A Christ-Centered Easter

I'd never really considered Holy Week, till as a new mom, a neighbor gave me a booklet she wrote that detailed the events of Christ's Last Week.  A spark was lit and since then Easter has slowly become much more than a single day of treats and goodies.

We began doing some Christ-centered activities here and there and learned a bit and then a lot more about Christ's last week.  Over the past 5 years, it has evolved into something so much more that we anticipate and enjoy each year. It is meaningful, beautiful, and one of my most favorite things we do as a family.

I wanted to focus on each event in Christ's life during his last week and knew that using pictures would be a great way to help the kids understand and recall the information. (Who am I kidding? Pictures help me too!)  Having photos of Christ's last events displayed all week long also helps us keep Him in our minds.

I put together images for each day of Holy Week. (Image credit: HERE.)   Using these images, I created tags to hang from our "Easter Tree," which is a vase of branches from one of our trees.

Each day after we learn about the events of that day, we add the tag to our Easter Tree.  As you read through this post, you'll see how we used the tags.

To make the tags:

• print the images below on card stock
• write the corresponding day on the back
• laminate
• punch a hole and attach string

Page One HERE

Page Two HERE

In addition to Holy Week, a couple of weeks before Easter we love to plant a Resurrection Garden.  (Our first Resurrection Garden HERE.) We do this by putting soil in a dish, making three crosses with sticks we find in the yard, and planting grass seed.  It sprouts within one week and it so much fun to watch.  For the tomb, we use an inexpensive clay pot that can be found at any store in the gardening section.

A recent addition to our Easter season is this Hallelujah banner I made last year. You can purchase the printable here. (It's hard to tell from the lighting but it says Hallelujah.) I absolutely love to decorate for holidays, but I like to keep it pretty simple.  :)

Palm Sunday

What Happened: Jesus walked from Bethany to Jerusalem. He rode a donkey into the city.  People shouted, “Hosanna,” while laying palm leaves in front of the donkey.

Video: The Triumphal Entry

Scripture References: Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 21:1–11; Mark 11:1–11

Activities:

• Make palm fronds from green construction paper, then reenact The Triumphal Entry.
• Collect branches from a tree and place in a vase.  This is your Easter Tree.  Hang today's photo tag from the Easter Tree.

We like to have a special dinner on Palm Sunday (special is anytime we pull out candles.  Or use a tablecloth.)  :)

Mad Monday

What Happened: Jesus saw people buying and selling things in the temple. He was angry and made them leave. He healed people.  

Video: Jesus Cleanses the Temple

Scripture References: Matthew 21:12–17; Mark 11:15–19

Activities:

• Visit the temple and walk the grounds.  Discuss the importance of treating sacred things, sacred.  
• Using The Living Christ read and highlight each name of Christ. Write the names on tags and hang them on the Easter Tree.   

Add today's photo tag to the Easter Tree:

Teaching Tuesday

What Happened: Jesus taught people in the temple and on the Mount of Olives.
The priests plotted to kill Jesus. Judas Iscariot agreed to turn Jesus over in exchange for 30 pieces of silver.

Video: Choose one of Christ's parables HERE.

Scripture References: Matthew 25:31–46; 26:14–16.

Activities:

• Assign each family member a parable to study and then teach to the family. Or assign a parable to illustrate. 
• Discuss Judas' decision to betray Christ.  Cut 30 pieces of silver from aluminum foil.

Add today's tag to the Easter Tree:

Wordless Wednesday

What Happened: "The scriptures do not say what Jesus did on this day. He may have spent the day with His disciples." 

Scripture References: Matthew 25:1–13

Activity: 

• Engage in something enjoyable with your loved ones. We enjoy coloring Easter eggs. 

Add today's tag to the Easter Tree: 

Passover Thursday

What Happened:  "Jesus’ disciples got ready for the Passover meal. During the meal, Jesus told the disciples that one of them would betray Him. Then, to help them remember Him, He gave them the sacrament for the first time. Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane to suffer for our sins and to pray to God. People came with swords and arrested Him. The disciples ran away in fear."

Videos: 
The Last Supper
Jesus Warns Peter and Offers the Intercessory Prayer
The Savior Suffers in Gethsemane

Scripture References: Matthew 26:17–29, 36–56

Activities:

• Enjoy a meal consisting of foods that would have been typical at that time.  
• Make unleavened bread

A friend invited me over many years ago to teach me how to make her family's Syrian Flat Bread.  Here's the recipe!

Add today's tags to the Easter Tree:

Good Friday

What Happened:  Jesus was taken to the high priest, Caiaphas.  Peter denied that he knew Him. Jesus was questioned and was crucified.  Jesus was laid in his tomb. Jesus' mother, Mary, and Mary Magdalene visited the tomb.

Videos:
Jesus is Tried by Caiaphas, Peter Denies Knowing Him
Jesus is Condemned Before Pilate
Jesus is Scourged and Crucified
Jesus is Laid in a Tomb

Scripture References: Matthew 26:57–72; 27:1–2, 27–37; Luke 23:44–46, 50–56

Activities:

• Have a period of time you go without using lights as a reminder of the darkness that occurred as Jesus hung on the cross. Or, read scriptures as a family by candlelight. 
• Taste vinegar and discuss the "Seven Sayings," the 7 times Jesus spoke on the cross. 

1. Luke 23:34: Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
2. Luke 23:43: And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
3. John 19:26–27: 26: When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son. 27: Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
4. Matthew 27:46 & Mark 15:34: And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? 
5. John 19:28: After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.
6. John 19:30: When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
7. Luke 23:46: And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

Add today's photo tags to the Easter Tree: 

Silent Saturday

What Happened: Jesus' body remains in the tomb. A large stone was placed.  Guards were placed by the stone.

Scripture References: Matthew 27:57–66

Activity: 

• Make Rice Krispie Treat Tombs (More over HERE.) 
• This is also the day we enjoy secular Easter traditions.  The Easter bunny visits and we participate in an Easter egg hunt.  

Add today's photo tag to the Easter Tree:

Easter Sunday

What Happened: Jesus was resurrected.

Video: Jesus is Resurrected

Scripture References: Matthew 28

Songs:
Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah
He is Risen

Activities:
1.  Go for an Easter Walk scavenger hunt:
Look for items that remind you of the symbols of Easter.

• Something sharp: His pain
• Something thorny: His crown of thorns
• Something alive: He is risen
• Something made of wood: Cross
• Something dead: His death
• Something dark: The 3 hours of darkness
• Something hard and round: The stone that closed the tomb
• Something fragrant: the spices used to prepare his body

2.  Resurrection Eggs: Buy or make your own

Add today's photo tag to the Easter Tree:

And, of course, celebrate with your loved ones!

On Easter Sunday, we review what occurred each day of Christ's last week.  Who betrayed Jesus?  For how much?  What happened on Palm Sunday?  How many times did Peter deny Christ?  Why was Christ upset with the moneychangers at the temple?  Who was the first person to witness the resurrected Christ?  What does Christ's resurrection mean for us?

At the end of Holy Week our Easter Tree is full and is a beautiful reminder.

I hope this helps you and your family as you celebrate and marvel in the miracle that is Jesus Christ.