Easter - Christian Easter

Christian Resources

Easter

Free online resources based on the Biblical story of Easter. The Easter story can be found in the Bible in all four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. See below for links to sermons, stories and entertaining sites for Easter.

Easter For Kids: Bible Stories - Children's Stories - Children's Activities - Children's Sermons - Music & Poetry - More Easter Resources

Easter For Teens & Adults: Devotions & Sermons - Educational Links - Potluck - Neat Easter Related Sites

Updated 1/12/2009

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' " Then they remembered his words. -- Luke 24:1-8 NIV

Background - Easter

For Christians, there is no holiday more important than Easter. Easter is the day we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. He had been crucified and was buried for three days. All his disciples had believed that he was gone for good. None had understood that his sacrifice was the primary purpose of his short life and the only way for us to obtain righteousness and restore our fellowship with God. No man had taken his life. There was no sin in him and no way for Satan to take his life. It was freely given for us all.

That first Easter morning proved beyond any doubt that Jesus was the Messiah. He had told the religious leaders and his disciples that He would give His life and on the third day rise from the grave. The religious authorities had remembered His words and tried to prevent it with a large stone in front of the tomb, a Roman seal and guards. But none of that prevented God's plan for that first Easter. For 40 days after Easter morning, many people were eyewitnesses to the resurrection. Satan and the religious leaders were powerless to stop the truth. And they are still powerless to stop the spread of the wonderful message of Easter!

For the secular world, Easter is about new clothes, hidden eggs, and bunnies. But to those that really understand all that was accomplished on that first Easter morning, this is the greatest day in all of history.

Easter 2009 is celebrated on April 12. The other important days of Holy Week include:

    Palm Sunday - Jesus enters Jerusalem.
    Maundy Thursday - The Last Supper and betrayal.
    Good Friday - The arrest, trial, crucifixion, death and burial of Jesus.
    Easter Sunday - The day Jesus rose from the grave.

Read the entire Easter story in all four Gospels in five popular translations - AMP, KJV, HCSB, NIV, The Message:

Prelude to Easter - Last Supper and Betrayal

Matthew 26:1-75 Mark 14:1-72 Luke 22:1-71

John's Gospel provides great detail on Jesus' final moments on earth.

John 13:1-38 - Jesus washes the disciples feet and identifies his betrayer.

John 14:1-31 - The promise of the coming Holy Spirit.

John 15:1-27 - The vine & branches speech.

John 16:1-33 - The end of parables and what the future holds.

John 17:1-26 - Jesus prays for his disciples and for us.

John 18:1-40 - The betrayal of Jesus.

Trial, Crucifixion, Death and Burial Before Easter
Matthew 27:1-66 Mark 15:1-47 Luke 23:1-56 John 19:1-42

Resurrection - Easter Morning
Matthew 28:1-20 Mark 16:1-20 Luke 24:1-53
John 20:1-31 - Jesus' first appearance Easter morning.
John 21:1-25 - Jesus' final appearance.

Read the Old Testament prophecies related to Easter in five popular translations - AMP, KJV, HCSB, NIV, The Message:

Psalm 41:9 Psalm 109:7-8 Zechariah 11:12-13 - Judas and the betrayal of Jesus.

Psalm 27:12 Psalm 69:4 Isaiah 50:6; 53:7 - Trial and suffering of Jesus.

Psalm 16:10; 22:1-31; 34:20; 68:18; 69:21; 109:4 Isaiah 53:9-12 Zechariah 12:10 - Crucifixion and resurrection on Easter morning.

Check out all the wonderful Christian content linked below and learn more about Easter.

-- Easter Sunday Resources --

Bible Stories - Scriptures and Adaptations on Easter
The Easter Story - The story of Easter in simple language. Includes links to activities, music and lessons
http://misslink.org/children/biblestories/easter.html

Easter Bible Stories - The story of Easter from the Last Supper through Easter Morning in simple language
http://www.jesusanswers.com/christian/stories/bible.htm

The Story of Easter - Easter as told in the King James Bible
http://easter.spike-jamie.com/story.html

The Resurrection of Jesus - Easter adapted from Matthew 28 for young children 3+ and John 20 for children under 4.
http://www.first-school.ws/features/biblest/resurrec.htm

The Story of Easter - The story of Jesus' resurrection on Easter in simple language
http://www.angelfire.com/ky2/thestoryofEaster/

The Great Victory - The story of Easter in simple everyday language
http://sewhttkr.home.comcast.net/~sewhttkr/stories/37_victory.htm

The Lamb of God - The events leading up to Jesus' death in simple everyday language
http://sewhttkr.home.comcast.net/~sewhttkr/stories/36_jesuslamb.htm

Easter Stories - The Easter story through the eyes of Mary Magdalene and Thomas
http://www.rainbowcastle.org/easter.html

Chapter 10 - God's Love and Justice Intersect - Excellent Chronological movie called: The Hope divided into 12 chapters
http://christiananswers.net/hope/thehope-c10.html

Children's Stories - Original Fiction Based on the Easter Story
Easter Bunny, Are You for Real? - An Easter children's story
http://www.christianitytoday.com/holidays/easter/features/myra.html

Roxie's Big News - The story of a little dove who waited patiently for Jesus to return Easter morning.
http://matneywoodard.home.att.net/Roxies_Big_News.htm

Evan - The Story of the Tree That Became the Cross - The Easter story through the eyes of a tree
http://backdoorbible.org/html/evan.htm

A Whispering Pines Easter - Another installment of the Boris Kitty series. Boris and his friends celebrate the real meaning of Easter.
http://matneywoodard.home.att.net/bk_easter.htm

The Graveyard Shift - An Easter story by Rev. Bill Versteeg about the Centurions who guarded Jesus' tomb. Best suited for older children.
http://www.pbv.thunder-bay.on.ca/NetSermons/Mt27-28str.html

Promises Mixed with Love - An Easter story written by Rev. Bill Versteeg about the criminal crucified with Jesus. Best suited for older children.
http://www.pbv.thunder-bay.on.ca/NetSermons/Luk23str.html

Children's Activities, Crafts & Coloring Pages for Easter
Easter Bingo - A simple game to teach children about Easter.
http://www.greatcom.org/resources/sharing_in_the_classroom/easter_sharing/easter%20bingo.htm

Easter Word Search - Easter activities for 2nd through 5th graders
http://www.greatcom.org/resources/sharing_in_the_classroom/easter_sharing/easter%20word%20search.htm

Telling the Easter Story with Easter Eggs - Recommended ages – Kindergarten through 3rd grade
http://www.greatcom.org/resources/sharing_in_the_classroom/easter_sharing/using%20easter%20eggs.htm

Easter Coloring Pages - Many printable images including some from Easter and Palm Sunday
http://www.christiananswers.net/kids/clr-indx.html#bible

Children's Sermons & Lessons on Easter
The Great Exchange - A simple explanation of the substitutionary work of Christ
http://www.elhchess.demon.co.uk/great-ex.htm

Easter Bible Lesson - A short lesson on Easter
http://www.cherbearsden.com/kidsdevos/devo36es.html

Easter - An Easter Lesson Plan for Older Children from the Episcopal Church
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/50534_57719_ENG_HTM.htm

Roxie's Big News – An Easter lesson based on the children's story, Roxie's Big News, a parable about spreading the good news.
http://matneywoodard.home.att.net/APLesson_Roxie.htm

Paid In Full - A children's sermon for Easter

Didn't Find What You Were Looking For?

Search Google For More Easter Resources.

Suggested Search Terms: Easter, Christian Stories for Easter, Resurrection of Jesus, Children's Palm Sunday Stories, Christmas Sermons for Kids, Easter Crafts, Projects for Holy Week, Easter Sermons, Judas, Peter, Pontius Pilate, Crucifixion, Easter Lessons, Apostles, Good Friday, Maundy Thursday, Easter 2009

http://www.sermons4kids.com/paid_in_full.html

Children's Music, Plays & Poetry for Easter
Easter Is Really For Jesus - An Easter poem
http://songs4teachers.com/eastpoemREL.pdf

Easter Songs - Two simple Easter songs for kids
http://songs4teachers.com/eastsongsREL.pdf

Jesus Christ Is Coming Again - An original children's song sung to the tune of “Santa Clause Is Coming To Town”.
http://matneywoodard.home.att.net/songs.htm#Jesus Christ Is Coming Again

Easter Scripts - Several plays based on Easter. Look in the Easter section
http://www.thewestcoast.net/bobsnook/seasonal.htm

Easter Puppet Plays - Several plays based on Easter for puppets
http://www.puppetresources.com/index.php?what=bycategory&cat=Easter&language=English&t=1137158683

Just The Facts - A play based on the resurrection focusing on Roman soldiers investigating a grave robbery.
http://www.christiancrafters.com/skit_justthefacts.html

Additional Resources & Links on Easter
Celebrating a Christian Easter - Links to many helpful Easter resources
http://mssscrafts.com/miscellaneous/easter.htm

A Glorious Easter - Many links to Easter music, coloring pages and other resources
http://www.teacherhelp.org/easter.htm

-- Easter Stuff For Teens and Adults --

Devotions, Discussions & Sermons About Easter

13 Eggs for 13 Disciples - A sermon for Easter Sunday by Rev. Patricia Gillespie
http://www.motherflash.com/sermons/sermonsb0/easterdayb.html

The Resurrection Morning - An Easter sermon by Reverend Harvey Alford Matney
http://matneywoodard.home.att.net/resurrection_morning.htm

A Soldier's View of the Tomb - A fictional account of the soldiers at the cross by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson
http://www.joyfulheart.com/easter/centurin.htm

Classic Easter Sermons - Spurgeon, Luther and others on Easter
http://tcpiii.tripod.com/eastersermons.htm

Educational - Archaeology, History & Theology Concerning Easter
A Physician Testifies About the Crucifixion - An article by Dr. C. Truman Davis exploring the suffering of Christ.
http://www.konnections.com/Kcundick/crucifix.html

Evidence for the Resurrection - An essay from Josh McDowell on the certainty of the Resurrection that first Easter morning.
http://www.leaderu.com/everystudent/easter/articles/josh2.html

The Agony of Love - Another Physician explores the suffering of Jesus on the cross by Dr. Mark Eastman.
http://www.khouse.org/articles/1998/113/

Potluck - Neat Stuff That Doesn't Fit Anywhere Else on Easter
Easter History & Traditions - An overview of Easter customs

http://www.dvercity.com/easter.html#easter_traditions

Polish Easter Traditions - An overview of cultural and religious Easter customs in Poland
http://annhetzelgunkel.com/easter/easter.html

Easter In Slovakia - Cultural and religious Easter customs in Slovakia
http://www.iarelative.com/easter/

Easter In Greece - An overview of Easter customs in Greece
http://www.greecetravel.com/easter/

Origins of Easter - An overview of Easter customs
http://www.factmonster.com/spot/easterintro1.html

Easter Hymns - Famous Easter Hymns in Midi format
http://www.twilightbridge.com/hobbies/festivals/easter/midi.htm

Suddenly One Morning - The Shopkeeper's Story: An Easter Narrative By Charles R. Swindoll
http://www.christianitytoday.com/holidays/easter/features/suddenly.html

The Goodness of Good Friday - An unhappy celebration—isn't that an oxymoron? Exploring the customs around Good Friday by Chris Armstrong.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ch/news/2003/apr18.html

Good Friday Surprises - Even on his way to die, Jesus did the unpredictable. Final acts by Jesus on the way to the cross by Leith Anderson.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/tc/7r2/7r2053.html

The Passion of Christ In Art - Various artistic paintings for the Easter Season
http://www.artcyclopedia.com/featuredarticle-2001-04.html

Easter Dating Method - How to determine Easter dates for past, present and future Easter Sundays.
http://www.assa.org.au/edm.html

See also Palm Sunday

Do you know an interesting Easter site that should be added? Drop us an email and let us know!

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OLD TESTAMENT: Creation Daniel Daniel In the Lions' Den David and Goliath Elijah Jehoshaphat Jonah Joseph Samson Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego Ruth

NEW TESTAMENT: Christmas Easter Good Samaritan Nativity Palm Sunday Prodigal Son Wise Men

MIRACLES OF JESUS: Centurion's Servant Coin Carrying Fish Feeding 5,000 Miraculous Catch of Fish Water Into Wine