The Easter Story: Explaining the Gospel Through Resurrection Eggs
Since FamilyLife first began offering Resurrection Eggs® in 1995, we’ve heard many stories about the creative ways people have used this resource to explain the Easter story to children. This simple product, which includes a dozen plastic eggs containing different objects that symbolize parts of the Easter story, has caught on with parents, Sunday school instructors, pastors, Bible study leaders, and many others.
Here are two examples of how people are using Resurrection Eggs to tell children about Christ:
An afternoon of egg hunts
by Mary May Larmoyeux
The spring afternoon began with a warning to my two young grandchildren. “Don’t peek,” I said, and then walked out of the house to begin hiding a set of Resurrection Eggs.
Soon I had placed the 12 colorful eggs inside bushes, next to rocks, and even in the back of a yellow plastic dump truck.
“I’m ready,” I shouted, imagining the grandkids’ ears pressed against the back door.
The children swung open the door. With plastic bags in hand, an unofficial race was on: Who would find the most eggs?
My granddaughter made the first discovery. “Found one!” she cried as she pulled it away from a clump of leaves. Close behind, her little brother picked up an egg near the base of a large pine tree.
Sometimes I’d help the kids out. “You’re getting hotter,” I’d say as they neared a plastic treasure. After all 12 eggs were finally discovered, the children and I sat together on some concrete steps. What would we find inside the colorful eggs?
My 6-year-old granddaughter took out the Resurrection Eggs booklet and began reading about each of the numbered eggs.
“Who has number one?” she said and then realized, “I have it!” Opening the first egg, which was blue, she discovered a little donkey. She held it in the air, admired it, and then she read from the booklet: “In Jesus’ day, most people walked everywhere. Sometimes, kings rode on donkeys or horses when they entered the city …”
“Number two?” she asked.
“I have it,” my 3-year-old grandson said. When he opened it he cried, “Money!”
Sis assured him that it was not “real money,” but I don’t think he believed her. He tightly clutched the three plastic coins in his small hands.
After reading about Judas Iscariot betraying Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, we continued on …
When we opened egg number seven, my grandson was delighted with its contents. “Look, it’s a sword!” he said as he moved it back and forth. “Like a pirate. I like pirates!”
“It’s really a nail,” I said. Well, at least his big sister understood.
A bird flew nearby and my grandson’s attention quickly drifted to it. He smiled and waved towards the sky, “Hi! Cindy!”
“Yep, that’s Cindy,” big sis chimed in. She pointed to another side of the yard, “And her husband is over there.”
I nodded. “Didn’t Cindy build a nest in your yard last year?”
Indeed she had, I was told. And she has another one in the yard this year!
After detours like that, we finally reached the last egg, number 12.
But as my grandson opened the white plastic egg, his joy was transformed into dismay. There was nothing inside. He examined it more closely. Surely something was there! But it was empty.
“It’s okay,” I said and patted his back. I told him that the white egg was empty on purpose, to remind us that the grave couldn’t hold Jesus. We celebrate Easter because He arose!
“Let’s do it again,” big sister said. “And this time, I’ll hide the eggs.”
Planting seeds through Resurrection Eggs
By David Hogan
A few years ago, I saw some of FamilyLife’s Resurrection Eggs in a Christian bookstore. I was drawn to the 12 colorful plastic eggs, each containing a small object that tells part of the story of Jesus’ death, burial, and Resurrection.
That’s just what I was looking for! I thought. An interactive way to tell the real story of Easter.
So I started giving sets of Resurrection Eggs to children at a school in my community. This has now blossomed into my individual ministry.
It all began when I took some sets of Resurrection Eggs to some of the pre-kindergarten and kindergarten teachers. The children loved them so much that I was asked to bring in more sets—one for each child. I hoped the children would not only learn about Easter, but also share their carton of Resurrection Eggs with their friends and family.
I received thank you cards (with the signatures of all of the children) from each of the classes. The kids were so excited about the Resurrection Eggs that I’ll be back next year to give some to the pre-kindergarten children. I’ve already ordered another 72 cartons to use over the next few years.
Resurrection Eggs has also been a great connecting tool for me and my 3-year-old godson. I’ve enjoyed watching him interact with the small objects inside each of the 12 plastic eggs. Once, when he held the figurine of folded hands, he told me that it reminded him of the way I fold my hands during prayer. He also loves to grasp the tiny chalice figurine and put the miniature replica of Christ’s crown of thorns on his small head.
As I watched my godson examine the objects, I heard him remark, “Those soldiers weren’t very nice to Jesus. They put nails in his hands and in his feet. … And He had blood from his side where they pierced it.”
Hearing those words was very encouraging to me. My little godson is on the right track. Whenever he and I are together, we talk about Jesus. Resurrection Eggs have played a big part in that.
It is very rewarding to express God’s love to my godson and to children I hardly know. I plan to continue giving sets of Resurrection Eggs not only to area schools, but also to some daycare centers. Jesus said in Matthew 19:14, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”
I use Resurrection Eggs to plant the seeds of the gospel in the hearts of little children and trust God to do the rest.
Used with permission. Copyright © 2012 by FamilyLife. All rights reserved.