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“I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said.” 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (NLT)
Easter is the oldest and most important holiday in the Christian faith! It’s the cornerstone on which Christianity is based and the celebration of God’s power demonstrated by the resurrection of Jesus three days after His death.
But how do I explain the significance of Easter to young children? In addition to attending Easter Sunday services, I’m thinking the traditional egg hunt will do just fine! Have you ever heard of the jelly bean poem?
Red is for the blood He gave; green is for the grass He made.
Yellow is for the sun so bright; orange is for the edge of night.
Black is for the sins we made; white is for the grace He gave.
Purple is for His hour of sorrow; pink is for a new tomorrow.
And handful of jelly beans, colorful and sweet – is a prayer, is a promise, is a loving special treat.
Fill your hidden eggs with jelly beans. After the egg hunt, sort (and eat!) favorite colors as you read through the poem. Chances are the simple rhythm of these words will stay with them long after the candy is gone!
It’s just one way of keeping the focus of Easter on Christ.
