4/08/2024
Easter Sunday has passed, but I want to share with you the children’s experience at Journey. Currently, we're in a series called Artrageous, in which kids creatively illustrate parts of Bible stories using different art mediums. On Easter Sunday, I chose watercolor paint. The children absolutely loved it, though I'm not sure our teachers felt the same considering the amount of spilled water.
After the art session, we had a hands-on object lesson where children planted wildflower seeds. The aim of the activity was to illustrate how when we die to our old selves, and when we encounter Jesus, the Living Water, we’re transformed into a new creation. It was a beautiful concept, but in reality, it resulted in dirt everywhere. Considering this was Easter Sunday and some of the children were wearing their Sunday best, this may not have been the best timing for this particular illustration!
As a finale to our Bible lesson, I brought in trick candles. You know, the ones that reignite after you blow them out. I lit the candle and explained how Jesus is the light of the world. I told the children how the rulers had killed Jesus, and I blew out the flame. Then I waited for the candle to reignite, illustrating the fact that Jesus had come back to life.
I held my breath. I waited. I began to panic as all I could see was a faint streak of smoke from the candle. What was I going to do? The whole lesson had been leading up to this moment and nothing was happening. The flame representing Jesus had been extinguished, and it was not reigniting.
Then, just as I was beginning to explain what was supposed to happen, the candle reignited, and the flame burned bright. I finished our lesson proclaiming that just as the candle’s flame reignited, Jesus too, is alive!
While the children happily moved on, I couldn't shake off the anxiety I felt during that moment of uncertainty. I thought of the disciples' anxiety. As they watched Jesus being crucified, were they waiting with bated breath for him to do something miraculous, putting a stop to the execution? Were they wondering why nothing was happening?
Did they stare in disbelief and replay the last three years of their lives in their minds, wondering what they had missed or how they could’ve been so wrong?
Or, could it be that their minds could not form coherent thoughts as their hearts ached in deep grief as their dearest friend, leader, mentor was killed?
Those moments of anxiety were not brief like mine were with the trick candle illustration. For three days they mourned, they grieved, they questioned, they worried. For three days they were lost and confused, like sheep without a shepherd.
Easter Sunday arrived, and Jesus was alive! Finally, the disciples understood what Jesus had been trying to teach them all along. No longer filled with anxiety or grief, confusion or despair, but now filled with great purpose, they went on to share the good news of Jesus to the ends of the earth.
That’s good news worth celebrating. That’s good news worth sharing.
I hope you will too, though you may want to leave the paint, dirt, and candles at home when you do.
-Jackie