Are you prepared?

For many, this week is "March break," and there are lots of planned activities and holidays. Many children don't have school this week, and their parents are often looking for ways to keep their children occupied. What if this year's March break looked a little different? What if we pointed our kids towards Bible study, engaging them in fun and creative activities meant to direct their thoughts to learning to live as the Bible teaches us? What greater activity is there for our children than learning how Christ lived and died for us, and how we ought to express our thankfulness to Him? With Good Friday and Easter Monday coming up, why not prepare your children by teaching them what those days are really meant to celebrate?

Knowing what we do about Jesus Christ's death and resurrection, how do we prepare ourselves and our families to celebrate Good Friday and Easter Monday? The people in that time were not aware of what was to come and what it would mean for them and us, but Jesus knew, and He tried to prepare them. But He wasn't the only one preparing for His death and resurrection.

Turning to scripture, we can see in Matthew, Mark, and Luke that the chief priests and elders made the plans that led to Christ’s death. Fear, jealousy, and hypocrisy can tempt us and lead us to sin; when we make plans, we need to look at them in light of God's law to see whether they align with God's word. Matthew 26:3 says,

Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and plotted together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people.”

Instead of praising Jesus as God and Savior, they sought to kill Him. The very men who were His priests, who were supposed to be teaching the people about God, were actively trying to find a way to get rid of Him! How hard must that have been for Jesus Christ to know that the very ones who should worship Him are the ones trying to kill Him? Not only them, but one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, also plotted to kill Him. Luke 22:3-6 tells us

Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd.

Not only did He betray Him, but He did it with a kiss. A sign of affection was turned into a betrayal.

And immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man. Seize him and lead him away under guard.” And when he came, he went up to him at once and said, “Rabbi!” And he kissed him. And they laid hands on him and seized him. (Mark 14:43-45)

He was betrayed with a kiss! A gesture meant for loving affection was turned into a mark for death. The lessons we can learn from the sinful acts of the people are many, yet scripture teaches us not only how we shouldn't live, but also how we should live. Look to Jesus Christ's life and actions. In John 13:1-4, we see that Jesus held the Passover feast with His disciples, and there He continued to show His love for us.

Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper.

Jesus knew the time was coming for Him to die and pay the price for our sins, and still He loved us. His last free acts during the Passover were to prepare His disciples for what was to come. He washed their feet to set an example of how they ought to live. John 13:12 says,

When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.”

Throughout His whole time on earth, Jesus set an example for how we, as Christians, ought to live. He served others in many ways, and when His death was drawing near, He gave us the Lord's Supper to celebrate while we await His return. The apostle Paul spoke about this in 1 Corinthians 11:23-29: 

For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.

The Lord's Supper is a gift from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It reminds us to consider our lives and acknowledge how much we need Him. Not only was He preparing the disciples for His death, but He also gave us this to prepare us for His return. We know this because in Mark 14:24-25, Jesus said, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” Jesus bore for us, in body and soul, the wrath of God that should have been laid on us. He was perfectly obedient, fulfilling the righteous requirements of the law for us. Though innocent, He was condemned and forsaken so we might never be. 

What greater way is there to learn to live like Christ than by studying His life and the gospel? He prepared us all for His death and resurrection, but also for when He will return. The Bible teaches us how we are to live because "The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night" (1 Thessalonians 5:2). Are you prepared? Do you know the extent of what He endured for us? Are you prepared for His return? Colossians 3:23-24 reminds us:

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. 

How will you celebrate this Easter? 

A few ideas to help point your children's focus to God’s Word and how to live as He asks:

~ Fruit of the Spirit" Tree: Create a large paper tree. Each time a child shows kindness, love, or patience, write it on a paper fruit and add it to the tree.

~ Bible Verse Treasure Hunt: Hide pieces of a Bible verse around the house, leading them on a hunt to find and put the verse together.

~ Acts of Grace Eggs: Fill plastic eggs with small acts of service (e.g., "give a hug," "help with dinner") for children to complete throughout the week.