Celebrating the Real Meaning of Easter

Easter is the time to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, but this usually gets pushed aside by traditional Easter activities such as the Easter Bunny, colored eggs, and new clothes.  Easter comes at springtime and some of our traditions at Easter are actually a part of the pagan springtime celebration.  But that’s ok . . .  we can use these tangible things to help children understand intangible ideas.

The bunny stays in a rabbit hole in the ground all winter.  When spring comes, the bunny comes out of  his hole.  We can relate this to Jesus being in the tomb for three days, but on Easter morning, He came out and is alive today.

Eggs remind us of new life.   Coloring them reminds us of how beautiful our world is as the earth comes back to life again with new flowers and new leaves and grass.  Relate this to Jesus coming back to life.

New chicks, bunnies, lambs, and ducks are  also reminders of new life.    Jesus gives us new life by what He did on the Cross for us.

Put Bible verses on the eggs you hide and then gather together to read them all.  Some suggested verses are:

Revelation 21:5 Jesus makes all things new.

Galatians 2:20  Jesus Christ lives.

Matthew 28:6  Jesus is risen.

Song of Solomon 2:12  The flowers appear on the earth.

2 Cor. 5:17 (Living)   When someone becomes a Christian, he becomes a brand new person inside. He is not the same anymore. A new life has begun!

Make a cross out of twigs or craft sticks and keep it in a prominent place during the Easter season.  Point out that it is empty because Jesus didn’t stay on the cross or in the tomb . . . He is alive!!

A great book to teach the real meaning of Easter is Easter Bunny, Are You For Real?

10-hooray This is a song that children really love about the empty tomb .  It is from Every Song a Bible Story from Maranatha Music.

Make Easter a family time of worshiping together and thinking about the risen Lord.  Read the Easter story together from Matthew 27-28, Mark 15 – 16, or Luke 23-24.

Happy Easter from my family to yours.

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3 thoughts on “Celebrating the Real Meaning of Easter

  1. Thank you Sheila. I always put too much emphasis in preparing a fantastic Easter Basket. I also emphasize the true meaning of Easter but on the back end worry too much about the dress, the suit, the morning photos, the rush of getting to church on time only to get frustrated and be late anyway. How MAD. Easter is just a few weeks away and I’m vowing to make this a more meaningful testimony for Jesus’. Afterall, his rising is his confirmation of all prophecy.
    Happy Easter!

  2. I love putting Bible verses on the eggs. This year I am drawing Easter pictures and writing the verses on our eggs with a white crayon (in secret). Then, when the kids color the eggs, the verses will be revealed. How EXCITING!! Then we can read the verses and talk about the meaning. Thanks for such inspiring ideas that help us keep Jesus at the focus of every event of our lives.

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