Easter

Aunt Laura came to visit this weekend to meet her newest nephews. The kids are loving having her around.

After church this morning we did an Easter egg hunt of our own.

We did a slight modification of Resurrection Eggs. The kids really enjoyed it.

The Triumphal Entry - Donkey (Matt 21:1-11)

In Jesus’ day, most people walked everywhere. Sometimes, kings rode on donkeys or horses when they entered a city. The people would stop what they were doing and watch as the king rode by. On the day that Jesus rode into their city, the people were thrilled to see Him. They believed that He was their new king who had come to save them and to fill their lives with joy.

Jesus washes the disciplines feet – towel (John 13:1-20)

Jesus and His friends were about to have a special dinner together but first they had to clean their stinky, dirty feet. Usually washing feet was a job for the lowest servants, but on this night Jesus got a bowl of water and a towel and began washing His friends feet.

Jesus knew that what people needed most was to be clean on the inside. All the dirt on their feet was nothing compared to the sin inside their hearts.

“I am doing this because I love you,” Jesus explained. “Do this for each other”

Last Supper – cup (Luke 22:7-23, Matt 26:26-29)

Jesus had a special dinner with His disciples – twelve of His closest friends who traveled with Him and learned from Him. During the meal, Jesus stood up and held out a cup and gave everyone a drink. Then He said something that was hard for them to understand. He said that the juice in the cup was His blood. He wanted them to remember this special night and the promise He was making to them and to all people.

Mount of Olives – praying hands (Luke 22:39-46)

After the dinner with His disciples, Jesus took them to a garden. He asked them to pray while He went to another place in the garden to talk to God alone. He began to be sad and to dread what He knew was going to happen soon. He was going to die and feel all the hurts in the world.

Jesus is Arrested – whip (Luke 22:47-54, John 18:1-11)

When Jesus finished praying in the garden, the men who wanted to kill Him took Him as their prisoner. Then they brought Jesus to Pilate, their ruler and he had Jesus whipped. The whip used was long and hard and it hurt Jesus so much that He bled.

Jesus hadn’t done anything wrong. The men who wanted to kill Him were afraid of losing power, so they wanted Jesus out of their way. They knew that if people really believed that Jesus was the Son of God – which He was – they would follow Him.

Jesus before Pilate – thorns (John 18:28-32, John 19:2, Matt 27:29)

After Jesus had been whipped, the soldiers took branches with thorns, twisted them into the shape of a crown, and shoved it on Jesus’ head. Again, Jesus bled.

Jesus carries the cross – cross (John 19:17-18)

The soldiers made Jesus carry a heavy wooden cross through the streets to the top of a hill.

Jesus is crucified – nail (John 19:17-27)

Using nails much larger than this, they nailed Jesus’ hands and feet to the cross, which must have hurt very much.

Jesus dies – spear (John 19:28-37)

Even though it was midday, a dreadful darkness covered the face of the world. The sun could not shine. The earth trembled and quaked. The great mountains shook.

The full force of God’s fierce anger at sin was coming down on His own Son instead of His people. It was the only way God could destroy sin, and not destroy His children whose hearts were filled with sin.

The Jesus shouted in a loud voice, “It is finished!” And it was. He had done it. Jesus had rescued the whole world.

“Father!” Jesus cried. “I give you my life.” And with a great sigh he let himself die.

Jesus is buried – rock (John 19:38-42, Matt 27:59-60)

Jesus’ body was wrapped in cloth and buried in a tomb cut out of rock, like a small cave. The stone that was rolled in front of Jesus’ tomb was much bigger than this stone. It was as big as a door and probably weighed more than a car!

Jesus’ Resurrection – empty (Matt 28:1-10, Luke 24:1-12)

The next day, when two of Jesus’ friends came to His tomb, they were surprised. The heavy stone was rolled aside and the tomb was empty! Jesus’ body was not there. An angel told them, “He has risen.” He had come back to life. Jesus is alive!

This was the promise that Jesus made to His disciples at their special dinner just a few days before – that He would die but come back to life to show those who believed in Him that they would live forever, too.

Because Jesus died for us, someday we can be with Him in heaven.

That’s the story of Easter!

(I'm holding Kellen, Laura's holding Toben)