Children's Easter Devotion (Day 14): For the Love of Money

Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people.

Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve.

And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. They were delighted and agreed to give him money.

He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.  Luke 22:1-6

Questions:

- What were the chief priests and teachers of the law wanting to do? Why?

- Who entered Judas?

- Who was Judas? Do we know anything about him? (see John 12:4-6 - But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected,"Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages." He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.)

- What seems to be most important to Judas?

- What did Judas agree to do?

Thoughts: 

To betray a friend is one of the most hurtful things we can do. And for Judas, who was one of Jesus' twelve closest friends, to do this is hard to believe. His greed and love of money opened the door for Satan to actually enter him and whisper in his heart the thoughts of betrayal toward Jesus. Judas was willing to hand over the Son of God, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords for money. May we never do this! May we never turn our backs on Jesus and on our Christian faith in order to become rich and powerful. The Bible says: For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 1 Timothy 6:10. Instead, we need to remember what Hebrews 13:5 says: Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

Prayer: 

Lord Jesus, thank You for Your promise that You will never leave us or turn Your back on us. Please help us to never leave You. Help us to be content and at peace with what You have given us and not be greedy for more. Thank You for Your love!

Song: Lord, You are More Precious than Silver

Lord, You are more precious than silver.

Lord, You are more costly than gold.

Lord, You are more beautiful than diamonds,

And nothing I desire compares to You.

Who can weigh the value of knowing You?

Who can judge the worth of who You are?

Who can count the blessings of loving You?

Who can say just how great You are?

Here is a link for the music: Lord, You are

For Further Study: 

There are many children throughout the world who are very bold in their faith in Christ, especially in nations where it is hard to be a Christian. Sharing their stories can encourage a bolder faith in your children. A wonderful resource is Kids of Courage

* Some of the content of this blog is based on the book Family Celebrations at Easter by Ann Hibbard.*

Children's Easter Devotion (Day 13): My Father's Eyes

While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, "Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely."As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury.

He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 

"I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others.

All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth;  but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on." Luke 20:45-21:4

And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches.

Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.

For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.

And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will.  2 Corinthians 8:1-5

Questions:

- What was the warning that Jesus gave about the teachers of the law?

- Describe what he saw at the temple.

- Which offering do you think the religious leaders, the teachers of the law and the people standing around would think was more important - the rich or the poor widow's

- Which did Jesus point out as showing more faith?

- What about the Church in Macedonia...what were they recognized for by Paul?

- Which is more important - how much we give or how much faith and trust in God we have when we give it?

 - What can we learn from the widow and the church in Macedonia?

Thoughts: 

The Bible says that "Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7. God saw what it cost the rich to give to Him and what it cost the poor widow. He saw the level of trust that went behind each gift and He was more pleased with the widow's offering. But do we do the same when we look at those around us? Do we think highly of the celebrities of the world, the rich, the famous, the powerful yet turn away from the poor, the orphans, the widows? Who do we think about, pray for and admire? Our desire should be to see with God's eyes.

Prayer: 

Father God, help us to have your eyes...to see those around us for who they are on the inside and for their worth to You. Help us to give every bit of ourselves to you, no matter what it costs, knowing that You will take care of us. We love You Lord Jesus.

Poem: In the Bleak Mid-Winter (last verse)

What can I give Him,

Poor as I am?

If I were a shepherd

I would bring a lamb,

If I were a wise man

I would do my part,

Yet what I can I give Him,

Give my heart.

Song to Listen to:  My Father's Eyes

Here is the link: My Father's Eyes

For Further Study: 

There are many children throughout the world who are very bold in their faith in Christ, especially in nations where it is hard to be a Christian. Sharing their stories can encourage a bolder faith in your children. A wonderful resource is Kids of Courage

* Some of the content of this blog is based on the book Family Celebrations at Easter by Ann Hibbard.*

Children's Easter Devotion (Day 12): Stumbling Over Jesus

He went on to tell the people this parable: "A man planted a vineyard, rented it to some farmers and went away for a long time.

At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants so they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty‑handed. He sent another servant, but that one also they beat and treated shamefully and sent away empty‑handed. He sent still a third, and they wounded him and threw him out.

"Then the owner of the vineyard said, 'What shall I do? I will send my son, whom I love; perhaps they will respect him.'

"But when the tenants saw him, they talked the matter over. 'This is the heir,' they said. 'Let's kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.' So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. "What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them?

He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others." When the people heard this, they said, "May this never be!"

Jesus looked directly at them and asked, "Then what is the meaning of that which is written: " 'The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone'?

Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed."

The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.  Luke 20:9-19

Questions:

- What happened to the servants that the owner sent to collect some of the fruit?

- Then whom did the owner send? What did the tenants do to him?

- This parable was like a secret code. Who do you think the owner is? Who are the servants? Who is the son?

- What was the message that Jesus was trying to give through this story?

- Who understood Jesus' meaning and how did they react?

Thoughts: 

What made the Jewish leaders so angry was that Jesus was saying that He was God's son. Most of the Jewish leaders did not recognize that Jesus was God's Son because they were not pursuing God through faith but through works (but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the "stumbling stone." Romans 9:31-32). They did not want to believe that Jesus was the Son of God and they did not like that the people were following Him and listening to Him rather than listening to them. Today, if we tell the truth about Jesus, some will become very angry, just like the Jewish leaders. Many people do not want to believe that Jesus Christ is the only way to God. They want to think that they are good enough on their own and that they can earn their salvation.

Prayer: 

Lord Jesus, thank you for giving me the faith to believe that You are the Son of God, that God sent You to earth to die for my sins and rise from the dead. Help me to tell others about you, in a loving and gentle way.

Song:   I Lay in Zion

I lay in Zion a sure foundation, a Stone,

I lay in Zion a sure foundation, a Stone,

A tried Stone, a precious Cornerstone,

A sure Foundation, a sure Foundation.

A tried Stone, a precious Cornerstone,

he that believeth not, shall not make haste.

Wonderful, counselor, the Mighty God,

The everlasting Father;

Wonderful, Counselor, Prince of Peace

Here is a link for the song: I Lay in Zion

For Further Study: 

There are many children throughout the world who are very bold in their faith in Christ, especially in nations where it is hard to be a Christian. Sharing their stories can encourage a bolder faith in your children. A wonderful resource is Kids of Courage

* Some of the content of this blog is based on the book Family Celebrations at Easter by Ann Hibbard.*

Children's Easter Devotion (Day 11): Why Was Jesus So Angry?

On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves,

and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts.

And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written: " 'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it 'a den of robbers.'"

The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.

When evening came, they went out of the city.  

Mark 11:15-19

Questions:

- Did Jesus ever get angry? If so, when?

- What made Him angry?  (It wasn't just the unfair money exchanging and imperfect animals being sold there...the area of the temple where this was taking place was in the Court of the Gentiles. This was a place that was set aside for foreigners to come and pray and worship the Lord. All the noise and activity would have kept people from meeting the Lord and worshipping Him at the temple)

- Is church supposed to be a place where we run around, are loud and yell or is church a place where we are quiet, pray and sing praises to God?

- Like Jesus, is it ever okay to get angry? If so, when?

Thoughts: 

There were three things that made Jesus angry: 1) The money changers and sellers were making money off of worshipping God? (Can you see any parallels to this today in our culture?) 2) This area of the temple was set aside for the worship of God by foreigners and Jesus wanted to make sure that they had a chance to find God. (Are our churches friendly to strangers and those of another faith?)

3) They were treating God's place of worship with disrespect. Jesus got angry because people were not being treated right and God was not being honored. Those are good reasons to be angry.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, help us to welcome everyone to our church, no matter what they look like or where they are from. Help us to honor You, Lord. Thank you for Your love.

Song: Jesus Loves the Little Children

Additional information: Here is a website with printable children's activities that coincide with this story: Jesus Cleanses the Temple. I also blogged about this very topic. You can read it at Why was Jesus so angry?

For Further Study: 

There are many children throughout the world who are very bold in their faith in Christ, especially in nations where it is hard to be a Christian. Sharing their stories can encourage a bolder faith in your children. A wonderful resource is Kids of Courage

* Some of the content of this blog is based on the book Family Celebrations at Easter by Ann Hibbard.*

Children's Easter Devotion: A Race to the Tomb

Did you know that the forty days of Lent do not include the Sundays? Can you guess why that is? Lent is a time of thinking about Jesus' death. Every Sunday of the year, however, is a celebration of Jesus' resurrection. For that reason, we will spend the Sundays during Lent looking at one of the resurrection stories.

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.

So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!"

So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb.

Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.

He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in.

Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen.

Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)  John 20:1-9

Questions:

- Why did Mary Magdalene go to the tomb early that Sunday morning? (the Sabbath time of rest was over and she had gone to the tomb to anoint Jesus' dead body with spices)

- What did Mary think when she saw that the stone had been rolled away from the tomb?

- Who were the two disciples that raced to the tomb? (the disciple "Jesus loved" is John, the author of the book of John)

- Who got there first?

- Why do you think John did not go in at first?

- What did Simon Peter discover inside the tomb?

- Do you think that if Jesus' body was taken by either an enemy or a friend, they would have taken off the strips of linen that wrapped His body and neatly folded the cloth that had been around Jesus' head?

- What do you think it means that John "saw and believed"?

Thoughts: 

The fact that John and Peter raced to the tomb, shows that in their hearts they still held out hope that all was not lost after Jesus' death, even though they did not understand His statements that He would rise from the dead. Peter, ever the leader and eager follower, pushes past John and enters the tomb. What do you think his thoughts were after he had, just two days before, denied ever knowing Jesus? Graciously, God allows Peter and John to see, with their own eyes, the empty, neat and orderly tomb. They believe even when they do not understand. We can learn a lesson from Peter and John. We may not always understand how or why God is doing something, but we can believe Him, have faith in Him and eagerly await the day when our faith will become sight.

In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day. The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and every Jewish boy knew this tradition. When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it. The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating, and the servant would not dare touch that table, until the master was finished..
Now if the master were done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard, and would wad up that napkin and toss it onto the table. The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the wadded napkin meant, “I’m finished..” But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table, because The folded napkin meant, “I’m coming back!”

Prayer: 

Lord Jesus, thank you for rising from the dead! Thank you for giving us the Bible so that we can know this truth. Help us to have faith in You, even when we don't understand everything that is happening around us or to us. We celebrate your resurrection this day and every day!

Song: Christ the Lord is Risen Today

Christ, the Lord, is risen today, Alleluia!

Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia!

Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!

Sing, ye heavens, and earth, reply, Alleluia!

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia! 

Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia! 

Dying once, our souls to save, Alleluia! 

Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia! 

Love's redeeming work is done, Alleluia!

Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!

Death in vain forbids Him rise, Alleluia!

Christ has opened Paradise, Alleluia!

Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia! 

Following our exalted Head, Alleluia! 

Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia! 

Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!

Here is a link for the music: Christ the Lord is risen today

For Further Study: 

There are many children throughout the world who are very bold in their faith in Christ, especially in nations where it is hard to be a Christian. Sharing their stories can encourage a bolder faith in your children. A wonderful resource is Kids of Courage

* Some of the content of this blog is based on the book Family Celebrations at Easter by Ann Hibbard.*