DAY ONE

The King of Glory Comes!

Today I’m sharing with you our first devotional from the Easter Project.  The kids and I sat down this week and read Matthew 21 and Luke 19: 28-40.

{You can also find the story of the “Triumphant Entry” in many children’s Bibles. Our favorite is The Child’s Story Bible by Catherine F. Vos.}

Most of us are familiar with this story as we commemorate it every year for Palm Sunday.

It’s a great place to begin the days leading up to Easter because it reveals Jesus’ kingship and authority, yet how very “different” He was from the other kings of Israel.

We began our discussion with this question– “What if the president came to our town or a famous person–how would we honor them?  If we had a parade, what would their float look like?” 

After we read the Bible story, we then talked about the similarities and differences between the parade thrown for Jesus and a modern day parade.

Jesus was a King but a servant King.  The Son of God, the Rescuer of the world, rode on the back of a young donkey foal.

Instead of flaunting gold and riches and stature, He was flaunting grace and freedom for Jerusalem.

The people’s hearts cried out, “Hosanna!”  Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”  Even when Jesus was rebuked by the Pharisees for the noise, Jesus says, “if [the people] keep quiet, the very stones will cry out.”

And here we see again a precious promise of God being fulfilled from 500 years earlier in Zechariah 9:9–

Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!
    Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
    righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey,
    on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

The kids were AMAZED at this thought.  They were so excited that something God had said long ago came true!  And isn’t that true for us too?  We are just amazed that God will do what He said He would do.  (May that touch our heart for whatever promise we are holding out for today…)

Then we rode around the house like donkeys waving palm branches and reliving the story of our King.

It’s always great to see what the kids get out of it.

Often I am quick to give my “take home” thoughts but let us not forget that it is God who is at work in our children’s hearts, and His word will accomplish what He desires. 

Let them tell you the story back in their own words, and ask one simple question—“What does this teach you about Jesus?” 

Our favorite songs to sing along with this story are “The King of Glory Comes,” an Israeli folk song AND “Hosanna (Praise is Rising)” by Paul Baloche.

We wanted to do something special to serve as a visual reminder of Easter in our home and the stories leading up to it.

I know there are many people out there who have asked us if we have considered doing an Easter tree?  We thought about it, but it was actually the kids who came up with the idea of doing a cross. 

My guys built a cross out of some wood.  I was up in the air about what to do with it but again the kids came through with an idea!  “Let’s hang things from it!”  they said.

We just hammered some nails, made some ornaments along the way, and hung them up on our wooden cross.

That was three years ago.  We are still using our cross and original ornaments!

(Yes, I realize this is basically the Jesse Tree, but for Easter–and actually not a tree but a cross!  I guess we like ornaments around here.)

By no means do you need to do an ornament!  You don’t have to make a thing.  I am VERY blessed to be married to an architect.  So when the kids and I tell  him we would like to build a cross–he can do it. 

If you have kids who love art and crafts–this may be something they enjoy.

Either way, I encourage you to find some way to visually surround yourself with reminders of the Easter story…even something as simple as a coloring sheet can make an impression.

Not only will these reminders help  your kids but also YOU as you dwell on the keeping of a promise–Jesus dying and being raised to life for you!

To make the cross “ornaments” we used Crayola Air-Dry Clay.  We used a cookie cutter to make a circle, and a straw to punch a hole.  We grabbed a fern leaf, cut some off, pressed it to the ornament, and let dry (overnight is best).

Then we mod podge’d it, put some ribbon through it, and hung it on the cross.

Don’t have an architect in your home or a carpenter?!  No problem!  Hang your ornaments on a few potted branches or from the mantle.

Or let me know what creative ways you are displaying your ornaments.

If you like this devotional, great news–there’s MORE!!  Click here to get your Easter Project Devotionals!