Imagine a dark stage. The heavy scarlet curtain is closed tight, and a man in black stands posed, ready to pull on the golden rope and display the performance.
Actors and props gather in hushed excitement. Grown men are dressed in bunny costumes with little pink bow-ties fastened around their necks. White sparkly baskets filled with fake green grass dangle on their arms. Little children in lamb outfits straighten their ears and refasten their fluffy tails. A large plywood circular sunshine squeaks down from the imagined sky.The stage manager makes his way through the cluttered maze, being careful not to step on the felt grass or large foam eggs.
Near the back of the stage, almost forgotten, a chain dangles from a purple, glittered tree. On the end of the chain is a seemingly insignificant gold cross, hardly the size of a dime.
As the play of Easter begins this April, let’s make sure that the cross of Christ is placed where it belongs. Let’s talk about ways to swing the spotlight away from the pretend to the reality: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. (I Cor 15:3-4).
For the next five days, I’ll be sharing ways to guide your thoughts and your family toward Jesus, and I’d love for you to share what your family is doing as well!
Our family is reading a new book this year. Amon’s Adventure by Arnold Ytreeide is a daily devotional that guides a family through Lent in story-form with discussion questions at the end of each chapter. Exciting and engaging, we are following a young boy who is trying to save his father’s life.
This is a part of a series of books that Ytreeide has written. Last Christmas, our family read his book Jotham’s Journey.
Do you have any family-favorite Easter books?
I have often watched the movie, The Miracle Maker, a clay-mation/animation telling of Jesus’ life, from the point of view of the little girl He brings back to life. Also, I read books that focus on the resurrection, such as Who Moved the Stone? by Morison or the Resurrection Factor by Josh McDowell. Neither is for kids, though maybe you could summarize or read excerpts.