Children's Easter Devotion: He is Alive!!!

Then the disciples went back to their homes, but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?" 

"They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put him."

At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

"Woman," he said, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him."

Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher).

Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.' "

Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord!" And she told them that he had said these things to her.  John 20:10-18

Bible: Read John 20:10-18

Questions:

- Who was Mary Magdalene? (Jesus had cast seven demons from her-Luke 8:2, she was one of his followers and was at the cross-Mark 15:40; she saw him buried-Mark 15:47)

- Why do you think Mary stayed at the tomb after Peter and John had left?

- What do you think she felt when she realized it was Jesus who was talking to her?

- What can we learn from Mary's example?

Thoughts: We can only imagine what Mary's thoughts were that Sunday morning upon seeing her Lord alive! She had watched Him be killed and seen His dead body placed in the tomb. While all but one of the disciples (John) didn't dare show their faces at the cross out of fear, she stayed there, supporting Jesus' mother Mary, and showing her love and dedication for Jesus up to the bitter end. And for Mary, even His death was not the end of her devotion. She risked her life to return to the tomb that Sunday morning. Jesus rewarded her faithfulness by choosing Mary, a woman who had been possessed by seven demons (we can only imagine the horror she experienced), to be the first one to see Him after He rose. Oh praise You sweet Jesus. You reveal Yourself to children and women...the ones who society so often abuses and persecutes. What a wonderful Savior we serve!

Prayer: Sweet Jesus...how precious You are! We can't wait to see you face to face the way Mary did in the Garden. Some day, we know, You will return and take us to live with You forever. Until that day, may we live our lives with all the devotion and love of Mary Magdalene. Thank You Jesus!

Song: Were You There?

(You can almost hear Mary singing this song because she was there for each of these events)

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Oh sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?
Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?
Oh sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble
Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree?

Were you there when He rose up from the grave?
Were you there when He rose up from the grave?
Oh sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble
Were you there when He rose up from the grave?
Were you there when He rose up from the grave?

Here is a link to the song with great video from The Passion of the Christ: Were You There?

Children's Easter Devotion: Why is it a Good Friday?

About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"--which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"  Matthew 27:46


Bible: read Matthew 27:46


Thoughts: (the below article was written by Joni Erickson Tada and Steve Estes)


The face that Moses had begged to see--was forbidden to see--was slapped bloody. The thorns that God had sent to curse the earth's rebellion now twisted around his own brow.... 

"On your back with you!" One raises a mallet to sink in the spike. But the soldier's heart must continue pumping as he readies the prisoner's wrist. Someone must sustain the soldier's life minute by minute, for no man has this power on his own. Who supplies breath to his lungs? Who gives energy to his cells? Who holds his molecules together? Only by the Son do "all things hold together". The victim wills that the soldier live on--he grants the warriors continued existence. 
The man swings. 

As the man swings, the Son recalls how he and the Father first designed the medial nerve of the human forearm--the sensations it would be capable of. The design proves flawless--the nerves perform exquisitely. "Up you go!" They lift the cross. God is on display...and can scarcely breathe. 

But these pains are a mere warm up to his other and growing dread. He begins to feel a foreign sensation. Somewhere during the day an unearthly foul odor began to waft, not around his nose, but his heart. He feels dirty. Human wickedness starts to crawl upon his spotless being...The apple of his Father's eye turns brown with rot. 

His Father! He must face his Father like this! 

From heaven, the Father now rouses himself like a lion disturbed, shakes his mane, and roars against the shriveling remnant of a man hanging on a cross. Never has the Son seen the Father look at him so, never felt even the least of his hot breathe. But the roar shakes the unseen world and darkens the visible sky. The son does not recognize these eyes. 

"Son of man, why have you behaved so??" You have cheated...stolen, gossiped--murdured, envied, hated, lied. You have cursed, robbed, overspent, overeaten...disobeyed...Oh the duties you have shirked, the children you have abandoned! Who has ever so ignored the poor, so played the coward, so belittled my name?? Have you ever held your razor tongue? Who gave you the boldness to rig elections, foment revolutions...and worship demons? Does the list never end! Splitting families...acting smugly...accepting bribes. You have burned down buildings, perfected terrorist tactics, founded false religions, traded in slaves--relishing each morsel and bragging about it all! I hate, loathe, these things in you! Disgust for everything about you consumes me. Can you not feel my wrath??" 

Of course the Son is innocent. He is blamelessness itself. The Father knows this...but the divine pair have an agreement, and the unthinkable must now take place. Jesus will be treated as if personally responsible for every sin ever committed. 

The Father watches as his heart's treasure, the mirror image of himself, sinks drowning into raw, liquid sin. Jehovah's stored rage against humankind from every century explodes in a single direction. 

"Father, Father, why have you foresaken me?!" 

But heaven stops its ears. The Son stares up at the One who can not, who will not, reach down or reply. 

The Trinity had planned it. The Son endured it. The Spirit enabled him. The Father rejected the Son whom he loved. Jesus, the God-man from Nazareth, perished. The Father accepted his sacrifice for sin and was satisfied. The Rescue was accomplished. 

Questions: 

- What are your thoughts after hearing that? 

- What did Jesus have to endure?  Why?

- Why is the day that He died on the cross called Good Friday?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You! Thank You from the bottom of our hearts for rescuing us from sin, from rebellion, from eternal separation and hell. Thank You Jesus. Help us to remember, each day, each moment, what You did for us. Help us to tell other people so that they too, can believe and be saved. May our lives count for Your glory and for Your Kingdom. 

Song: How Beautiful

How beautiful the hands that served

The wine and the bread and the sons of the earth

How beautiful the feet that walked

The long dusty roads and the hill to the cross

How beautiful, how beautiful

How beautiful is the body of Christ

How beautiful the heart that bled

That took all my sin and bore it instead

How beautiful the tender eyes

That chose to forgive and never despise

How beautiful, how beautiful

How beautiful is the body of Christ

And as He laid down His life

We offer this sacrifice

That we will live just as he died

Willing to pay the price

Willing to pay the price

How beautiful the radiant bride

Who waits for her groom with His light in her eyes

How beautiful when humble hearts give

The fruit of pure lives so that others may live

How beautiful, how beautiful

How beautiful is the body of Christ

How beautiful the feet that bring

The sound of good news and the love of the King

How beautiful the hands that serve

The wine and the bread and the sons of the earth

How beautiful, how beautiful

How beautiful is the body of Christ

Here is a video of the song: How Beautiful

Children's Easter Devotion: Come to the Table

When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me."

They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, "Surely not I?"

"It is one of the Twelve," he replied, "one who dips bread into the bowl with me.

The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born."

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take it; this is my body."

Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it.

"This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many," he said to them.

"I tell you the truth, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God."

When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.  Mark 14:17-26

Bible: Read about the Last Supper in Mark 14:17-26

Questions:

- What Jewish holiday were Jesus and His disciples celebrating?

- What did Jesus predict about one of His followers? How do you think that made Jesus feel?

- What represented Jesus body that would be crucified for our sins?

- What represented Jesus blood that would be spilled or our sins?

- What is this sharing of the bread and wine called in the Christian faith? Talk about the importance of communion. (If your children are believers, you may want to have communion with them at this time, to remember the sacrifice Jesus made for us).

Thoughts: "The wine and the matzot, or unleavened bread, were a very important part of the Passover celebration. Passover was the celebration of God's deliverance of the Jews from slavery in Egypt. When Jesus identified Himself with the bread and the wine, He was telling His disciples, and us, that it would be by His death that we would be delivered from sin." Ann Hibbard from Family Celebrations at Easter.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for the sacrifice you made on the cross for my sins. Whenever I take communion, may I be reminded of how much You love me and may I commit my life to You. I love You Jesus.

Song: Come to the Table by Michael Card

Come to the table

And savor the sight,

The wine and the bread that was broken.

And all have been welcome to come

If they might

Accept as their own these two tokens.

The bread is his body,

The wine is the blood

And the one who provides them is true.

He freely offers

We freely receive.

To accept and believe him is all we must do.

Come to the table

And taste of the glory

And savor the sorrow

He's dying tomorrow.

The hand that is breaking the bread

Soon will be broken.

And here at the table

Sit those who have loved him,

One is a traitor and one will deny,

Though he's lived his life for them all

And for all be crucified.

Come to the table he's prepared for you

The bread of forgiveness the wine of release.

Come to the table and sit down beside him.

The Saviour wants you to join in the feast.

Come to the table and see in his eyes

The love that the Father has spoken.

And know you are welcome

Whatever your crime,

Though every commandment you've broken.

For he's come to love you

And not to condemn.

And he offers a pardon of peace.

If you'll come to the table

You'll feel in your heart

The greatest forgiveness,

The greatest release

Come to the table

And taste of the glory

And savor the sorrow

He's dying tomorrow.

The hand that is breaking the bread

Soon will be broken.

And here at the table

Sit those who have loved him,

One is a traitor and one will deny,

Though he's lived his life for them all

And for all be crucified.

Come to the table he's prepared for you

The bread of forgiveness the wine of release.

Come to the table and sit down beside him.

The Saviour wants you to join in the feast.

Here is a website with the song and a great slide show: Come to the Table

Children's Easter Devotion: A Glimpse of Heaven

After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.
And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."
All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,
saying: "Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!"
Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes--who are they, and where did they come from?"
I answered, "Sir, you know." And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Therefore, "they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them.
Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat.
For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." Revelation 7:9-17

Bible: read Revelation 7:9-17

Questions:
- What is the book of Revelation about? (a vision John sees about the events going on in Heaven and on earth - some in the present, some in the future); these events seem to be taking place right now, pointing to the ongoing worship of Jesus Christ that occurs in Heaven
- How do you think John must have felt to see this worship of Christ after he had seen His crucifixion years earlier?
- How is the multitude described? Who are they?
- Who is the Lamb?
- Describe some of the things that John and we can learn about Heaven from these verses.
- What does it mean that the Lamb is their Shepherd?

Thoughts: Here, in Revelation, we can catch a small glimpse of what Heaven is like right now and what we can expect to see and do when we get there. It is centered on the worship of the Trinity (God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit) as we celebrate the Lamb. This will be beyond any wonderful experience we have ever had on earth because each of us was created specifically to worship God. In Heaven, we will be able to fully and completely carry out all that we were created to be. And Jesus will be at the center of it all. This is why we should do our best today, on earth, to make Jesus the center of our life. To ask Him to sit on the throne of our heart and to worship Him daily. This will bring both joy to us and to the Lord and prepare us for eternity in Heaven. Is He sitting on the throne of your life today?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we so look forward to one day being in Heaven with You, worshipping You around the throne and entering ultimate joy and peace. Thank You for making a way for us. While we are here on earth, may we worship You with our lives. Show us how to do this Lord. We love You so much!

Song: Salvation Belongs to our God

Salvation belongs to our God

Who sits upon the throne

And unto the Lamb

Praise and glory, wisdom and thanks

Honor and power and strength

Be to our God forever and ever

Be to our God forever and ever

Be to our God forever and ever, Amen

And we, the redeemed shall be strong

In purpose and unity

Declaring aloud

Praise and glory, wisdom and thanks

Honor and power and strength

Here is a link with the music: Salvation belongs to our God

Children's Easter Devotion: Free in Jesus

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.  2 Corinthians 5:21

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.  2 Corinthians 8:9


You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!
For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.  Romans 5:6-11


For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin--because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.
Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.
For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.
The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.  Romans 6:6-11



Bible: read 2 Corinthians 5:21 and 8:9

Questions:
- What did God make Jesus become for us? What do you think that means?
- What is righteousness? (right living, living a life that is pleasing to God)
- What does it mean that we will become the righteousness of God? (we can't earn righteousness, it is a gift of God through Christ)
- Read Romans 5:6-11
- What were we when Christ died for us? So did we do anything to earn His forgiveness?
- Will Jesus forgive everything we do if we ask Him?
- Read Romans 6:6-11
- What are we no longer slaves to? What does that mean?
- Will Jesus ever have to die again for our sins?
- What does it mean to be dead to sin but alive to God?

Thoughts: Our sin was destroyed on the cross. All the wrong things we have done or will do in the future have been destroyed. Instead of being clothed in our sin, we are clothed in Jesus' white robes of righteousness. That means that when God looks at us, He no longer sees our sin. Instead, He see Jesus' goodness. We cannot do anything to earn it. This has already been done for us. All we have to is receive God's perfect gift.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I praise You and thank You for what You did on the cross. You became my sin. All the times I have been mean, or hateful, or cruel, or unloving, the times I've lied or disobeyed, You took all that sin away. Now I don't have to live under its weight but I am free to live in righteousness through You. I love You Jesus.

Song: Crucified with Christ

As I look back on what I thought was living

I'm amazed at the price I choose to pay
And to think I ignored what really mattered
Cause I thought the sacrifice would be too great
But when I finally reached the point of giving in
I found the cross was calling even then
And even though it took dying to survive
I've never felt so much alive.

Chorus
For I am crucified with Christ and yet I live
Not I but Christ that lives within me
His Cross will never ask for more than I can give
For its not my strength but His
There's no greater sacrifice
For I am crucified with Christ and yet I live

As I hear the Savior call for daily dying
I will bow beneath the weight of Calvary
Let my hands surrender to His piercing purpose
That holds be to the cross but sets me free
I will glory in the power of the cross
The things I thought were gain I count as loss
And with His suffering I identify
And by His resurrection power I am alive

Chorus

Bridge
And I will offer all I have
So that His cross is not in vain
For I found to live is Christ
And to die is truly gain

Here is a link with the music and words: Crucified with Christ

Children's Easter Devotion: His Amazing Love

Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people,
and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him.
Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death.
Therefore, I will punish him and then release him."
With one voice they cried out, "Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!"
(Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)
Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again.
But they kept shouting, "Crucify him! Crucify him!"
For the third time he spoke to them: "Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him."
But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed.
So Pilate decided to grant their demand.
He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.  Luke 23:13-25


But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.  Isaiah 53:5-6


Bible: read Luke 23:13-25

Questions:
- Who deserved to be punished? What had he done?
- Who was punished instead? What had Jesus done wrong?
- How was Jesus a substitute for Barabbas?
- How do you think Barabbas felt when he realized that he was free and someone else would die in his place.
- What can we learn from this? (read Isaiah 53:5-6)

Thoughts: We are all like Barabbas. We have all committed sin that has condemned us to an eternity of punishment. "All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." Romans 3:12  We can't earn a pardon/salvation anymore than Barabbas could do anything himself to be released. All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. Isaiah 64:6 Yet, just as with Barabbas, Jesus stepped in and took our punishment. We are pardoned and He was condemned.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, how can we thank You enough for what You did for us? You took our punishment, our sins, our filthy rags and got rid of them on the cross. We love You and want You to be our Lord and Savior. Praise You Jesus.

Song: Amazing Love


I'm forgiven because you were forsaken
I'm accepted, You were condemned
I'm alive and well
Your spirit is within me
Because you died and rose again

Amazing love, how can it be?
That you, my king. would die for me
Amazing love, I know it's true
Its my joy to honor you
Amazing love how can it be?
That my king would die for me
Amazing love I know it's true
Its my joy to honor you
In all I do
I honor you

You are my king
You are my king
Jesus, You are my king
Jesus, You are my king

Here is a link to the song with words: Amazing Love

Children's Easter Devotion: A Palm Sunday in Heaven

The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem.

They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, 

"

Hosanna!" 

"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"
"Blessed is the King of Israel!"

Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it, as it is written,

"Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey's colt." 

At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him. 

John 12:12-16


Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.  
Zechariah 9:9




After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. 
They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.
And they cried out in a loud voice: 
"Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."
All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: 
"Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!"  Revelation 7:9-12

Bible: read John 12:12-16

Questions:
- Why was there a great crowd in Jerusalem? (they were celebrating the Feast of the Passover)
- What is Passover? (Passover is about how God had the Israelites put the blood of a lamb on their doorposts so that the Angel of Death would pass by them and not kill them)
- What part of Passover did Jesus represent?
- What part of the Old Testament did Jesus fulfill when He came riding into Jerusalem on a donkey? (read Zechariah 9:9)
- What is this special day called by the Christian Church today? (Palm Sunday) Why?
- Read Revelation 7:9-12...What similarities do you see between when Jesus came riding into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and when we, some day in Heaven, will gather around Jesus and worship Him?
(great crowd/multitude, carrying palm branches, praising Jesus)
- How is the crowd different? (in Jerusalem - mostly Jews; in Heaven - people of every nation, tribe, people and language)

Thoughts: As we celebrate Palm Sunday today, we should not only look back into the past, when Jesus rode into Jerusalem; but we should look forward to a day, in the future, when all those who have believed in Jesus as their Savior, throughout all of history, will stand around His throne and worship Him. But this time, there will be no Gethsemane or trials before Pilate or whippings or a cross waiting for Jesus. Instead, there will be year after year, century after century of enjoying life with our Lord and God. And praise God that there will be people, in Heaven, from every nation, tribe, language and people! What a joyous day that will be. May it come quickly!

Prayer: We love you Jesus. Today, in our hearts, may we lift up palm branches and say to You:

"

Hosanna!" 

"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"  

"Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb." Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!"


Song: Salvation Belongs to our God


Salvation belongs to our God
Who sits upon the throne
And unto the Lamb
Praise and glory, wisdom and thanks
Honor and power and strength

Be to our God forever and ever
Be to our God forever and ever
Be to our God forever and ever, Amen

And we, the redeemed shall be strong
In purpose and unity
Declaring aloud
Praise and glory, wisdom and thanks
Honor and power and strength

Here is a link with the music: Salvation belongs to our God

Children's Easter Devotion: The Burial of Jesus

Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea and he was waiting for the kingdom of God.
Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body.
Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.
The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.  Luke 23:50-56


The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate.
"Sir," they said, "we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, 'After three days I will rise again.'
So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first."
"Take a guard," Pilate answered. "Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how."
So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.
Matthew 27:60-66


Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate's permission, he came and took the body away.
He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy‑five pounds.
Taking Jesus' body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. John 19:38-40


Bible: read Luke 23:50-56 and Matthew 27:60-66

Questions:
- Who was Joseph of Arimathea?
- What does this tell you about the Jewish religious leaders? (not all were against Christ)
- Can you think of another religious leader who came to believe in Jesus? (Nicodemus) read
John 19:38-40
- What did Joseph and Nicodemus do to Jesus' body? Why?
- Who was worried about Jesus' body being stolen? Why?
- How did Pilate respond to their request?

Thoughts: It is encouraging to read of Joseph and Nicodemus. Not every Jewish religious leader wanted to crucify Jesus. Most likely these men were not at the trial of Jesus or else their voices were drowned out by the crowd. Even though they could not prevent His death, they did what they could to provide for Jesus' burial, along with the women. In life and in death, Jesus was greatly loved by His followers. And even in death, He was feared by those who hated Him. That is why the Roman guard was posted...in case someone came to steal His body. We can only wonder at what point, before Sunday morning, Jesus left that tomb, but praise God, it is empty today!

Prayer: We thank You Jesus that You are alive today. Your tomb is empty and we rejoice. May we be loving, devoted followers of you like Joseph, Nicodemus and the women. We love you Jesus!

Song: Were You There?

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Oh sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?
Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?
Oh sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble
Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree?

Were you there when He rose up from the grave?
Were you there when He rose up from the grave?
Oh sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble
Were you there when He rose up from the grave?
Were you there when He rose up from the grave?

Here is a link to the song with great video from The Passion of the Christ: Were You There?

Children's Easter Devotion: No More Separation!

From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land.
About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"—which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" 
When some of those standing there heard this, they said, "He's calling Elijah."
Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink.
The rest said, "Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to save him."
And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split.
The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.
They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son of God!"  Matthew 27:45-54

Bible: read Matthew 27:45-54

Questions:
- Noon is at 12 pm, so what time did Jesus die?
- What did Jesus say to God? What did He mean?
- What unusual things happened when Jesus died?
- What did it mean that the curtain of the temple was torn from top to bottom?
- What did the centurion believe after seeing Jesus die?

Thoughts: The most painful part of the crucifixion was not the nails in Jesus' hands or feet, or the beatings...it was the separation He felt from God. At that moment and for how long, we do not know, Jesus experienced all the guilt and punishment for all the world's sins. He essentially entered Hell because that is what Hell is - total separation from God and punishment for our sins, forever. Praise God that He did it for us! We can be with God forever, and not separate from Him. The torn curtain signified that. The curtain was what separated the people from the Holiest of Holy places in the Temple, from the place where God was present. With Jesus' death, that curtain, that separation, was destroyed. We can now enter into God's presence through Jesus Christ. What a wonderful Savior we serve!

Prayer: Jesus, how we can ever begin to thank You for what You did for us. May we cry out daily to You, longing to be in Your presence, to spend eternity in Your house, in Heaven, with You. Thank You for making the way for us. We love You so much Jesus!

Song: Better is One Day


How lovely is Your dwelling place
Oh Lord Almighty,
For my soul longs and even faints for You
Oh, here my heart is satisfied (is satisfied)
Within Your presence
I sing beneath the shadow of Your wings

Better is one day in Your courts
Better is one day in Your house
Better is one day in Your courts
Than thousands elsewhere
Better is one day in Your courts
Better is one day in Your house
Better is one day in Your courts
Than thousands elsewhere
(Than thousands elsewhere)

One thing I ask and I would seek,
To see Your beauty
To find You in the place Your glory dwells
(One thing I ask)
One thing I ask and I would seek,
To see Your beauty
To find You in the place Your glory dwells

Here is a really good video with words and pictures of the earthquake, the curtain being torn in two, etc.: Better is one day

Children's Easter Devotion: The Heart of a Son

Mary with the disciple John at the cross
from The Passion

Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.  John 19:25-27


A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.  Psalm 68:5



Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.  James 1:27

Bible: Read John 19:25-27

Questions:
- Who was nearby Jesus at the cross?
- Stop for a minute and try to imagine their horror...what must they have been thinking through all this?
- Who was Jesus concerned about...why? (Mary was a widow, no one to look after her once Jesus returned to Heaven)
- What did He ask John to do?
- What does this show us about God's heart towards not only His own mother but all widows? (read Psalm 68:5 and James 1:27)

Thoughts: Even close to death, Jesus still tenderly looked after His mother. She was a widow and now would lose her oldest son. Throughout the Bible, God is clear about His concern for widows, orphans (the fatherless) and aliens. It is called "pure and faultless religion." We, the Church, need to be about this today. We should pray and ask the Lord how we can help those in need, following in our Savior's footsteps.

Prayer: Lord God, there are many in need, widows, orphans and aliens, in our own country and around the world. May Your Church reach out to them and remember them, just as You remembered Your mother Mary, from the cross. Help us to be Your hands and feet to a hurting world.

Song: Your Mercy Saved Me


Here I am a sinner broken and in need of You
Take my life and wash my fears away
For You are the 'Great I am', rest assured, I feel Your hand
Holding me until the darkness clears

A Father to the fatherless, redeemer of my soul
My Life is Yours forever, my heart will always know

Your mercy saved me, mercy made me whole
Your mercy found me, called me as Your own

Here I stand a child of Yours broken and in need of You
Break these chains and wash my guilt away
Healer of my brokenness, my weary soul will find its rest
You are my strength, the lifter of my head

You're greater than my yesterdays, You hold me close today
You're the Lord of my tomorrows, my heart will always say
You're greater than my yesterdays, You hold me close today
You're the Lord of my tomorrows, my heart will always say

Your mercy saved me, mercy made me whole
Your mercy found me, called me as Your own
Your mercy saved me, mercy made me whole, me whole
Your mercy found me, called me as Your own

You called me as Your own
You called me as Your own
Thank You for Your mercy
Thank You for Your mercy

Your mercy saved me, mercy made me whole
Your mercy found me, called me as Your own
Your mercy saved me, mercy made me whole
Your mercy found me, called me as Your own
You called me as Your own, Your own

Here is a link or the song by Casting Crowns: Mercy

Children's Easter Devotion: A Criminal Saved

The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One."
The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself."
There was a written notice above him, which read: This is the King of the Jews.
One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."
Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." Luke 23:35-43

Bible: Read Luke 23:35-43

Questions:
- What did the people standing around Jesus say to Him as He was on the cross?
- Could Jesus have saved Himself? If so, why didn't He?
- What did the second sinner realize about himself? About Jesus?
- What did he ask of Jesus?
- What did Jesus say to him and why?
- What does this tell us about paradise/Heaven? (indicates we go there as soon as we die)

Thoughts: This criminal understood what even Jesus' disciples did not yet understand. He knew that he was a sinner and deserved death. He also knew that Jesus had done nothing wrong. But most amazing, he understood that Jesus' kingdom was not an earthly kingdom. As others sneered at a broken, dying man, the criminal humbly asked a favor of Jesus, the King. Jesus had no words for the mockers, but for the man of faith, criminal though he was, Jesus, King of Kings, gave assurance of eternal life.

Prayer: Thank you so much Jesus for Your sacrifice for me. Thank You that You help me realize that I am a sinner and that I need Your forgiveness. I humbly come to You today, admitting my sin, asking for Your forgiveness and trusting that when I die, I will go to Heaven to be with You. I love You Jesus!

Song: We are the Reason


As little children we'd dream of Christmas morn
And all the gifts and toys we knew we’d find
But we never realized a baby born one blessed night
Gave us the greatest gift of our lives

We are the reason that He gave His life
We were the reason that He suffered and died
To a world that was lost He gave all He could give
To show us the reason to live

As the years went by we learned more of our gifts
The giving of ourselves and what that means
On a dark and cloudy day a man hung crying in the rain
Because of love
Because of love

*Chorus

I finally found the reason for living
It’s in giving every part of my heart to Him (every part to Him)
And all that I do every word that I say (you know I’ll be saying)
I will give all my life just for Him, just for Him (every thing for Him)

We are the reason that He gave His life
We are the reason that He suffered and died
To a world that was lost He gave all He could give (all that he could give all)
To show us the reason to live

#He is the reason to live
(don’t you know do you know the reason
that he came, oh he came to save us
when he gave his life for us) he suffered and died
To a world that was lost He gave everything (everything that He had He gave)
To show us the reason to live

Here is a link for the song: We are the reason

Today's thoughts came from Family Celebrations at Easter by Ann Hibbard

Children's Easter Devotion: We are the Reason

As they led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.
A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him.
Jesus turned and said to them, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children.
For the time will come when you will say, 'Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!'
Then " 'they will say to the mountains, "Fall on us!" and to the hills, "Cover us!" ' 
For if men do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?"
Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed.
When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left.
Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.  Luke 23:26-34

Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.  Isaiah 53:12


Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.
Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Romans 8:33-34


Bible: Read Luke 23:26-34

Questions:
- Why do you think Simon of Cyrene (Cyrene, Libya) was made to carry Jesus' cross? (the cross would have weighed anywhere from 40-125 lbs. depending on whether He carried the whole cross or just the crossbeam; either way, this would have been a heavy load to carry for a few miles for a healthy man and Jesus had spent a night without sleeping, drinking or eating and had been brutally beaten and whipped)
- As Jesus was being led to His death, who was He thinking about...Himself or others? How do we know this? (comment to women following Him)
- Why did He tell the women of Jerusalem to weep for themselves and their children? (He saw the coming destruction of Israel as a nation that occurred in 70 AD by Rome as well as future persecution of Jews and the Church)
- Who was crucified with Jesus? What is important about this? (read Isaiah 53:12 - fulfills prophecy that He would be crucified with criminals)
- Did the suffering that Jesus was experiencing cause Him to stop praying or to pray even more? How do you think He could pray through all the pain? (He had made habit a lifestyle and it was as natural to Him as breathing)
- Who does Jesus pray for on the cross? Who does He think of first?
- What can we learn from His prayer? (even in the midst of our greatest sins, God loves us and wants to forgive us...His greatest desire is not for punishment but for us to be forgiven)
- What is Jesus doing today, right now, in Heaven? (read Romans 8:33-34)

Thoughts: Jesus was suffering greatly. We would understand if His prayers had been for Himself, for God to give Him the strength to endure, to ease the pain...but they weren't. Instead, even to the very end and in the greatest pain and agony, the thoughts and prayers of Jesus were for others. He prayed for the Jews and for the future Church, and He prayed for you and for me. You see, it wasn't just the Jewish leaders or Pilate or the Roman soldiers who crucified Jesus...it was each of us. Our sins caused Him to suffer and die. He willingly died so that we would not have to. When He prayed to His Father, asking for forgiveness, He was thinking of you and me. And He still prays that prayer in Heaven, for us. What a precious Savior we serve!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, how can we begin to thank You for what You did on the cross and continue to do for us in Heaven today? Words can not express our thanks and our love for You. Help us to follow Your  example, to forgive our enemies and to pray for those who hurt us. And help us to continue in prayer, every day, throughout the day. We love you so much Jesus!

Song: Above All


Verse 1
Above all powers
Above all kings
Above all nature
And all created things
Above all wisdom
And all the ways of man
You were here
Before the world began

Verse 2
Above all kingdoms
Above all thrones
Above all wonders
The world has ever known
Above all wealth
And treasures of the earth
There's no way to measure
What You're worth

CHORUS
Crucified
Laid behind a stone
You lived to die
Rejected and alone
Like a rose
Trampled on the ground
You took the fall
And thought of me
Above all



Here is a video with music and words: Above All

Children's Easter Devotion: God's Plan

Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. Therefore, I will punish him and then release him." 
With one voice they cried out, "Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!" (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)
Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again.
But they kept shouting, "Crucify him! Crucify him!"
For the third time he spoke to them: "Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him."
But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed.
So Pilate decided to grant their demand.
He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.  Luke 23:13-25


The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. And they began to call out to him, "Hail, king of the Jews!"
Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him.
And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.  Mark 15:16-20


He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on Him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care... we thought His troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for His own sins!...He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed...He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet He never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter...Unjustly condemned, He was led away...But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush Him and cause Him grief. Yet when His life is made an offering for sin, He will have many descendants.
Isaiah 53:3-10

I offered my back to those who beat me and my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard. I did not hide my face from mockery and spitting. Isaiah 50:6


"All this I have told you so that you will not go astray.
They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God.
They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me.
I have told you this, so that when the time comes you will remember that I warned you." John 16:1-4



Bible: Read Luke 23:13-25 and Mark 15:16-20

Questions:
- Before you begin, ask the children to pray, asking God to help them understand, in even some small way, what Jesus did for them and for the world, so that we might be saved
- Why did all this have to happen to Jesus?
- Whose plan was this? (read Isaiah 53:3-10)...this was God's plan. Talk to children about how it wasn't Satan defeating Jesus but all of this happened according to God's plan, to fulfill prophecy
- What did Pilate believe about Jesus?
- Why did he decide, in the end, to have Him crucified?
- How did the soldiers treat Jesus?
- How did Jesus react? (read Isaiah 50:6)
- Read John 16:1-4...what did Jesus say would happen to His followers?
- Is this happening right now in the world? (talk about persecution of Christians...to learn more go to Kids of Courage
- Do you think you could stand for Jesus even if you were being treated cruelly?
- How can you prepare now so that like Pilate, you won't give into peer pressure and like Jesus, you can take abuse for Jesus?

Thoughts: It's hard to begin to understand why Jesus suffered this way. He didn't have to. At any time He could have stopped it all. It wasn't the Jewish leaders or the crowds or the Roman soldiers who were in control. God was in control. It was the Lord’s good plan to crush Him and cause Him grief. Yet when His life is made an offering for sin, He will have many descendants. We are those descendants when we accept Him as our Lord and Savior. Jesus did this for each of us. He stayed there and took all the hurt and pain because He did not want us to suffer the same thing in Hell, forever. He loves us more than we can ever imagine. It's His love that kept Him there.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, how can we begin to thank You for what You did for us. You took the hurt of the world on your shoulders, the beatings, the mocking, the crown of thorns and the cross, out of Your great love for us. What a wonderful Savior we serve. May we live our lives, every day, in honor of You. We so look forward to one day being with You forever, in Heaven. We love You Jesus!

Song: He Will Carry You


There is no problem too big
God cannot solve
There is no mountain too tall
He cannot move
There is not storm too dark
God cannot calm
There is no sorrow too deep
He cannot soothe

If He carried the weight of the world upon His shoulders
I know, my brother that He will carry you
If He carried the weight of the world upon His shoulders
I know, my sister that He will carry you

He said come on to me all who are weary
And I will give you rest

Here is a video link for the song:  He Will Carry You