“For the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd.”
On Easter Sunday, Christians around the world celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. For Christians, this is the single most important event in history, because the resurrection proves that Jesus is who He claimed to be. It proves He is God Almighty and has the power to forgive sin. Because of the resurrection, Jesus proves His power over death, and His ability to give us new life. Such an amazing truth!
Although I enjoyed hunting for Easter eggs as a child, it now bothers me that this is a tradition in Christian homes, and even more that many churches advertise Easter egg hunts to attract people to their churches on Easter Sunday. The whole story of the Easter Bunny greatly detracts from the most significant event in history! Surely God coming to earth in the flesh, being crucified, and rising from the dead should draw a crowd in its own merit. Do we really have to resort to stories about a fictitious bunny? Growing up as a Christian, I was often left feeling a bit disappointed with Easter day. My brother and I got our candy-filled Easter eggs (no complaints there!), went to church (like every Sunday), but then what? Aside from dressing up a little more than usual for church that morning, we didn’t really have any special traditions to celebrate Christ’s resurrection. Easter Bunny Alternative - It's All About a Lamb
I can’t hardly criticize, if I don’t offer a solution, though, right? So here is my attempt to propose a fun activity for kids that is actually relevant to the person of Jesus Christ, the reason Christians celebrate!
Easter is not about a bunny, but rather a Lamb. And a Shepherd and His sheep. Instead of hunting for eggs laid by the “Easter Bunny,” why not hunt for the “Lost Sheep,” as our Risen Lamb searches for us when we are lost? With some simple craft supplies, you can make little sheep that you can fill with candy (or treats of your choosing) and hide them around the house and yard for your kids to find. This would also be great for a Sunday School activity. In the Bible, Jesus is known both as the Shepherd and the Lamb. He is a Shepherd over us, and He was the sacrificial Lamb for us. Old Testament law required the regular blood sacrifice of animals, including lambs, for the atonement of sin. But God, in His love, sent His Son Jesus as the perfect Lamb to die once and for all as payment for the sins of mankind. This fulfilled the old sacrificial system, starting a new covenant between God and man. Jesus as the Lamb
Consider the following Scripture verses:
“He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth.” (Isaiah 53:7) “The next day [John the Baptist] saw Jesus coming to him and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!” (John 1:29) “...you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life...but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.” 1 Peter 1:18-19 “for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.” Revelation 7:17 Jesus as the Shepherd
“Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, In His arm He will gather the lambs And carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes.” Isaiah 40:11
“ For thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out.” Ezekiel 34:11 “As for you, My sheep, the sheep of My pasture, you are men, and I am your God,” declares the Lord God.” Ezekiel 34:31 “When Jesus went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things.” Mark 6:34 “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” John 10:11 “For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.” 1 Peter 2:25 How to Make Easter Egg Sheep
Materials You’ll Need:
The Steps
1. Cut a square of black felt, and shape it into a lamb face and ears. If it helps, you can draw yourself a template on a paper and trace it onto the felt. Doesn’t need to be exact, but something like this:
2. Put two tiny dabs of hot glue onto the face and secure the googly eyes.
3. Put four dabs of hot glue on the bottom of the egg and secure 4 pom poms to act as the feet. 4. Add a dab of glue to the front of the wide end of the egg, and secure the lamb’s face. 5. Add one more dab of glue on the back end and secure a 5th pom pom for the tail.
Make as many as you like, and fill each of the lambs with candy. Hide them around the house for kids to find, just as you would have done with regular Easter eggs!
In addition to candy you can also insert a Scripture verse related to the Resurrection into each “lamb” for another opportunity to review the Easter story as you find each one. (See below for a list of some good verses to use.) This activity is a great chance to share with your kids (and be reminded as adults) of how God cares for us and seeks us out when we’re lost and brings us back to Him. You can share how He laid down His life for us on the cross as the sacrificial Lamb, and rose again to seek out and Shepherd His flock. Sample Resurrection Verses
"Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies,” (John 11:25)
"who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord," (Romans 1:4) "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1 Peter 1:3) "He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying." (Matthew 28:6) "Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you.” (Matthew 28:7) "And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again." (Mark 8:31) "They will mock Him and spit on Him, and scourge Him and kill Him, and three days later He will rise again.” (Mark 10:34) "And he *said to them, “Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; behold, here is the place where they laid Him." (Mark 16:6) "Afterward He appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table; and He reproached them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen. " (Mark 16:14) “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon.” (Luke 24:34) "and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day" (Luke 24:36)
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AuthorFull time office worker, full time wife, and full time lover of Jesus. I'm kind of a Bible nerd, and I have a passion for finding ways to introduce Jesus in a practical way to everyday people doing everyday things. Archives
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