways My ways." (Isaish 55:8)

Who is this King of Glory?

I am starting this week humbled at the thought of my Lord soon walking the road to the cross on my behalf. I am intentionally choosing this week not to just let Friday slip by, for without Friday, we would not have a glorious Easter to celebrate.

So take some time today and meditate on the words of Isaiah 53~

"He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. " (verses 3-5)

Who is this King of Glory?