Understanding the Situation

In the days of Jesus if a leader wanted to enter a city as a result of success in war he rode on a horse, but if he came for peace he rode on an ass (donkey).

Understanding the Words

The Easter story began last Sunday (5/04/09) called "Palm Sunday", because on that day Jesus was welcomed into Jerusalem by people waving branches from palm trees.

Thursday this week is called "Maundy Thursday": Maundy means "Commandment", because on this night Jesus washed the disciples' feet and gave them a new commandment, that they should love one another in the way he loved them.

GOOD FRIDAY is called "good" because, although Jesus was crucified, his death opened the way into Heaven for all of us sinners.

EASTER is an old Greek word for what some people call "Resurrection Sunday". It is the greatest festival of the whole Christian year. So many people who had seen Jesus die met him after he rose from the dead. We all join in celebration of this wonderful miracle.

Teaching Easter to Children

You need 6 pieces of card about 30cms square. Cut these into the shape of "eggs". Write one letter on each egg. The letters will be: S,R,A,E,T,E.( The second letter "E" will be required for the later part of the teaching along with a further volunteer).

To teach children about Easter you must know the story well,( Mark 16, ver 1-8)so you can tell it to them, rather than reading it when you can lose their attention.

Ask 5 children to volunteer for the task.

Say: The body of Jesus had been taken off the cross and placed in a "TOMB". A tomb was a small cave and in it a stone ledge the size of a single bed.

The first child holds up the letter "T".

So the cross was "EMPTY". (Now hand the letter "E" to the next child to hold up).

The herb garden where the tomb was, belonged to a man called Joseph who came from a place called "ARIMATHEA".

The letter "A" should now be held up.

Later on, a "ROCK" the shape of a wheel was placed to close the tomb. (The child holds up "R" (for Rock)).

As you can imagine everybody was very "SAD". (The final child holds up the letter "S").

The letters will read the word 'TEARS' and you comment:

Therefore the first "GOOD FRIDAY" ended in many T-E-A-R-S.

Now we come to EASTER day itself.

The women who had been with Jesus over the last days had no time to finish putting beautiful herbs and spices around the body which was the custom in those days, and they were not allowed to do this on the "sabbath" (day of rest, Saturday), as it was regarded as 'work'.

So they set off to finish this task before daylight on Sunday having left by a gate in the city wall. As they walked they realised it would be impossible for them to move the rock in front of the tomb.

Arriving "EARLY" (child holds up an "E" )at the garden of Joseph of "ARIMATHEA" (child holds up "A"), they had a terrible shock because they found that the "STONE" (child holds up the "S") had already been rolled away!

The women looked in the "TOMB" (child holds up "T") and they found it to be "EMPTY",(child holds up "E").
An angel told them Jesus had "RISEN". (last child holds up the letter "R".

The word of course now spells EASTER.

Close this simple talk and activity by underlining that the resurrection of Jesus turned sorrow into joy, and that it is joy to us because it means that Jesus has defeated death, and it is no longer the end for those who believe in Him.

Note: I realise much more was to happen over the next 40 days but I hope this will help the children in understanding the true meaning of Easter.