Have Story Time – About Palm Sunday:
Jesus and his friends were getting ready to go to Jerusalem. It was the time of one of the most special feasts for God’s people, the Passover, the time to remember when God had freed the people in Egypt and they began their journey to the Holy Land.
Before they came into Jerusalem, Jesus said to his friends, “Go into the village before the city. As you come into the village you will find a colt that has never been ridden. Untie and bring it to me. If anyone asks you why you are doing this, tell them that Jesus needs it and will bring it back later.”
Jesus friends went as he had told them. They found the colt as Jesus had told them. As they were untying the colt, the owner came out and asked them what they were doing. They answered, “Jesus has need of it and will bring it back later.”
The owner of the colt immediately let them take it to Jesus. Jesus’ friends took the colt to him. Some of them spread their cloaks on it and Jesus got on the colt. Others spread blankets and cloaks on the ground in front of Jesus.
Other people around Jesus and his friends began to do the same thing. Other people took leafy branches from the palm trees and spread them on the ground and started waving them in the air.
Then the people started shouting out something amazing. They shouted, “Hosanna! Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!”
The people continued to shout as Jesus made his way with his friends to the gates of Jerusalem. They shouted, “Hosanna! Hosanna! Blessed is the coming of the kingdom of God! Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
The people followed Jesus into Jerusalem and they continued to shout out to Jesus as they did so.
When Jesus came into Jerusalem he went immediately to the temple – the place where his people worshiped God together. After he and his friends had some time to look around they left Jerusalem and went back to Bethany. Jesus knew that this was going to be an important week for him and his friends. Jesus knew that this was just beginning of the journey to the end.
Here are some activities you can use to explain Easter to your children:
Fill bags with jelly beans and attach the following poem. Or type this poem on a piece of paper and frame.
Jelly Beans Tell a Story:
Black is for the evil planned that night.
Yellow is for God’s Son Who is the Light.
Red is for the precious blood that Jesus gave,
Green is for the grass that grew beside the grave.
Orange is for the setting sun as soldiers slept.
Pink is for the rising sun as Mary wept.
Purple is for rulers who could not win.
White is for the cloth He left within.
Blue is for the water in the sea.
On the shore, “The risen Lord; Oh, could it be?”
Many people witnessed this great event.
Disciples watched as heavenward He went.
The angel said He would return
Exactly when we do not learn.
A bag full of jellybeans; help us tell.
A story of love, we know so well.
Share the candy; share the joy
Jesus died for girls and boys.
by Barbara Hooks
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Tell Story While You Make Resurrection Cookies:
1 cup pecan halves
1 tsp vinegar
3 egg whites
Pinch of salt
1 cup sugar
Zipper baggie
Wooden spoon
Tape
Bible
1. Preheat oven to 300 F. Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested he was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3.
2. Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.
3. Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11. Sprinkle a little salt into each child’s hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus’ followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27.
4. So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 c. sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read PS. 34:8 and John 3:16.
5. Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God’s eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isa.1:18 and John 3:1-3.
6. Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus’ body was laid. Read Matt. 27:57-60.
Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus’ tomb was sealed. Read Matt. 27:65-66.
7. GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus’ followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22.
8. On Resurrection morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Resurrection day Jesus’ followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matt. 28:1-9.
by Christina Coffey
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Make Resurrection Eggs:
To make your own, label 12 plastic eggs with the numbers 1-12 and fill them as below:
You can open one egg a day for the 12 days before Easter or open a couple eggs a week each week of Lent. It is extra meaningful if you can open Egg 11 on Good Friday and Egg 12 on Easter. As you open the eggs, talk about what each item represents.
Clean Pennies:
Your children may have difficulties understanding that Jesus died for their sins. First of all, you may need to explain to them that sin is anything we do that keeps us from being friends with God. Bring out some grimy pennies and tell them the dirt on the pennies represents their sin. Then mix ¼ cup of white vinegar and 1 teaspoon of salt. Put the pennies in the vinegar mixture for about five minutes. They will come out shiny and clean! Explain that Jesus makes us shiny and clean too.
Observe Lent:
Your church may or may not observe Lent, which is the 40 days before Easter (excluding Sundays). Whether or not your church observes Lent, your family can at home. Lent should be a time of thinking about God and how we can grow closer to God. Many people give up something for Lent, such as desserts or soda; still others add something at Lent, such as extra prayer and Bible study. Maybe your family could add a Lenten devotion to your weekly or nightly routine.
Answer Questions Honestly:
Your children will ask you tough questions like “Why did Jesus have to die?” and “Why didn’t God help him?” Answer as best as you can – chances are you ask yourself these same questions sometimes! Admit that you don’t understand it all yourself, but explain as best you can that Jesus died for us because it was God’s plan. Such questions are a sign that your children are growing in faith and wanting to understand for themselves, not just accept what they have been told in Sunday School. Rejoice!
Keep the Emphasis on Jesus:
Easter morning can easily become more about candy-filled eggs than Jesus’ resurrection. Keep the focus on Jesus, with the Easter Bunny a very secondary character. In our house, the Easter Bunny comes while we are at church Easter morning. This enables us to make Jesus our priority that day.
by Stacey Schifferdecker
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Depending on age here’s a few neat video you could share:
