Teaching the Passover at Easter
Kick the kids back in their chair through killing a sugary candy peep on the table. Just kidding. But, to make Easter or Resurrection Week memorable, God has supplied an Old Testament event of the Passover to better understand a New Testament event of Jesus’ death and resurrection. No matter what you teach, the visiting kids coming to a church service need to hear the good news of Jesus and also why it is good news to their young souls. Remember, a thirty-minute lesson might not change a kid on the spot, but can implant the lesson that may be changing later in their life.
Kick the kids back in their chair through killing a sugary candy peep on the table. Just kidding. But, to make Easter or Resurrection Week memorable, God has supplied an Old Testament event of the Passover to better understand a New Testament event of Jesus’ death and resurrection. No matter what you teach, the visiting kids coming to a church service need to hear the good news of Jesus and also why it is good news to their young souls. Remember, a thirty-minute lesson might not change a kid on the spot, but can implant the lesson that may be changing later in their life.
Remember, as teachers and leaders we may have a good understanding our own kids; however, we lack understanding of the kids visiting. Kids are dynamic little people that do not articulate themselves like an adult. But, they observe their surroundings well. Some may have come from an abusive or bullying home, some may come from Brady Bunch family, and some may be lonely and isolated. They may play normally, but as teachers we see past the mere externals and offer the greatest news ever.
Learning candy is delicious and their souls can be free is one great day, like Israel experienced at the Passover! God heard the cries of his people during Egyptian slavery and acted for Israel’s good. The last plague God used to convince Pharaoh to release the slaves was to kill the firstborn (Exodus 11-12). The firstborn’s would die unless their was blood on the doorpost of their home. At midnight, the angel of death passes over Egypt, leaving alone the homes with lamb’s blood and entering the homes that lacked the blood.
Jesus has become our lamb. His blood is on the doorpost of our hearts. When God the Father passes over us, he sees Jesus’ blood and gives us life (Luke 22:7).
Have the kids draw large shapes of a lamb and a doorpost. Paint the doorpost red signifying the blood of the lamb. The lesson and image is easy, memorable, and true.
To be continued …
Further Reading:
Vintage Church: Timeless Truths and Timely Methods
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This is part of the blog posts series from Missional Education on the gospel in children’s ministry.
