REAL Easter Eggs

  When I was working at Rachel Sims Baptist Mission a few years ago, a mission group brought some Resurrection Eggs to do with the kids.  I had never heard of them before, but went and bought some ASAP after that day.  This year, I shared them with Anna Beth and Lynnsie.  I cannot write the words that accurately describe the experience of sharing this with Anna Beth and Lynnsie.  Anna Beth knew so much that I was already telling her about each egg.  There are a dozen eggs, each one with a different object in it that symbolizes a part of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection (thus the name Resurrection Eggs).  Here is what is in each egg and I've put in parenthesis AB's response as she saw each of them - mostly for me to remember her understanding at this age of Christ's death and resurrection.

 Donkey: Jesus rode a lowly donkey to ride into Jerusalem just before His death and Resurrection. Matt. 21:1-9 ('Jesus rides a donkey.')
Silver Coins: Judas accepted 30 silver coins for betraying Jesus into the hands of the Jewish leaders. Matt. 26:14-16; 27:1-5 *this was the going price for a slave during this time...
Passover Cup: Jesus used the Last Supper to explain His death. Matt. 26:17-19, 26-28; Ex. 12:23 ("Jesus broke the bread and shared it with His friends.")
Praying Hands: These hands remind us that Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray with His disciples just before He was arrested. Mark 14:32-42 ("Jesus prayed in the garden.")

Leather Whip: After His trial by Pilate, the roman soldiers used leather ropes with rocks and metal woven in to whip Jesus. John 19:1-5 ("Mommy, the bad men whipped Jesus.")

Crown of Thorns: A crown of thorns was placed on His head to mock Him. Matt. 27:29 - 31. ("They put that crown on Jesus' head and it had stickers and it hurt.")

Nails in the Cross: Three large nails were driven into Jesus' hands and feet to nail Him to the cross. John 19:16-22 (pointing to her feet and hands,  "They put those nails in His feet and hands.")
Dice for gambling: Roman soldiers gambled for Jesus' clothes using dice. John 19:23 - 25
Soldier's Spear: Roman soldiers used a spear to pierce Jesus' side when He was on the cross. John 19:31-37 ("They poked Him in His belly.")
Linen Wrapping: Joseph of Arimathea wrapped Jesus' body in linen after He died on the cross. Matt. 27:57-61 ("They wrapped Jesus up.")
Stone of the Tomb: The huge stone that covered the tomb was found rolled away. Matt. 28:1-3)
Empty Tomb: Jesus tomb was empty because He rose from the dead.  Matt. 28:5-8 ("Jesus lives in our hearts, Mommy.")

  Like I said, words cannot describe the joy at hearing my almost 3 year old tell me so many things about Christ's death and resurrection.  We talked about why He did each of these things...because He loves her and me and Lynnsie and Daddy and everyone in the whole world.  Lynnsie mostly enjoyed looking at each object which is fine because she has to start somewhere.  Of all of the eggs that were a part of her Easter weekend....these were her favorite.  More than the ones we hunted, more than the ones with candy, and more than the ones we dyed.  Her favorites were the ones that told her just how much Jesus loves her...and you.

*In the picture above of the eggs, the egg with the dice is missing....curious toddlers!! I'm sure it'll turn up somewhere :)