Help children understand who Jesus is, what He did, and why His death and resurrection matter to us today!
Easter, like Christmas, is a special time of year. Even people who don’t regularly go to church frequently will attend an Easter service with their kids. This holiday often occurs in the spring, when new life is budding, and the earth is waking up from the dreary, cold days of winter.
Hope and fresh starts fill the air. In the midst of blooming trees and newly born animals, we have an excellent opportunity to point to Jesus, the Rescuer who came to end death and make all things new.
I knew that Jesus came back to life on Easter, but that detail seemed peripheral—almost like a happy ending to an otherwise tragic story. But I eventually realized that something incredible happened when Jesus stepped out of that tomb.
He definitively conquered evil and death. He healed the impassable breach that existed between not only God and man, but man and man—as well as man and all of creation.
This rescue didn’t depend on me or my actions—it rested fully on Jesus.
I still remember the sense of relief and peace I felt when I understood that Jesus would make all things (including me) right; it wasn’t up to me!
One common way to remember both the joy and weight of Easter is by participating in the season of Lent. One of the first known mentions of a similar (but shorter) season occurred in the 100’s A.D. and is attributed to an early church leader named Irenaeus of Lyons.
Then at a meeting of church leaders in the 300’s A.D., they discussed a 40-day season of fasting.
Though traditions vary, Lent is still celebrated around the world and usually encompasses the 6-7 weeks before Easter. Many faith traditions observe Lent through fasting and other acts of self-denial or penance.
My new book, The Easter Storybook: 40 Bible Stories Showing Who Jesus Is, helps kids prepare for Easter and better understand why we celebrate it every year.
Through reading a beautifully illustrated, one-page story each day in the weeks leading up to Easter, parents and kids alike will grasp not only the purpose behind the season but also the beauty and grace of our Rescuer.
The stories begin with Jesus in the temple as a boy and end with His appearances after the resurrection, explaining in simple terms what His life, death, and return to life meant—both then and now.
Though the book’s format is ideal for families, churches can easily incorporate it into their Easter celebrations.
One idea is to print out a reading plan for each family. On Sundays, a particular story from the week’s reading could be highlighted, or children could discuss their favorite story from the week.
The book includes well-known occurrences from Jesus’ life; such as His baptism, final entry into Jerusalem, the Last Supper, the crucifixion, and several stories after His resurrection. Those stories could be used if you want to take a chronological approach during the weeks before Easter.
Certain themes also loosely organize the narrative; such as stories that depict Jesus as Good Shepherd, Healer, and Lamb of God. If you prefer a more thematic presentation, I recommend that you read those particular stories on Sundays.
My desire is for this book to help kids grasp the significance of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.
Jesus’ death was the sacrifice that brought us close to God and each other again. His resurrection was the ultimate triumph of Life and Love over evil, suffering, and death.
He is the King bringing a kingdom where everything is right—where people love God, each other, and all of creation again—like in the beginning.
And He invites everyone who realizes their need for Him—everyone who believes—to enter His kingdom and enjoy true life with Him. Believing in Jesus changes not only our future, but also our present. Jesus invites us to join Him now in His work of rescue and renewal.
I wrote The Easter Storybook to help kids understand Jesus, a Jewish man whose arrival had been anticipated for centuries. The stories can be read daily during the 40-day season of Lent.
My first book, The Advent Storybook, travels through the Old Testament and shows why Jesus came. It is intended to be read during Advent, the 25-day season leading up to Christmas.
This sequel shows who the Promised Son really was as He lived, healed, taught, and loved in a first-century, Middle Eastern context.
Jesus came to rescue us and make all things new. His life was beautiful, and I hope these stories give families a glimpse of His stunning love.
The Easter Storybook explains who Jesus is, what He did, and why His death and resurrection matter, in a simple way that children ages 4–8 can understand and remember. As a fitting companion to the bestselling The Advent Storybook, this book is a wonderful way to discover as a family why Jesus came to earth as Rescuer, Redeemer, and Friend.
