Despite COVID-19, Easter Week begins tomorrow!
For the last couple of weeks I’ve been busy putting together an Easter activity for families with young children in our neighborhood.
I’m hoping it will be a fun activity for them to do together; a little something to look forward to everyday the week leading up to Easter.
Tradition, tradition!
When I was a youth, our church leaders organized an Easter activity for us. We put together special Easter eggs that walked us through the last moments of Jesus Christ’s mortal life.
I enjoyed making them then and probably used it with my siblings once or twice in the years that followed, but I have used them faithfully every year since I met and married my husband. Our children look forward to this Easter egg hunt every year!
Time for an upgrade!
It’s been more than a decade since that original set of Easter eggs was created and the words of the scriptures are fading on some of the papers. And, even though I really like those ones, they don’t cover the story of the Holy Week.
So… (dun-da-da-dah!)
I’m excited to announce my new and improved Holy Week Easter Eggs!
I decided to follow the events of the Holy Week as presented here. I began to look up scriptures to correspond with each day and started brainstorming little fillers to go inside the eggs as well.
For the majority of the eggs, I found Matthew’s and John’s accounts were my favorites.
Sunday
Triumphal entry into Jerusalem (John 12:12-13).
I chose John’s account for this because it specifically mentions palm leaves and it seemed a little more child-friendly (easy to understand and to the point).
FILLER: palm leaves
I cut the leaves off of plastic palm trees (often used as cake toppers) and included just one or two leaves per egg.
Monday
Cleansing of the Temple (Matthew 21:12-14).
I especially like this grouping of scripture because it points out how Christ ministered in the temple after sending away the moneychangers.
FILLER: fake money
I chose to use fake money here, because it was one of the easier options. With more time, you could make little whips out of boondoggle or perhaps find something to represent a temple or cleanliness. Lots of things to consider.
Tuesday/Wednesday
Teaching in Jerusalem (Matthew 22:35-40).
Pharisees, Sadducees, lawyers, priests, and scribes all tried to find fault with Jesus’ teaching, but none were successful.
There are a number of teachings to choose from in the chapters comprising his time in Jerusalem right before he is betrayed. I chose one of my favorite passages to depict Christ’s message of love to the world.
(If I were to do this again, I’d have eight eggs and include another of Christ’s teachings in the set.)
FILLER: heart gems
You could use stickers, stamps, rings… there are so many heart objects out there. I chose plastic heart gems.
Thursday
Last Supper and Gethsemane (Matthew 26:26-28, 39, 42, 44 ).
These verses are so powerful. Jesus Christ knew His divine mission and prepared His disciples a number of times for what was to come. During the Last Supper, he revisited this topic and gave them a physical way to remember Him and His sacrifice for all mankind.
He then willingly and humbly partook of the cup of which He had covenanted to partake.
FILLER: sacrament cup
Friday
Crucifixion/Burial (John 19:14-19; Matthew 27:59-60).
I appreciated how these verses were succinct in presenting this portion of Christ’s mission. It covered the part I wanted to focus on in just a few verses.
FILLER: wooden cross
These were easy enough to make. The neighbor children found twigs out in the yard and we used hot glue to put the two pieces of the cross together.
Other filler possibilities for this egg: a nail, or a stone.
Saturday
Spirit World/ Voice Heard in the Americas (3 Nephi 9:1, 13-16).
This was an eye opening insight for me.
I had read this chapter many times before, but this time it was clear to me that the body of Christ was in the tomb in Jerusalem at the same time His voice was heard in the Americas.
He had overcome the world. Though His body was dead, His Spirit was still alive and He was still up and doing.
FILLER: earth eraser
Again, lots of options here to represent the world. I considered bouncy balls at one point.
Easter Sunday
Resurrection/Visits the Americas (Matthew 28:6; 3 Nephi 11: 1-17).
For this one, I decided to change it up and instead of leaving the egg empty (symbolizing the tomb Christ had vacated), I chose to use white cloth to represent how he was dressed in white when he appeared to the people of the Americas after His resurrection.
FILLER: white cloth
My neighbor helped with these. She surprised me with the lettering “He Lives” in the center of each piece of cloth. She was also the one who took the time to put the letter stickers on each egg. Amazing.
Here’s the finished product complete with Easter grass and pictures of our Resurrected Lord.
Very excited to begin a new Holy Week tradition. Happy Easter everyone!
