Easter Week is here with us and the little ones must be wondering
what it is all about.
Easter Week is here with us and the little ones must be wondering
what it is all about. Questions like what is Easter Sunday?’ Tell me the
Easter Story’ and others will be heard by parents often. How can you quench the
curiosity of your kids and explain the Easter story in words they can
understand? Be sure to use simple words and explain to them slowly. Also be
ready to answer questions they may have. Here is the story behind Easter that
you can just read to them.
The story of Easter begins at the times of Jesus, about 1960
years ago. Jesus and his followers are preparing for the Passover celebrations.
All Israelites celebrated this in remembrance of how God brought them from slavery
in Egypt. The High Priest at the time was called Caiaphas and his house was the
venue for discussion about how they would capture Jesus. They hated him due to
his popularity and thought He would take up their positions of power. They did
not believe that Jesus is the son of God.
At Caiaphas’ house, a man called Judas came and told the
leaders that he would betray Jesus if they would pay him something. He was
offered 30 pieces of silver and he accepted.
Jesus and his disciples made arrangements to have their Passover
meal at a man’s house in Jerusalem. During the Passover meal, Jesus broke the
bread and blessed it then said, “Take this and eat. It is my body that I am
giving to you.” He then took a glass of wine and said, “All of you drink this.
It is my blood that am giving to you.” Then He and the disciples ate and drank
together. As they talked, Jesus said that one of the disciples would betray
Him. Judas knew he was the one talked about and went out soon.
After the meal, Jesus and the disciples went out and they
continued to talk. He told the disciples that they would all run away from Him.
Peter was quick to respond saying that he would never leave Jesus’ side. But Jesus
replied, “Tonight you will deny me three times before the rooster crows.”
Next Jesus went with three of the disciples to Gethsemane to
pray. He told the disciples to pray that they be given strength against
temptation. He then moved away and started praying for God’s will to be done. He
prayed for an hour and then went back and found the disciples sleeping. He went
back to pray for an hour and came back to find the disciples asleep. This happened
thrice and finally when he came out he told them, “The hour has come for me to
be betrayed. Wake up! Here is the betrayer.”
Judas came and kissed Jesus signaling that he was the one.
Jesus was taken to the High Priest’s home and charged before a court. The Jewish
leaders said that he should be hanged for claiming to be the son of God.”
In the courtyard, Peter was recognized by people and asked
if he was with Jesus. He was very scared and denied this thrice and when the
rooster crowed he remembered what Jesus had told him. He then went out and
cried.
From the High Priest’s Jesus was taken to Pilate who was the
Roman governor. He questioned Jesus but the son of God did not say anything to
defend himself. Pilate did not believe Jesus ad done any wrong and decided to
send him to Herod who was the Jewish king. Herod mocked Jesus and instructed
his soldiers to beat him before sending him back to Pilate.
Pilate could not do anything but allow the people to decide.
The public asked for Barabbas; a notorious criminal to be released and Jesus to
be detained. When asked what was to be done to Jesus they shouted, “Crucify
Him! Crucify Him!” The pilate had to obey the people’s will and washed his
hands saying he had nothing to do with this decision.
Jesus was then taken by soldiers. His clothes were removed
and made to wear a scarlet robe and a crown of thorns on the head. They made
fun of him speaking disrespectfully, spitting on him and beating him up. He was
then taken and told to carry the cross he would be crucified on. Along the way
he could not do it because he was very injured. A man called Simon of Cyrene
was forced to help him.
They went to Golgotha and there he was nailed on the
cross. There were two thieves crucified on each side. The soldiers mocked him
and wrote “This is Jesus, the King of Jews” on top of the cross. Jesus prayed
for God to forgive them.
Later, the day turned into night at 12noon. It was dark
until 3p.m when the curtains at the temple tore and Jesus cried, ”My God, My
God. Why have you left me?” and died. He was buried in a tomb owned by Joseph
of Arimathea. This was on Friday.
On Sunday morning, a woman called Mary Magdalene went to the
tomb and found Jesus had resurrected. That is why we celebrate Easter Sunday.