From Eggs to Eternity
An Engaging Way to Share the Gospel with Your Kids This Easter
Here come the days of sunshine and blue skies. Lovely little flowers begin to pop up on grass-green fields and leaves return to the trees. Butterflies and bees swirl lazily on the breeze. Birds chirp sweet songs, signaling the new life that has arrived after the bleak and barren Winter. Yes, Spring has sprung at last, and what a lovely time of year it is!
I can’t help but think how fitting it is that Easter falls during the Spring season. What better demonstration of transformation, transition, and new life than the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus?
Some of you may have Easter traditions that include dyeing and/or hiding eggs and, of course, the much anticipated Easter basket that miraculously arrives on Sunday morning stuffed to the brim with toys, eggs filled with candy, and chocolate bunnies. Growing up, my house was always visited by the Easter Bunny on Easter Sunday. It was a little treat we looked forward to that made one of the most momentous church services of the year even that more special.
Now as a mom, this is a tradition I enjoy continuing for my toddler. We love doing the eggs and bunnies and baskets. But I also recognize the need to keep Jesus at the center of Easter. He’s why we’re celebrating in the first place! It’s important for our children to understand the gravity of the true meaning of Easter. This good news of the Gospel, Jesus’ sacrifice and victory over death so we may have new life, is a message for all ages!
As kids are often visual learners, I have a fun activity you can do the week of Easter to point them to Jesus that also includes the tradition of giving an Easter basket.
Here are the items you’ll need:
- A basket (either one big basket or one per child)
- Rocks
- Markers/crayons
- A red blanket or cloth
- Easter baskets (if using one basket for activity)
- Toys, gifts, books, etc.
On Good Friday, gather your kids together and have a conversation about what Good Friday means. Talk about sin and why Jesus came. Explain that sin separates us from God and that Jesus came to take our sins upon Himself. Talk about how sin can feel heavy and weighs us down—like a basket full of heavy rocks!
Bring out one big basket to use together or have a smaller basket for each child. Then, take some rocks (can be purchased or gathered outdoors) and pass one out to each person, along with markers or crayons. Ask your kids to think of sins they might have struggled with (lying, disobedience, selfishness, etc.) and write them on the rocks to acknowledge it before God (smaller children will need help with this part). Brainstorm other sins you discussed earlier and write them down on the remaining rocks.
Place the rocks in the basket and explain that, just as they are placing their rocks (sins) into the basket, Jesus took all our sins and placed them on Himself when He went to the cross.
Next, cover the basket or baskets with a red blanket/cloth. This represents the blood of Jesus. He died on the cross so we wouldn’t have to carry the weight of sin anymore! Talk about how we surrender our sins to Him through repentance. Explain that His blood not only covers, but washes our sins away and makes them disappear. When all the kids have gone to bed that night, remove the rocks*. Leave the basket covered until Easter morning.
*note: another option is to go ahead and let them see you removing the rocks and leave the basket empty but covered until Easter morning
On Easter, replace the empty basket with Easter baskets filled with gifts (if desired, leave the one empty basket to represent the empty tomb). Before revealing the surprise, remind everyone that Jesus didn’t stay in the grave—He rose again on the third day! Just as He overcame sin and death, we become free from the weight of sin when we put our faith in Him by repenting of our sins and being baptized in His name. He removes our sins completely and replaces it with a special gift— sending His Spirit living inside us! Remove the blanket to reveal the Easter baskets. End with prayer, thanking God for His sacrifice and the gift of salvation!
Variation: try doing this activity outdoors and go on a rock hunt! You could hide purchased rocks in the backyard or find a park/trail where rocks can be collected.
Jesus’ final commandment before He ascended into Heaven was to go and make disciples; what better opportunity to share the Gospel than with the little disciples we are cultivating within our own homes! This Easter, amidst the bunnies and chocolate eggs, let’s plant this Good News of Jesus’ love in the hearts of our little disciples.
I hope you and your family enjoy this fun Easter activity!
