Children's Easter Devotion: Easter Symbols and Their Meanings (Day 28)

Today's devotion, yesterday's devotion, as well as the devotion for tomorrow are a bit different as we look at some of the symbols of Easter to find out their meanings.

The Lamb: 
The lamb is a particularly important Easter symbol in many countries. It represents Jesus and relates His death to that of the lamb sacrificed on the first Passover. Christians traditionally refer to Jesus as "the Lamb of God." "The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" John 1:29
In many homes, a lamb-shaped cake decorates the table. Many Eastern Orthodox Christians hang pictures of the Easter lamb in their homes.

Hot Cross Buns:
Hot cross buns, now eaten throughout the Easter season, were first baked in England to be served on Good Friday. The buns have a cross of icing on the top. Some people have suggested the connection to the ancient sacramental cakes. They are generally only served during the Lenten season, preserving their Christian significance.

Easter Customs:
A number of popular customs are observed during the Easter season. The majority of Christians follows some of
these customs. Others are observed in a particular area or by a particular group.

Carnivals:
Carnivals provide opportunities for feasting and merrymaking before the solemn fast days of Lent (the 40 days before Easter). The word carnival comes from the Latin word carnelevarium, which means removal of meat. The most famous carnival is the Mardi Gras, celebrated on Shrove Tuesday, the day before Lent begins. Mardi Gras is a French term that means Fat Tuesday. It refers to the fat ox that traditionally led a procession on Shrove Tuesday in France. Carnivals often feature parades in which people wear elaborate costumes.

Easter Eggs:
Exchanging and eating Easter eggs is a popular custom in many countries. In most cases, chicken eggs are used. The eggs are hard-boiled and dyed in various colors and patterns. Many countries have their own traditional patterns. Probably the most famous Easter eggs are those designed in Ukraine, Poland and Hungary, where Christians decorate the eggs with complicated red, black, and white patterns.

In many countries, children hunt for Easter eggs hidden about the home or yard. Children in the United Kingdom, Germany, and some other countries play a game in which eggs are rolled against one another or down a hill. The egg that stays uncracked the longest wins. Since 1878, children in Washington, D.C. have been invited to roll eggs on the White House lawn.

Passion Plays:
Passion Plays dramatize the Easter story. Such plays have been performed during the Easter season since the Middle Ages. The most famous one is usually presented every 10 years in Oberammergau, in southern Germany. It
dates from 1634. In the United States, Passion Plays are performed annually in several cities.

Children's Easter Devotion: Easter Symbols and Their Meanings (Day 27)

Today's devotion as well as the devotions for the next two days are a bit different as we will look at some of the symbols of Easter to find out their meanings.

Easter:
Easton's Bible Dictionary defines Easter this way:
"originally a Saxon word (Eostre), denoting a goddess of the Saxons, in honour of whom sacrifices were offered about the time of the Passover. Hence the name came to be given to the festival of the Resurrection of Christ, which occurred at the time of the Passover." Because of the pagan link with the name Easter, some Christians have begun calling this special day, Resurrection Sunday instead.

White:
White means purity. Easton's Bible Dictionary: "A symbol of purity (2 Chr. 5:12; Ps. 51:7; Isa. 1:18; Rev. 3:18; 7:14). Our Lord, at his transfiguration, appeared in raiment "white as the light" (Matt. 17:2, etc.)."
White is also the symbol of holiness: The high priest's holy garments were made of white linen - Leviticus 16:4,32; Choir singers were arrayed in white - 2 Chronicles 5:12

Cross or Crucifix:
A crucifix is a cross with an image of Jesus' body hanging from it. It symbolizes the sacrifice Jesus made by allowing Himself to be killed. An empty cross--that is, without the figure of Christ crucified--reminds Christians of Jesus' victory over death and the new life and hope this victory brings to believers.
During the first 300 years after Christ's death, Christians feared persecution by the hostile Roman government and rarely displayed the cross in public. In the 300's, the Romans began to tolerate Christianity and crosses were widely displayed. During the early Middle Ages, Christian artists made crosses as symbols of the Christian belief in the Resurrection of Christ. Many of these crosses portrayed the risen Christ wearing priestly clothes and a royal crown. Later, Christians began to emphasize the sufferings of Jesus in crucifixes.

Rooster:
In Europe, some of the churches do not have crosses on the top but instead have roosters. This reminds worshippers of Peter's denial of Christ and how they must not deny Christ."
See Matthew 26:69-75

Candles:
Candles are burned during many Easter celebrations, especially the vigil and midnight services before Easter Sunday. Christians associate Jesus with the light from candles, calling Him "the Light of the World." Many churches extinguish candles on their altars on Good Friday to show that Jesus' light has gone out. In Roman Catholic churches, the special paschal candle is lit on Easter Sunday next to the main altar. The candle represents Jesus' return to life. The candle is often lit during the next 40 days, until it is put out on Ascension Day.

Lilies:
Easter lilies are used to decorate churches and homes. The large, pure white blossoms remind Christians of the pure new life that comes to them through the Resurrection of Jesus.
The Lily in the Bible: Lessons to trust are gathered from the Lily: Matthew 6: 28-30
Molded in the rim of the molten laver in the temple: 1 Kings 7:26 & 2 Chronicles 4:5
The principle capitals of the temple ornamented with carvings of lilies: 1 Kings 7:19,22,26
Used in a figurative sense, of the lips of the beloved: Song of Solomon 5:13

Here is a website that shows how to make paper Easter lilies out of your child's handprint: Easter Lily handprint


The information in this devotion came from Annies' home page

Children's Easter Devotion: At the Foot of the Cross (Day 26)

"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.'...But all those who knew Him, including the women who had followed Him from Galilee, stood at distance, watching these things." Luke 23:35, 49

At the Foot of the Cross

by by Peggie C. Bohanon

They gathered at the Cross that day--the women who loved Him; the guards who stole from Him; the crowd who watched Him--they were all there, to worship, to weep, to mock, to scorn--and to see! They were rich and poor; wise and unlearned; tall and thin, short and plump; well-dressed and in rags--they were all there...at the foot of the Cross.
We gather at the Cross today too--the people who love Him; the wicked who hate him; the indifferent who pass by Him. We're rich and poor; wise and unlearned; tall and thin, short and plump; we're well-dressed or in well-worn garments--we are all there...and level...at the foot of the Cross.

In society, education, government and the marketplace, it is not so! In business, law, medicine and the workplace, it is not so! There are ranks and orders, castes and divides--and like it or not, we are often worlds apart. No meeting ground, no common ground...until...

We all arrive at the Cross--and there we find a different kind of ground. It's holy ground. It's level ground. We stand in awe, in reverence, in redemption, in the garments of His righteousness--OR we stand in mockery, in madness, in mankind's resistance and rejection, in the filthy rags of the unredeemed--but we're all there, all on the same level...at the foot of the Cross.

I want to stay there--to cling to that old rugged Cross; to bow and to adore the One who hangs there for me. I'm in the crowd...but yet I stand alone. I am one unique person, unlike any other in that crowd--and He sees me; He knows me; He loves me. I behold--and I bow--low...at the foot of the Cross!

Questions:
- What types of people were at the foot of Jesus' cross that day?
- What does it mean when the author says: "we are all there...all level...at the foot of the Cross?
- How can you be in the crowd yet stand alone?


Thoughts:
Life in this fallen world is not on level ground. Where your born and to whom you are born determines much about your future. Hard work and dedication can only get you so far. Look at those born as "Untouchables" or "Dalits" in India. It doesn't matter what they do, they will always be the lowest of the low. What about those sold into slavery, the orphans, the desperately poor...is the ground ever level for them? Our society rank-orders people based on many different criteria, but not so with Jesus. He said, "Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28
Jesus ate with tax collectors, with prostitutes, with the ugly and the unloved. He touched the lepers, the bleeding women, the sick and the dying. He reminded His followers, time and again, "It is not the healthy that need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but the sinners to repentance." Luke 5:31-32 Jesus welcomed everyone who was willing to listen to Him and believe what He said. And He still does today. It doesn't matter where you are from, your family background, your income level, job or what you have done...you are welcome to come to the foot of the cross and there gaze at the One who loves you so much that He was willing to take your sin, your shame, your punishment so that someday He can take you to Heaven to be with Him forever.

Prayer:
We praise You Jesus for what You have done for us. How can we ever begin to understand the price You paid and what You have saved us from. Thank you that it doesn't matter to you how this world labels us. We are loved and special in Your eyes and that is what matters. Help us to remember that the ground at the foot of the cross is level and that all are welcome. We love You, Lord Jesus.

Song: The Old Rugged Cross


On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suffering and shame;
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best,
For a world of lost sinners was slain.
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down,
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it someday for a crown.

Oh, that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above,
To bear it to dark Calvary.
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down,
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it someday for a crown.

In the old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine
Such a wonderful beauty I see
For 'twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died
To pardon and sanctify me.
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down,
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it someday for a crown.

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true,
It's shame and approach gladly bear;
Then He'll call me someday to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I'll share.
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down,
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it someday for a crown.


Here is a video of the song with words: Old Rugged Cross

Children's Easter Devotion: No More Separation (Day 25)

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

Questions:

- 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. And when we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, God's presence enters us through the Holy Spirit. 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 (Day 24)

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

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, Jesus, her oldest son was the one to look after her but He would not longer be there to do this)

- 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 for the song by Casting Crowns: Mercy