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Hello my friends,
Here is something to do each and everyday till Easter,Take time for your family,Kathy
Family Activities
for the week prior to Easter
By Jan Brown
PALM SUNDAY
This is the day that Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a young donkey colt. The people lined the way, waving palm branches and crying, Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!
Waving palm branches was a Roman custom that was used to welcome a ruler or king. The significance of the Palm branch lies in the fact that the people were welcoming Jesus as they would a new political leader. Jesus' message to them was symbolized in the animal that he rode. A ruler would have been riding on a horse. Jesus chose to come in a humble way. His attitude is summed up in Philippians 2: 5-8 (NIV):
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who being in the very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in the appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross."
Decorate the table for lunch or dinner using real or artificial palm branches. Children might enjoy making the palm branches out of green construction paper.
Instead of placing the food on the table, leave it in the kitchen. After prayer, take turns serving each other the food. Even small children enjoy having mom or dad help them serve another member of the family. Talk about what it means to serve others. When we do we are serving Jesus. After dinner you might talk more about a servants role and how humbling it was to have the job of washing the people's feet. Take turns washing each other's feet. (Mom be prepared, this could get a little messy! Have lots of towels ready!)
MONDAY, THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE
Jesus went to the temple to worship God. There he saw something that upset Him very much. He saw men using God's house as a place to sell animals for the sacrifices. They were exchanging money from foreign places into money that could be used to buy the sacrifices. These men knew that the people coming there needed animals for their sacrifices. They were taking advantage of this situation by having the animals right there in the temple courtyard for people to buy. They were making money off of the sacrifices.
Jesus became very angry and said, It is written, 'My house will be called a house of prayer.' but you have made it a den of thieves. Jesus made a whip and drove out the vendors and their animals. He overturned their stalls and buckets of money.
Talk about how Jesus wanted God's house to be a house of prayer, not a house of chaos. Talk about what is the proper behavior and attitude that pleases God when we worship Him. What is prayer? Is church the only place where we can pray?
Discuss the verses in I Cor 3:16, 6:18, 2 Cor 6:16. Our bodies are a temple, too, because Christ dwells within us. What are some ways that we might treat our bodies that are not pleasing to the Lord? What are some ways that we use our bodies to glorify God?
For snack serve soft pretzels. Pretzels are a reminder to us of arms that are folded in prayer.
You may want to try this recipe for soft pretzels:
1 package yeast
1 1/2 cups of hot water
1/3 cup brown sugar
5 cups of flour
• Heat oven to 465 degrees.
• Boil 11/2 cups of water. Mix dry ingredients. Slowly add 1 1/2 cups of hotwater to dry ingredients and stir. Add only enough to make a soft dough.On a lightly floured surface, kneed the dough for 5 minutes. Cover and letrise 10 minutes.
• Grease 2 cookie sheets. Take about 2 tablespoons of dough and roll it intoa *snake.* Shape it into a pretzel and place on the cookie sheet. Let riseone more time for about 5 to 10 minutes.
• Bring to boil in a large pan 6 cups of water. Carefully lower each pretzelinto the boiling water. Allow to boil for about 45 seconds. LIft the pretzelout and place on the cookie sheet again. After each pretzel has been boiled,sprinkle with salt and bake in the oven for 10 minutes.
TUESDAY: TEACHING AT THE TEMPLE, (MARK 12:28-34)
Every day Jesus came to teach at the temple.
One of the teachers of the law asked Jesus, Of all the commandments which one is the most important?
Jesus replied, Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.
Share your love for God with a neighbor by taking an Easter Lily to them. The Easter Lily is a symbol of purity and light. Jesus came as our pure sacrifice and as a light in the darkness.
But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
WEDNESDAY: A SWEET SMELLING SACRIFICE
At the Home of Mary and Martha
John 12:1-7
Family Devotions: This is a devotion not only for the children, but for mom and dad, too.
Martha and Mary were friends of Jesus. Their brother Lazarus was the man that Jesus raised from the dead. They wanted to give Jesus a special dinner to celebrate and give thanks. The dinner was held at the home of Simon, a leper that Jesus had healed. This was a night for celebration. Lazarus was alive! Simon was healed! What the guests did not realize was that in just a few short days Jesus would die.
The story tells about one woman who gave of the best that she had.
Go over the scripture about Mary's gift to Jesus during your family devotions. Some of these questions are geared toward children and some of the questions are harder ones for moms and dads to think about and answer.
12:1 Six days before Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Meaning: Jesus once again goes to visit Martha, Mary and Lazarus.
How close and dear these people must have been to him. He is comfortable in their home. He considers them his friends.
Ques: How comfortable is Jesus in our home? Do all of our activities include him? Is there anything you would not do that you normally do if Jesus were visiting in our home?
12:2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Meaning: This dinner may have been a celebration of Lazarus being raised from the dead. Jesus would have been the guest of honor, but a close second would have been Lazarus. While Lazarus has just been raised from the dead, in just a few short days, Jesus would be put to death on the cross.
Ques: What are most of the guests thinking about at this dinner? What do you think Jesus is thinking about as he attends this dinner?
12:3 Then Mary took a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume, and poured it on Jesus feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. Meaning: The perfume that Mary used was very expensive—worth about a year's wages. It was bought as an investment … possibly to be included in her dowry. This was her most prized possession, the best she had to give.
She assumes the position of a slave. It was a slave's job to wash the guests feet. No woman would be seen with her hair uncovered and down, she assumes the position of humility. Mary took a pint of perfume worth a year's wages and poured it on the feet of her Lord. Then she wiped his feet with her hair.
1) Her offering was sincere and pure in motives.
Sometimes our own offerings come from motives that are not so pure. We wish to receive recognition for our beautiful voice or grand piano playing. We get irritated when no one thanks us for teaching faithfully week after week in Sunday School.
We want others to notice what we give to the Lord.
But Mary's offering was done out of a heart of humility. She uncovered her head. She took the position of a servant. She risked the ridicule of those around her to give to her Savior her very best.
* What gifts are you able to give to Jesus?
* What should be our attitude when we give of our best to the Savior?
2) Her offering was costly
Mary took the little box that represented her investment, her dowry, her most prized possession and gave it to Jesus. Sometimes we think we have given the Savior our best, when really it is our least or perhaps our leftovers. We hold back from Him those things that we cherish most. Our children. Ourtime. Our resources. Our fellowship.
Not only was Mary's gift expensive, but it was costly to her reputation. The disciples all rebuked her for giving her gift to Jesus. Judas said, "This should have been sold and the money given to the poor!"
What is the best that you have that you can give to Jesus?
What are your reasons for keeping some things from Jesus?
Are there opinions of people, criticism or careless comments that may be keeping you from giving your best?
Who should we do our best for—the people or for Jesus?
When it's done for Him does it matter what others say?
3) Her offering left a sweet smelling fragrance.
Mary did not want to wait until Jesus' death to honor him with her offering. She wanted to give him her best while he was there to enjoy it.
When Mary gave Jesus her best it left a sweet smelling fragrance throughout the house. That fragrance has come down through the centuries to us today, as Jesus said all that hear the gospel will know of what Mary did for me. Jesus was touched by her offering. The perfume of her unselfish act still lingers with us today.
What fragrance do you leave as you give unto the Lord?
Is it a fragrant sacrifice that is pleasing to Him?
Or is it spoiled by an attitude of pride or bitterness?
12:4-6 But one of the disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray Jesus 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. Meaning: Judas was the disciple's accountant. And he was a thief. He did not want the money from the perfume to be given to the poor. He wanted the money so he could take some of it. He was a disciple with unpure motives. His whole reason for following Jesus was to get in on the recognition, fame, and wealth that he supposed would be his as treasurer of the kingdom's riches when Jesus became King. He failed to hear Jesus when Jesus said that being his disciple was hard. The way was narrow. And in order to follow him you had to take up your cross.
How is Judas' attitude different from Mary's?
1. His objection was not sincere or pure in motive.
* Did Judas really want to give money to the poor?
* What was Judas taking from the Lord?
* What was the attitude of his heart?
* What did Judas plan to do?
* When you chose to follow Jesus did you think it would be easy?
* Do you get upset when you face hardship as a Christian?
* What are your motives in following Jesus?
Mary followed Jesus not hoping to take part of the best of an earthly kingdom, but in order to give of her best to her Lord. She invested her all to be a servant of the King.
12:7 "Leave her alone," Jesus replied. "It was intended that she would save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you; but you will not always have me." Meaning: Mary received Jesus' recognition and praise while Judas received his rebuke.
* Who sees and knows our heart and motives as we serve?
* How does knowing this affect your attitude in serving?
* Read Colossians 3:23. Write down the attitude that we should have as we work for the Lord.
Light a fragrance candle or incense. Talk about our lives being a sweet fragrance and sacrifice for God. Pray asking God to help your family to always give your best to Him.
THURSDAY: PREPARING FOR PASSOVER MEAL
The Last Supper was held at Passover.
Invite another family over and share a Passover Meal. Read the story of the Last Supper from John 13:1-11. As you eat the traditional Jewish meal, discuss the symbolism of each of the items at the meal.
Serve Unleavened bread: This symbolizes the Bread the the Israelites took with them from Egypt. In their haste, they did not have time to let it rise. The bread that Jesus broke at the Last Supper was without yeast or unleavened. Yeast stands for sin. Jesus said the bread represents his body. He was without sin. His body was broken for us.
Serve Lamb: The Lamb was killed so that the blood could mark the doorposts of the houses of the Israelites. When the angel of death saw the blood on the doorpost he would pass over that house and not kill the first born child. Jesus is our Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
Serve Horseradish as a reminder of the bitterness the Israelites experienced while they were slaves. We remember how bitter our lives are when we are slaves to sin.
Serve Haroset. (Grind apples, nuts and a little honey together) The Haroset is eaten as a symbol of hope. Jesus is the hope of the world. He is sweeter than the honey in the honeycomb.
Dip Parsley into salt water and taste. This reminds us of the tears that were shed in Egypt. The parsley is a symbol of new life. We are reminded of the sorrow we feel when we think of Jesus dying on the cross. But the green reminds us of the new life that we have in Him.
Serve Grape Juice. Jesus said this cup was a sign of his shed blood for us on the cross. Whenever we drink it, we should drink it in remembrance of Him.
FRIDAY: THE DAY JESUS DIED
Read the story of Jesus betrayal and crucifixion. Discuss why Jesus was willing to die for our sins. Talk about accepting Jesus as your Savior from sin. If your child is old enough to understand, give him an opportunity to receive Jesus as Savior.
Other activities:
Make Hot Cross Buns. Use the Pop-N-Fresh Cinamon Rolls. Bake. Then Ice them by making a white cross on the top of each cinnamon roll.
Make an Easter Garden. Help your children make a terrarium garden. Use a planter base or tin foil baking dish. Add soil. Cut an orange juice container or toilet paper roll in half. Bury it in the soil so that just the opening shows. (It should look like a cave) This is the tomb. Add small plants around the tomb. Put a stone in front of the grave. (On Easter Morning be sure to have the stone rolled away with a sign that says, He is Risen!)
SATURDAY: LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS
Hold a Festival Of Light service in the evening.
Materials Needed:
• Large Candle
• Small individual candles for each person
The Large Candle should be lit and the lights in the room lowered.
Parents should read part 1. Children who are able should read Part 2.
1: The people walking in darkness have seen a great light
2: On those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.*
1: Long before Jesus was born, God spoke to His people through the prophet Isaiah. He said,
2: "Arise, shine for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
1: See the darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and His glory appears over you.
2: Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
1: Lift up your eyes and look about you: All assemble and come to you; your sons come from afar, and your daughters are carried on the arm, Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy.
2: All will come proclaiming the praise of the LORD!
1: Then you will know that I the LORD am your Savior, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.
2: No longer will violence be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction within your borders, but you will call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise.
1: The sun will no more be your light by day, nor the brightness of the moon shine on you.
2: For the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.
1: Before Jesus died, he told his disciples, I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
2: Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.
1: Jesus died to overcome the darkness of sin and arose that we might have His light within us. (Light your candle from the bigger candle)
2: We are to share His light with others. (Each person lights their candle, first from the leader then lighting the candle of the person beside him. Passing the light along.)
1: You are the light of the world
2: Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
1: Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
2: Help me Lord to share your light with others.
1: For a city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.
2: Instead they put it on its stand and it gives light to everyone in the house.
1: We ought to share His light with others. (Close by singing "This Little Light of Mine", or "Shine Jesus Shine" and then have prayer for those you know who need to have His light shine into their hearts.)
(Scripture references used: Isaiah 9:2, Matthew 4:16, Isaiah 60, Matthew5:14, 5:16, John 8:12, 12:46, Matthew 5:14, John 8:12.NIV)
SUNDAY: HE IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED!
Attend Church. Give your children easter baskets with a Christian theme. Emphasize Jesus rather than bunnies. Place in this basket a card and the following items. Write on the card the meaning of each item:
A Lamb: This represents the Lamb of God who came to take away our sin.
In a plastic egg: Jelly Beans that are the following colors:
* black : Stands for the darkness of our lives before Jesus when we were still in sin
* red: Stands for Jesus shed blood
* white: Stands for our sins that are washed away
* yellow: Stands for streets of gold in heaven
* green: Stands for growing in Jesus
Bookmarks or story books from the Bible Book Store that represent the story of Easter.
Rock candy to represent the stone that was rolled away.
Chocolate coins to remind us of the 30 pieces of silver.
An empty plastic egg in their basket and with a marking pen write "He is Risen" on the outside. The egg is empty for the "Empty Tomb."
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