Helping Children Understand Easter

When I was eight years-old I made the most important decision of my life.  I received Christ as my personal Savior.  Ever since that day I have had the confidence that Christ paid the penalty of my sins and I am His!  I know I’ll spend eternity with Him – not because of anything I’ve done, but because of what Christ did for me.

That decision did more than give me a happy ending to my story!  It also gave me a burden to help other children understand what Jesus’ death and resurrection means for them and why they need to receive Him, too.

Let’s face it – the crucifixion and its implications seem hard to explain to an adult, but to break it down for a child can be even more difficult.  I’m no expert at this – I just keep on trying to find the words and object lessons to share with children so their hearts can grasp the precious truths that Easter holds for anyone who will receive it!

Don’t shy away from letting a child know that Jesus suffered on the cross.  He chose to die.  He laid down His life willingly even though He knew He would endure so much.  His suffering reminds of His great love and sacrifice for us! Make Good Friday a day in which you talk about Jesus’ death, but remind them that Sunday’s coming!!

Here’s one object lesson about what Jesus did for us that I shared a couple years ago and have done many times since.

Doesn’t that simply show that Christ took our sin on Himself?

Make Easter Sunday a HUGE day of celebrating Christ’s resurrection from the grave.  We did that by using Saturday for egg hunts and Easter baskets and reserving Sunday for worship and rejoicing!

• Have a special breakfast with Resurrection rolls.
• Read the Resurrection story from Scripture.
• Attend church where the resurrection will be preached.
• Have a special dinner, but focus your conversation on the meaning of the day.

Some salvation terms that I’ve had to simplify in my communication are things like –

• Sin – Sin is anything that does not please God.  Lying, disobeying, taking something that is not yours, thinking unkind thoughts, etc.
• Ask Jesus in your heart – I think the phrase Accepting Jesus is more understandable. It implies receiving Jesus.  Like you receive a gift, you must take what Jesus did for you on the cross.  Unless you accept His gift, it does you no good. Using the phrase, Ask/invite Jesus into your heart is confusing for a child.  To tell them to Accept or receive His gift of salvation is clearer.  John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
• Salvation – Jesus doing for me what I could not do for myself.  He did it all!!

Some good questions to ask a child who is inquiring about  salvation ~

• Why did Jesus come to earth? – To die for our sins.
• Why did Jesus have to be the One die? – He is the only one without sin.  A (dirty) sinner  cannot clean another person’s sin!
• Why did He have to be crucified?  Blood had to be shed.
• Are you a sinner? Romans 3:23
• What is the only way we can be clean from our sin? – Accept what Jesus did for us on the cross. John 1:12
• What does Jesus give us when we accept His gift of salvation?  Eternal life  (Life with Him that lasts forever)

Easter shows that Jesus was victorious over sin, death and hell.  Because Christ arose we can have clean hearts and eternal life with Him when we receive His gift of salvation!  Friend, ave you accepted His gift so you can have assurance of eternal life in heaven?  The Bible says we have to become like a little child.  That means that though a child doesn’t understand all the big words and ramifications of salvation, they just know they’re sinners who need a Savior.  In simple faith they receive.  That’s all you have to do.  Tell Christ that you want what He did for you on the cross so you can be His child and have a relationship with Him.

If you have been saved, are you telling others – especially children about Jesus?  If a child gets saved they have their whole life to live for Him!  They’ll never forget that you told them about the most important decision they will ever make!

Looking forward to Easter Sunday,