We LOVE holidays and celebrations at our house! Preparing for a
celebration is a celebration around here! This is something that we do
together as a family and it brings us closer! As my two, Kaley(7) and
Aiden(6), have grown I have noticed how easy it is to become absorbed
with the "Traditional" norms and expectations of each holiday and we
begin lose focus of what God is doing in our daily lives or in that
particular holiday...This brings me to Easter. Easter Bunny v.s. Jesus.... Or maybe the Easter Bunny and Jesus. There is nothing wrong, in my opinion, with bunnies and eggs but for us Easter is so much bigger than dyed eggs and bunnies.
As Christians, we celebrate Christ’s resurrection and the new life He gives us!
I
have been collecting ideas that will still allow us to have a
"Traditional American Easter" but really bring all the attention and
focus to Christ. My house is decorated in what I am calling a
"Traditional" decor, as well as, "Jesus decor".
BUT...
What
I get out of the boxes and tubs, that my husband dreads bringing in, is
all of the "traditional" decor and only a few "Jesus" items. These
traditional pieces receive cheers as they come out of the tubs and are
quickly placed where they were put the year before. BUT there is an
anticipation growing... What they are really excited for is the week of
activities, nightly times together, and making decorations!I am just really beginning to compile my resources so I AM NOT AN EXPERT and I would love more ideas and suggestions! Remember... these are not meant to replace your family’s traditional Easter activities, but to help your children learn more about Jesus’ sacrifice and victory over death at Easter.
READING: Mark 11:1-11 and Luke 19:28-44
MAKE IT MEMORABLE: Construction paper palm leaves. This would be a great part of the Easter story for your kids to act out. As you read about the Triumphal Entry, have them wave palm branches, lay out their coats on the floor, and shout “Hosanna!”
MEMORY VERSE: "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" Mark 11:9
DETAILS:
Jesus enters Jerusalem on a donkey to a warm welcome. The people are
shouting, “Hosanna! {which means “Save now!”} Blessed is he who comes in
the name of the Lord!” They wave palm branches and lay their cloaks on
the road for Jesus to ride over. They think Jesus has come to save them
politically, not knowing that what he is about to do is even more
important–redeeming the sin of the world.
READING: Mark 11:12-17
MAKE IT MEMORABLE: Coin Craft
MEMORY VERSE: "My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations." Mark 11:17/Isaiah 56:7
Details:When Jesus reached the temple it looked a bit like a market. People were changing their coins for special temple coins, and buying special temple things. Jesus got angry, people were making a lot of money with their special temple businesses. Jesus turned over the tables sending the special temple goods and the coins flying all over the place. He shouted the scripture “My house will be called a house of prayer” but you are making it “a den of robbers
TOPIC: Jesus' TeachingREADING: Luke 19:47-48
MAKE IT MEMORABLE: LED Light or Tea Light. Go into a room of your house that has no light and turn on the little light from their box or a small flashlight. Talk about how a little light can illuminate a large part of the room, just as we can affect those around us by showing Jesus’ light in us. Come up with a way you can “be a light” to someone this week.
VERSES: John 12:20-36
DETAILS: After the Triumphal Entry, Jesus tells his disciples, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light…Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light.” (v. 35-36) Jesus had already declared, “I am the light of the world” in John 8:12 and challenged them to “let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16) In his last days, Jesus encourages his disciples to soak up all of his “light” that they can while he is still there in person so they can carry it on when he is no longer with them.
TOPIC: Jesus' Servant HeartREADING: John 13:1-17
MAKE IT MEMORABLE: Experience your own foot-washing ceremony. Fill a bucket with water. Grab a few towels, gather your family, and share the story found in John 13:1-17. Then take turns washing each others feet and praying for one another.
DETAILS: Washing guests’ feet was a job delegated to the lowest servant. Think about it: they only wore sandals, so their feet were exposed to everything, including mud, dust, animal droppings, and even raw sewage. No one wanted to be the foot-washer…can you blame them?! By washing his disciples’ feet, Jesus, the only human who has ever been perfect, humbled himself to the lowest place and demonstrated that to be human was to serve others.
TOPIC: Communion, Garden of Gethsemane, Judas' BetrayalREADING: Mark 14:17-26, 32-35, 43-50 and Luke 22:14-23, 39-53
MAKE IT MEMORABLE: saltine cracker and construction paper cutout of goblet; sack of coins. Have crackers and grape juice for a snack today and be thankful to Jesus for all that he has done for us.
MEMORY VERSE: "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me, yet not my will, but yours be done." Luke 22:42
DETAILS: {“Maundy” comes from the Latin mandatum, which means commandment, and refers to John 13:34 where Jesus commands his disciples to love one another.} During the Passover meal, he also breaks the bread and tells his disciples, “This is my body given for you,” and the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” The parallels here are undeniable. They are sitting here celebrating the Passover, a feast to remember when God protected the Israelites during the final plague in Egypt (Exodus 11 & 12) by having them slaughter a lamb and paint the lamb’s blood on the sides and top of their door frames so that they would be “passed over,” and their firstborn son would survive. In the same way, Jesus’ blood is about to be shed so that all who believe in Him are “passed over,” spared from an eternity separated from God.
TOPIC: The CrossREADING: Mark 15:16-39 and Luke 23:26-49
MAKE IT MEMORABLE:
3 popsicle stick crosses OR Make a crown of thorns out of play doh and
some tooth picks. Talk about the fact that Jesus was willing to endure
all of that pain and eventually death in order to save us.MEMORY VERSE: "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." Luke 23:34
DETAILS: Good Friday commemorates the death of Jesus on the cross. You may want to go into more or less detail about the crucifixion, depending on the ages of your children.
READING: Mark 15:42-47 and Luke 23:50-56
MAKE IT MEMORABLE: construction paper tomb and stone AND/OR Hold up a sheet between you and your child, showing how people were formerly separated from God. Then drop the sheet so they can see how freely we can come to God because of Jesus.
MEMORY VERSE: "[Joseph] came from...Arimathea and he was waiting for the kingdom of God." Luke 23:51
DETAILS: After Jesus breathed his last breath, the curtain of the temple, which separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple, was torn in two. Previously, only the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies into the presence of God once a year; the curtain denoted a separation between God and men. Now that Jesus had given himself as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins, there was no longer that separation. We can access God directly because Christ erased our sins when he died for us.
TOPIC: ResurrectionREADING: Luke 24:1-12
MAKE IT MEMORABLE: folded linen cloth and a picture of an angel. Go to church with your family and celebrate!
MEMORY VERSE: "He is not here; he has risen!" Luke 24:6
DETAILS: Christ is Risen!! He is Risen Indeed!! Because Jesus left the tomb empty and conquered death, we can live for eternity in Heaven!
Follow Mackenzie's board Intentional Easter on Pinterest.
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Easter Jesus Tree
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