Hearing the truth in certain Asian countries is like trying to find a piece of gold in barrels of rice: there but far in between. Most Asians, similar to children in the United States, have never heard the Easter story. In America we are blessed with churches on every corner that share the good news many days of the week. Some countries don’t have the good news so readily available to them.
“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. “
(John 3:16, The Message).
Friends of mine shared the history of the Easter Story with some Asians by using a tool called the Resurrection Eggs.
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Learn the
Easter Story in 12 Bullet Points
1) Jesus rode in on a donkey.
And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”
(Matthew 21:9 ESV) Prophecy Genesis 49:11 and Zeckariah. 9:9 were fulfilled.
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2) Jesus was betrayed by a friend.
Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver.
(Matthew 26:14-15 ESV) Prophecy Zechariah 11:12 was fulfilled.
3) The last dinner and the first communion.
26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” 27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the[a] covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
(Matthew 26:26-28 NIV)
4) Jesus prayed to God in a garden.
And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”
(Matthew 26:39 ESV)
5) They scourged (inflicted a multi-thonged whip) Jesus.
So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.
(Mark 15:15 ESV)
6) To make fun of Jesus being King of the Jews, they placed a crown of thorns on his head.
“and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”
(Matthew 27:29 ESV)
“The wages of sin is death”
[spiritual separation from God] (Romans 6:23).7)
7) To kill Jesus the Romans nailed him to a cross.
“and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them.”
(John 19:17-18 ESV)
“So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”
(John 20:25 ESV) Prophecy Psalm 22:16 fulfilled
This picture below illustrates that God has bridged the gap that separates us from Him by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross in our place to pay the penalty for our sins.
8) They divided his clothes.
And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots.
(Matthew 27:35 ESV) Prophecy Psalm 22:18 fulfilled
9) They pierced Jesus’s side with a spear.
But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water.
(John 19:34 ESV) Prophecy Psalm 22:14 fulfilled.
10) They wrapped Jesus’s body in a white cloth.
And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud
(Matthew 27:59 ESV)
11) Jesus was placed in a tomb and securely guarded by Roman officials.
So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.
(Matthew 27:66 ESV)
12) The last egg and the last piece of the story.
“teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
(Matthew 28:20 ESV)
The woman opened the egg, there was nothing in it. She looked up at the reader in bewilderment.
The reader explained that the tomb was empty and that Jesus had risen; that He was alive. Below was the woman’s reaction to this news. I love her expression. Jesus rising is GOOD NEWS. The gospel (Jesus dying for our mistakes, is good news. It’s the best news and should be received with this amount of joy.)
“He is not here. He has risen just as He said.”
Matthew 28:6
“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father but through Me'” (John 14:6).
It’s a FREE Gift
“As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children
of God, even to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12).
You can not earn this gift, that’s why it’s called a gift.
“By grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves,
it is the gift of God; not as result of works that no one should boast” (Ephesians 2:8,9).
When you accept this gift you become a new creation
(Read John 3:1-8.)
If your not a believer, do you hear God calling you?
[Christ speaking] “Behold, I stand at the door and knock;
if any one hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him” (Revelation 3:20).
If you are not a believer and you have gotten this far in the post, I thank you for listening and reading the history of Easter and the reason why we celebrate Easter. It’s not a hallmark day; it’s a day to remember who gives us hope in this broken world. Jesus is the one who has given me purpose in this life. He is the reason I get up every morning. He has given me life.
If you’re not a believer, how and what do you do to celebrate Easter? If you’re a believer, how do you remember the Easter Story?
If you would like your own FREE printable easter story cards visit this link. Or if you would like to purchase your own set of resurrection eggs you can buy them here for $15.99.
Thanks for listening! April Maura
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