See, Touch, and Hear the Story of Easter

I recently pulled out my set of ‘Resurrection Eggs’ by Family Life which I have had for many years. Perhaps you have a set. If you are not familiar, this is a set of 12 plastic eggs in an egg carton, each egg containing a symbol of Jesus’ journey to the cross. The first egg, when opened, depicts a little plastic donkey to represent Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey as His followers lay down palm branches. The last egg is empty representing the empty tomb. The 10 depictions between the donkey and the empty egg are as follows: the silver coins, the cup, praying hands, a whip, a rooster, a crown of thorns, a spike, a spear, a linen cloth, a stone, and as previously stated, the glory of the empty egg signifying the resurrection of Jesus! 

There is a booklet accompanying the set which tells the story of Easter complete with scriptural references. It is a delightful way to engage children in this most significant event in all of human history and the reason for our Christian faith! On the last page of the booklet, it gives parents instructions for leading someone to Christ.

This set can be purchased at Amazon. However, instead of purchasing, you could make drawings that represent the 12 key truths of Easter and place those little pieces of paper-drawings in plastic eggs. Numbering each plastic egg is helpful as you open each one and tell the story. If you are interested, reach out to me for the 12 key verses of Scripture. I am happy to send those to you.

Perhaps you take your children to egg hunts (I hesitate to call them resurrection rolls as some do), dye eggs at home, and purchase new clothes for church on Easter Sunday. I’m sure your family has certain traditions; perhaps your church has a sunrise Easter service, which I always went to as a child. Our culture has distracted people from the sacredness of Easter by deluding our Christian message with chocolate bunnies, baskets, and store-bought items for decorative purposes. 

While I am of the mindset that there is nothing wrong with participating in any of this, I think it is important for Christian parents to clearly explain the message of Easter. Key points to include might be Jesus’ Last Supper with His disciples, the meaning of Good Friday, and the glorious celebration of Easter Sunday. I know our Redeemer teachers provide clarity to their students by explaining the significance of the Easter story. 

Baskets and egg hunts are ways of having fun during springtime, but have no relationship to our faith that is rooted in the sacrifice Jesus made for us by dying on the cross. When children are preschool-age, it is quite easy for them to become confused with mixed messages. So despite what you do or don’t do to celebrate springtime and Easter, make sure to be clear on sorting out baskets, bunnies, and egg hunts from the truth of Easter – the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross and His glorious resurrection, which is the essence of our Christian faith. 

“He is risen; He is risen, indeed!”