Resurrection Celebration

Christians! Here we go! It’s game day. Show time. Festival of the year! Resurrection Sunday is around the corner.

And if there was ever anything to celebrate, Jesus coming back to life is it. All joy and hope are possible because of it. Without the resurrection, we have no forgiveness for our sins or hope of eternal life. Jesus would be just a good teacher, a sad tale of a good man killed for believing differently. Death would have continued to be the end of all stories.

But when we read detailed, eye-witness accounts of Jesus’s empty tomb, of his appearance to many, and of his ascension to heaven . . . then we know good conquers evil, our sins can be forgiven, and hope covers the entire Earth and all of mankind. The celebration begins! This is a hope that can overcome the deepest despair of the world.

Unless Christ was raised to life, your faith is useless, and you are still living in your sins.

1 Corinthians 15:17 (CEV)

Christ’s death and resurrection are core to the Christian faith. But what then shall we do with this great gift? Once you have received Christ and experience the life that comes from his life, what’s next? If you’re expecting the answer to be attending Easter services at church and eating a big meal with family afterward, you’re missing the point. The Good News of the Gospel is meant to be shared with others! When eye-witnesses saw the empty tomb, they simply could not keep the news to themselves. In fact, they ran to tell others! The impossibility of it all forced them to acknowledge the holiness of our God and the purpose behind his coming.

Talk to your children about this. As you celebrate Good Friday and Easter, try to put yourselves there—at Calvary, at the tomb. Try to imagine what you would do if you saw the empty tomb. Then ask God to help you share his Gospel with enthusiasm today—with your kids, with your neighbors, with anyone and everyone.

After all, he is risen! He is risen indeed!

PRAY

Lord Jesus, thank you for loving us enough to die for us. And thank you for giving us the power of your resurrection. We are overwhelmed by your goodness and love. Help us to share this good news with others! Amen.

TIME TO TALK

Conversation starter for kids: Provides you with questions and prompts to facilitate a time of applicable discussion with children to lead them towards knowing God and his Word more deeply.

Question(s): Why do you think it matters so much that Jesus rose from the dead?

Apply: As you celebrate Easter, find ways to talk about how central Jesus’s resurrection is to the Christian faith. Here are some activities you can do together that might offer time to have these conversations: In addition to colorfully dyed or candy filled Easter eggs, make resurrection eggs—plastic eggs filled with symbols for the Easter story such as a thorn for the crown of thorns. Look for Christian books that tell the story or watch a movie that makes it more visual for your kids. Plant a seed or bulb and watch for life to sprout from death and burial. Turn up the worship music (find a song about the resurrection) and dance before the Lord. Make a celebratory feast and invite everyone to the table!

KEEP IT GOING

Related passages: These additional verses will help parents expand Scriptural knowledge and place on the armor of God’s Word to tackle each day. Swipe to read the passages today.

Isaiah 53:4-5

Romans 6:8-9

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Tonia Gutting wrote this devotional for the Hero Squad Program of the American Bible Society. Hero Squad provides complimentary faith-based resources to strengthen and encourage military families through God’s Word. For more information or to enroll your military family, check out our website. www.myherosquad.org.