An Easter Tradition: Telling the Easter Story

This idea originally came from a book I found in a Bible book store a few years ago, of which I regret to say I remember neither the title or authors names. It was expanded upon, however, to include even more of the Biblical Easter account so that each child in our Sunday evening Children's class at church could open at least one egg. (It is by no means a complete list of fulfilled prophecies or of the events leading up to the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord.)

In the next year or two, I began seeing Resurrection Eggs on the market. Both work well in helping children to remember the significance of the events leading up to the Crucifixion of Jesus, His Resurrection and Ascension and what it all means for us today. For us, it was all all about finding a meaningful, hands-on way to help the kids remember the events that resulted in redemption from our Sins.

Here was my (excited) audience...



...awaiting the fun, interactive activity that is in this basket of numbered Easter Story Eggs.



I gave odd numbered eggs to one child and evens to the other so that they could take turns opening the eggs, but in groups it works well to pass out a closed egg to each person, and have someone ready to ready the associated Scripture passages.

Egg #1: The Triumphal Entry - Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:3-10

These events occurred to fulfill the Old Testement prophecies of Zechariah 9:9, as well as God's promises to David in Psalm 118:26-27, which was a Psalm often sung by pilgrims on their way to Passover in Jerusalem.

(And yes, I know it's a horse. I was working with what I had at the time, and have yet to locate a small enough donkey colt to fit inside the egg. The kids haven't called me on it yet. ;)



Egg #2: 30 Pieces of Silver - Matthew 26:14-16. 21-25, Mark 14:10-11, 18-21, Luke 22:2-6, 21-23

Bible scholars believe that Zechariah 11:11-13 is referring to these New Testament events.

(I used dimes for their silver color. 30 quarters might have made a bigger impression, but they didn't all fit into the size of eggs I used here.)

Egg #3: The Last Supper - Matthew 26:26-30, Mark 14:22-26, Luke 22:14-20

The unleavened bread and wine of Passover commemorated deliverance from Egypt, which is symbolic of Sin in the Bible. Jesus' body and blood are now identified as the true Passover sacrifice of the New Covenant, representing Jesus poured out life (His death on the cross) and our deliverance from sin through His sacrifice.

(The wine jug and unleavened bread were made of Fimo clay, but a small goblet and cracker might work just as well.)

Egg #4: Jesus' Prayer In the Garden of Gethsemane - Matthew 26:36-46, Mark 14:32-42, Luke 22:39-46 and John 17

In Gethsemane, overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death, Jesus prayed for Himself, His Disciples and all believers. Such was his duress and agony during His prayers that He sweated drops of blood. It's been said that His battle was won here...on His knees in prayer. Prior to this He'd often slipped away from the grasp of the Jewish authorities that wished to stone Him. However, this time His "hour" had come. His prayers for God's will to be done had solidified His very purpose as Savior, and He rose to face what He'd come to earth to do.

Egg #5: Judas' Betrayal - Matthew 26:46-49, Mark 14:43-45, Luke 22:47-48

Judas called Jesus "Rabbi" (teacher), then betrayed Him with the prearranged signal, which was a kiss. A kiss was a common form of greeting between close friends in New Testament times. Even though Jesus knew that Judas was betraying Him, He still called Him friend.

Egg #6: Peter Cuts Off Malchus' Ear - Luke 22:49-51, Matthew 26:51-52, Mark 14:47 and John 18:10

Jesus didn't need anyone's 'help', as He could have called legions of angels. His 'hour' had come for Him to 'drink the cup' that the Father had given Him. Jesus' miraculous healing of the man's ear did nothing to deter the authorities from arresting Him.

(The ear was made of Fimo, and the sword was formerly one of Jericho's Lego toys.)

Egg #7: Jesus is Arrested and Taken Away - Matthew 26:57, John 18:12

Jesus was bound and taken away to face a series of mock trials for trumped up and entirely false charges made by the very men (Chief Priests, Teachers of the Law and Elders) that should have known He was the promised Messiah.

Egg #8: Peter's Denial of Christ - Matthew 26:31-35, 69-75, Mark 14:27-31, 66-72, Luke 22:31-34, 54-62, and John 13:37-38, 18:17, 25-27

Jesus had warned Peter that Satan had asked to 'sift him as wheat', and told him He'd prayed for him. He'd also prophesied that Peter would deny Him three times when the cock crowed twice.

(Yes, also made of Fimo clay.)

Egg #9: The Crown of Thorns - Matthew 27:29, Mark 15:15-18, John 19:2-5

The Governor's soldiers dressed Jesus in a borrowed scarlet/purple robe, a crown made of thorns, which was a mockery of His true Kingship of the Jews. They hit the crown of thorns with the reed numerous times which pounded them into his head inflicting much pain, adding to the tremendous pain of the previous flogging which Pilate had ordered after caving to public opinion and releasing Barrabas to the people instead Jesus, who was innocent.

This fulfills prophecies found in Isaiah 50:6, and Isaiah 53:7 and in accordance with Deuteronomy 25:3. It is interesting that after Adam's sin in the Garden of Eden, they were cast out and the ground was cursed with thorns, which like Egypt in scripture is also representitve of sin. Now the second Adam wears that symbol upon his sinless head, and mocked, spat upon and bloody led Him away to His crucifixion.

Egg #10: The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ- Matthew 27:26-54, Mark 15:20-39, Luke 22:63-65 and John 19:17-18, 20:20-25

It is said that the spikes that were driven through the wrists of the prisoners were approximately six inches long and thick enough to hold the body of a criminal upon the cross. They were likely very thick, not unlike modern day railroad spikes.

Egg #11: Soldiers Cast Lost For His Clothing - Matthew 27:35, Mark 15:24. Luke 23:34, and John 19:23-34

The soldiers cast lots for Jesus' underclothing to fulfill the prophecy of Psalm 22:18.

Egg #12: Sour Wine mixed with Gall and Jesus' Death on the Cross - Matthew 27:34, 48, Mark 15:23, 36, John 19:28-30.

The first time He was offered a drink via a sponge on a reed, it was mixed with gall, a Biblical times painkiller. Jesus refused to drink it at that time, however, because His purpose was to take upon His own body on the cross the full load of the sins of mankind, past, present and future, and there was still work to be done on the cross. Later, however, after His work was complete, He took a drink, called out with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.

It is significant that the reed of hyssop was a ceremonial implement closely interwoven with God's symbolic ritual in the first night of Passover (Exodus 12:22) and other scripture passages like Hebrews 9:19 and Psalm 51:7.

These events are closely tied in with 1 Corinthians 5:6-7 where Jesus, our Passover Lamb (John 1:29) was sacrificed, and in fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah 53:4-5 and Psalm 69:21 among others.

Egg # 13: The Graveclothes and the New Tomb - Matthew 27:57-59, Mark 15:46, Luke 23:53, and John 19:40-42

He was wrapped in clean linen graveclothes and laid in a new tomb, in fulfillment of Isaiah 53:9.

It is significant that it was in Joseph of Arimathea's own, hand-hewn new tomb, essentially borrowed for the short stay.

Egg #14: The Stone is Rolled Away - Matthew 27:60, Mark 15:46, 16:3-4, Luke 24:2, John 20:1

Egg #15: The Empty Tomb and Jesus' Resurrection - Matthew 28:5-7, Mark 16:6, Luke 24:6-7, 34 and John 20:2-10, John 11:25, Romans 1:4



Egg #16: The Ascension of Christ - Mark 16:19, Luke 24:51, Acts 1:9-11

Egg # 17: The Holy Spirit - John 14:15-19, 16:7-16, Acts 1:7-8, 2:1-4, Romans 8, Galatians 5:22-25, and Ephesians 1:13-14, Ephesians 6:17

The Holy Spirit was given to us to Convict us of Sin, Guide and Comfort us. The Holy Spirit is evidence of our Salvation, and a pledge and down payment on our future inheritance with Christ.


Egg #18: The Word of God Guides Us In Daily Living - Ephesians 6:10-18, Hebrews 4:12-13 Psalm 119:9-16, 119:105



Thank You, Jesus, for...everything.