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Celebrating Easter

by | Mar 11, 2024

What do you celebrate on Easter Sunday? Or do you celebrate at all? Celebrating Easter and Christmas as Christians can be controversial. Even if you polled the three of us on this blog, I’m guessing you would get three different answers.

Do you celebrate the bunny that brings a basket full of goodies? Or a savior who came to earth, lived a perfect life and then allowed himself to be our perfect sacrifice?

From 2015 through 2019 we were attending a children’s Christian leadership conference (L2L) on Thursday through Sunday of Easter weekend.

This meant I didn’t worry about Easter celebrations at all. Our kids were 1, 10, 11, and 14 years old; they were either too young to care or old enough to not really care. We may not have been focused on Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, but we were definitely focused on our Christian walk.

In 2020, as the world came to a halt, L2L was canceled for the year. We now had children who were 2, 4, 6, 14, 15, and 18 (who was already in the AirForce). So we had to start thinking about Easter again, at the last minute. My husband ran to the store to find baskets and goodies the night before. 

After 2020 I wanted to be more intentional with what we were doing. Here are a few things to do with them over the week leading up to Easter to make sure they understand the resurrection of Jesus, and why we need Him.

I have attempted to sort the activities to correspond with the activities in the last week before Jesus’ crucifixion. However, I am a firm believer in doing things in a way that works for your family. Don’t feel like you have to do everything on the list or nothing at all. And if Sunday’s activity doesn’t get done until Friday it doesn’t make it any less valuable to your children.

Any time we can maintain their focus on our savior and what he has done for us is the perfect time to do the activity.

A plan

Sunday Jesus arrives in Jerusalem on a donkey
Matthew 21:1-11

Monday Cleansing the temple
Mark 11:15-19

Tuesday Judas speaks to chief priests
Matthew 26:14-16

Wednesday Easter Eggs

Thursday Jesus washes his disciples’ feet
John 13:1-20

Friday Jesus’ trials begin
John 18:19-24

Saturday Jesus is in the tomb
Matthew 27:27-66

Sunday Jesus has risen!
Matthew 28

Supplies needed:

Sunday

(a week prior to Easter)

Jesus arrives in Jerusalem on a donkey.

Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying,

“Say to the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’”

The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”

Matthew 21:1-11 ESV

View full directions here

Supplies needed:

Monday

Jesus cleanses the temple.

And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.”

Matthew 21:12-13 ESV

Read the account of Jesus cleansing the temple with your children.

Then have them build and destroy a temple from blocks, or cardboard, or couch cushions.

Just before they knock their building over, review why Jesus was upset.

Supplies needed:

  • Child(ren)
  • Something to build with, cardboard, couch cushions, pillows, blocks, dominos, etc. Let your kids use their imaginations, if they’re anything like mine they’ll figure it out!

Tuesday

Judas speaks to the chief priests.

Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.

Matthew 26:14-16 ESV

Discuss betrayal with your kids.

  • What is betrayal?
  • Have you ever experienced a friend turning their back on you?
  • Have you ever betrayed someone’s trust?
  • How does betrayal make the person feel?

I found this great felt bag and coins craft, I wish I would have found it earlier on. They suggest having your kids return a silver coin for each good act they do (over lent), with the goal of returning all 30 coins of betrayal before Easter.

Click here for full instructions.

Supplies needed:

Wednesday

The Bible doesn’t tell us what happened on this day. So I am planning an Easter egg activity. Bonus, my kids loved creating these with me and have declared them dinosaur and dragon eggs, so they will be happy to use them far past easter.

Anybody else have tons of cardboard boxes at their house waiting to be recycled or reinvented?

I follow @miami_skye on Instagram. I attempted to create her egg craft, but I have a history of ignoring instructions. Sshhhh, don’t tell 🙂 so mine are a little different.

Because my kids declared them dinosaur and dragon eggs, I made a printable with 3 options, chicks, dinos, or dragons. I have three kids who are working on numbers in some capacity, so I printed all 3 and then “laminated” them with packaging tape.

My kids have loved matching their dinos, dragons, and chicks to their eggs.

 

Supplies needed:

Click the image to watch her video. Her Instagram is full of great ideas for reusing cardboard with your children.

Thursday

Jesus washes his disciples feet
John 13:1-20

Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”

John 13:1-20 ESV

Discuss servant attitude with your children.

  • What does it mean to be a servant?
  • How does it make you feel when someone serves you?
  • How would it feel to serve someone you know has betrayed you?
  • Who can we serve in our lives?

As the days get warmer, my children are running around with no shoes. I feel like this is the perfect time to teach them this story, along with it being the week before Easter. Jesus showed his servant attitude by washing the stinky, dirty feet of men who traveled by foot over dirt roads in sandals. Not to mention the fact that he also washed the dirty stinky feet of the man, the friend, who betrayed him.

Have your children take turns being the servant and the served. My children definitely need a little encouragement to wash each other’s feet.

Supplies needed:

  • Plastic wash bin or other suitable container
  • soap
  • water
  • towel(s) or washcloth(s)
  • dirty feet
  • children with a developing servant attitude

Friday

Friday Jesus’ trials begin

So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him. First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.

Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in. The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.

The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.” When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?” Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?” Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed.

Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor’s headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover. So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” 32 This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die.

So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”

After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him. But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.

John 18:12-24 ESV

I would challenge you to read the entire chapter of John 18. There is so much to unpack here and only you know where your kids are in maturity.

I am declaring Friday night movie night at our house. There are so many movies out there that depict the life and death of Christ.

You will need to pick one that suits your children’s maturity and age. Here are a couple choices, I would love to hear your favorites.

Read and Share Bible – Easter My children were very attentive to this 30 minute depiction of Jesus’ last week before his crucifixion.

Passion of the Christ this is obviously one for the parents and possibly older children.

Saturday

Saturday Jesus is in the tomb
Matthew 27:27-66

When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.

The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.

Jesus has died on the cross for my sins and yours. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23

Jesus was sent here so that no one should perish but all can have everlasting life. John 3:16

Through repentance and baptism, all of our sins can be washed away, and we can spend eternal life with our heavenly Father and our Savior. Acts 2:38

I found this great object lesson to teach baptism washes our sins away.

Supplies needed:

  • Plastic wash bin or other suitable container (you could use the same bin from Thursday)
  • Paper towel (one for a demonstration or 1 per child participating, I like to let my kids be hands-on I know I learn more if I am personally participating.)
  • 1 black permanent marker
  • Washable markers
  • Water

Sunday

Jesus has risen!
Matthew 28

Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. nd for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. ut the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Give your child an egg that is empty except a piece of gauze. Make sure it has something in it so they don’t think you just messed up 🙂 Remind them that when Jesus’ friends went to the tomb Sunday morning, he was not there, only the linens remained.

I plan to use a special egg, by size or color or both, for their empty egg and we will set aside a time to open it up so that it is special. 

Supplies needed:

  • 1 egg per child
  • 1 piece of gauze per child

The best news ever…

Jesus was born, sacrificed for us on a cross, and then rose from the dead. If you have not read and obeyed the gospels I can’t encourage you enough to do just that. 

The book of Mark is the shortest gospel and may be a great place to start. There are Bible apps that you can read and that you can listen to. Please get to know Jesus my Lord.

Here is a quick resource about God’s plan of salvation. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us here.

The World Bible School is a great resource for studying the Bible. You can study at your own pace and are assigned a teacher. 

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Cardboard eggs craft templates and inserts. 

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Meet Melinda!

Melinda is a Christian, a wife, and a mom of 6. She has a blended family and has spent much time trying to learn how to "mom". She's still not perfect, but it makes her that much more grateful for God's grace and mercy in her life.

Learn more about Melinda and her family