Teaching Kids About Jesus’ Sacrifice: Family Bible Study for Easter
Bible Verse
18 I, the Lord, invite you to come and talk it over. Your sins are scarlet red, but they will be whiter than snow or wool. Isaiah 1:18
As a kid, I experienced very strong feelings and asked many questions as I heard the stories of Christ’s suffering. Teaching preschool and elementary children in church, I have realized how common it is for kids to cry when they hear about, see illustrations of, or watch dramatizations of the Jerusalem crowds and the Roman soldiers’ cruelty to Jesus. It’s natural and right for us to feel sad, but it’s also important to remind kids of the hope that we have because Jesus suffered for us and conquered death.
Here’s a way to discuss Jesus’ sacrifice as a family. Read the verses and explore the topics over a number of devotion moments. Choose the best times to read and study together.
The stain of sin
Read the story of the fall in Genesis 3 and Romans 5:15-17. Discuss it together.
- What separated Adam and Eve from God? (Sin)
- God had a plan to rescue his people from sin and death, to bring them back to him. He planned to make the broken world whole again, to clean the stain of sin. What is God’s gift to us? (Undeserved grace; acceptance because of Jesus)
Made holy
Read Hebrews 10:1-18. Discuss it together.
- We have all sinned and disobeyed God. How can we, as sinners, be made holy? (Because Jesus Christ “obeyed God and offered himself once for all” (v. 10).)
- How long does Jesus’ sacrifice last? (Forever! “By his one sacrifice, he has forever set free from sin the people he brings to God” v. 13).)
Tears to joy
Read John 16:16-33. Discuss it together.
- Jesus said this to his disciples before he died on the cross. What did he say would happen? (Jesus would go away, but he would come back. The disciples would be sad, but later, they would be happy.)
- Why did Jesus say they could cheer up, even when they had trouble? (Jesus has already defeated the world; he is the King forever!)
- When we read about Jesus’ death and feel sad, what can we do? (We can remember that he defeated sin and death and rose from the grave; he is alive!)
White as snow
Demonstrate the way Jesus makes us new in this hands-on way:
- Take a white piece of paper and help your kids cut it into a heart shape. Challenge your kids to get it as covered as possible with crayons, markers, or stickers. Explain that that is what our hearts look like because of sin. They’re messy and dirty, and it seems like they’ll never be clean.
- Then explain that Jesus’ death on the cross washed away all of our sins. Because of him, we are forgiven. We aren’t saved from our sins by working really hard or being “good enough.” It’s God’s gift (Ephesians 2:8-9).
- Take small pieces of paper or cotton balls and glue them to the “messy” heart. Cover each and every bit with pure, white “snow.” Hang the heart on your fridge as a reminder that Jesus makes us new again.
Every time I read the gospels, my eyes are opened more to Jesus' amazing grace. We cannot fully explain or grasp it as kids or adults. But the beauty is that God meets us where we are; his Word gives us truth that can be planted in our hearts and grow as we learn to love him more and more.
Want to do a deep dive? Check out Family Fire's article Living Our Easter Identity: The Impact of Christ's Dying Words.
Areo Keller-Donahue
As soon as Areo could pick up a popsicle stick, she was making puppets and putting on plays that shared her faith with her neighbors. Areo grew up with a strong interest in musical theatre and earned her BFA at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Areo was led to use artistic gifts to share the gospel with young ones, and she became involved in ministry. She has worked in children's ministry at Redeemer Upper West Side and North Way Christian Community and is currently developing a musical live-action series that celebrates faith and fun. Areo and her husband live in Pittsburgh, where they enjoy spending time with their families and adorable cat, Daisy.
