LoVe My LiFe!!!!: Resurrection Garden

The kids and I got this project idea from my dear friend and neighbor. We did this as a family and had a great time while doing the project, but also while remembering and recounting the story of Jesus' betrayal, crucifixion, and resurrection. We still give the kids' chocolate and an Easter surprise, but it doesn't come from a fictional bunny. It comes from parents who give them a gift to remind them of the gift God gave us when He gave us Jesus' life for our own. Enjoy!

Rob and I began by reading from Matthew 26 on Thursday evening before Good Friday. (I used Matthew to be brief for my younger children.) We skipped around in the chapter to hit the highlights of Jesus praying to the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane. We continued by reading about Jesus' arrest and interrogation before the high priests. The next morning, Good Friday, while the kids finished their breakfast, Rob and I continued reading in Matthew 27, the story of Jesus being brought before Pilate and the mob, the crucifixion, and the burial of Jesus. Then, we began the project...

FIRST: Hot glue pieces of craft sticks together to form crosses. (We made Jesus' cross larger than the other two for the thieves.) We also added a brace at the bottoms of the crosses to support them by hot glueing a piece of a craft stick vertically at the bottom of each cross. Spread dirt on a plate and set the crosses in the dirt. Commemorate Jesus' crucifixion by adding wild flowers from your yard or neighborhood. (*Note: Wild flowers are used because they will die quickly symbolizing the sadness of the death of Jesus and how Mary, Joseph, and the followers of Jesus must have felt during this time.)

SECOND: Construct a tomb out of a cardboard, plastic, or paper tube (Anything works, but we used a plastic tube from a coffee creamer container and wrapped it in construction paper.) Find a large rock that will cover the opening of your tomb. Spread dirt on a larger plate and begin decorating. We added two "Roman soldiers" from my son's jedi collection :) to serve as the guards that kept watch over the tomb. We added more wild flowers to commemorate the burial of Jesus.

(*NOTE: JOHN 19:41)

*WE LEAVE THE DISPLAY ON OUR KITCHEN TABLE SO WE TALK ABOUT IT OFTEN WHILE WE EAT OUR MEALS AND COME TO THE TABLE. WHEN THE FLOWERS BEGIN TO WILT, TALK ABOUT HOW SAD JESUS' MOTHER AND HIS FOLLOWERS WOULD HAVE BEEN AT THIS TIME. (This can open an opportunity for you to share the Gospel in your own home with your family. Be sure to tell your family that Jesus was crucified for each person's sins individually. By telling this, you open the door for the Holy Spirit to CALL your loved ones to repentance. So many times we have people repeat a prayer without there having been conviction and a call to repentance from the Holy Spirit.) DON'T BE SURPRISED IF THERE IS A KIND OF YUCKY FEELING IN YOUR HOME/CHILDREN DURING THESE COUPLE OF DAYS; THIS JUST BUILDS FOR THE EXCITEMENT ON SUNDAY MORNING!!! THERE AGAIN, IT IS HARD TO STAY IN A YUCKY FEELING STATE WHEN WE ALREADY KNOW THE END OF THE STORY!!!! PRAISE THE LORD! :)

THIS IS HOW OUR DISPLAY LOOKS ON OUR TABLE IN OUR HOME.