Easter Sunday: A Guide for the Church
From the beginning of time, God had a plan to save His people from their sins. Out of His love for us, He made a way for sinners to escape the punishment we deserve. He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to live the life we could never live. Jesus never sinned! He always obeyed God perfectly.
The people of Israel, however, did not believe Jesus was God’s son. They had Him arrested and asked the governor Pilate to kill Him. Though Pilate knew Jesus had done nothing wrong, He did what the people wanted and ordered Jesus to be crucified. The soldiers beat Him and, to make fun of Him, put a royal robe on His back and a crown of thorns on His head, and mockingly yelled, “Hail, King of the Jews!”
They then took Jesus and nailed Him to a cross and placed a sign above His head to mock Him again, which read, “This is Jesus, King of the Jews.” Beside Him hung two other criminals. Around noon, as Jesus hung there, darkness covered the land. Around three in the afternoon on a Friday, Jesus cried out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” and then died. They took His body and buried it in a tomb and sealed it with a large stone.
But this is not the end of the story. On Sunday morning, God miraculously raised Jesus from the dead! Jesus’s friends came to visit His tomb, only to find it empty, along with an angel there who said, “Do not be afraid! I know you are looking for Jesus, but He is not here. He has been resurrected!”
Easter Sunday celebrates the greatest day in history—the day God raised Jesus from the dead so that the entire world might know He is the Son of God!
Why should I emphasize Easter Sunday in my home?
The center of the Christian Gospel is the Easter story—Jesus’s death, burial, and resurrection from the dead. What happened that week- end changed the world forever and should be emphasized in your home. Here’s why:
1. Easter Sunday teaches us who we are. Jesus had to die because we were rebel sinners who deserved God’s judgment. Since God is just, He did not just overlook our sins; He punished them by sending Jesus to die in our place. This Easter, help your children see who they are as sinners in need of Christ.
2. Easter Sunday teaches us who God is. It would have been fair for God to have judged us, for each of us are rebel sinners. But out of His love, He provided a way of salvation! This Easter, help your children see just how amazing our God of love and grace is! He is faithful when we are not!
3. Easter Sunday teaches us the heart of the Gospel. The Christian Gospel is so much more than “Jesus loves you. The Gospel is that Jesus loves” you so much that He died for you, paying the penalty for your sins, and rose again so that you might have the promise of eternal life. This Easter, help your children see that this day celebrates the greatest day in history and is the heart of the Gospel.
How can I teach my child more about Easter Sunday?
As a parent, God has called you to be the primary disciple-maker in your child’s life. Here are three ways you can teach your child more about Easter Sunday:
1. Read the Bible story together. All four gospels record this story (Matthew 28:1–10, Mark 16:1–8, Luke 24:1–12, John 20:1–29). Pick one or a few and read them together.
2. Emphasize Jesus over Easter eggs. When the day is over, will your child go to bed remembering the gift Jesus offered or the gift the “Easter Bunny” left?
3. Talk about Easter all the time. The story of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection is the central message of Christianity and should be talked about year-round, not just on Easter Sunday.