Easter lesson and idea to lay your Easter table

Easter lesson  -  the tree crosses

1.       Red cross – Jesus died – on not in; 2. Black cross – in and on; 3. White cross -  in and not on

1.        Red Cross -  Luke 23:33 – 43 we read the lesson about the 3 crosses.  Outside Jerusalem on Golgotha Jesus Christ the Son of God the soldiers nailed to the cross.  He was crucified, but not because of His sin – He was holy and without any sin.  He was our Saviour.  On the cross he died for our sins – He gave his blood so that we can be forgiven for our sins.  Because there was no sin in Him, He could take all our sin on Him – 2 Cor. 5:21 “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”

2.       The dark cross – On the one cross the soldiers hanged a man who was a criminal.  This man was a sinner who could be forgiven if He turned to Jesus and ask for forgiveness of his sins, but he rather insulted Jesus by saying:  “Are not you the Christ?  Save yourself and us!”  His sin was in him but also on him.  He died as a lost soul and away from God eternally.  He was punished for his sins in hell.

3.       The clean cross – On this cross the soldiers hanged the other criminal.  He was a sinner with many sins in him, but there was a difference.  He first of all rebuked the other sinner and then asked Jesus to forgive his sins – “remember me when You come into your kingdom”.  He realized the sins in him can be put on Jesus.  Jesus assured him:  “I tell you the truth today you will be with me in paradise.”  He was saved eternally

Which of these 2 pictures of the sinners is a picture of you today?

First picture – dark picture – You know you are a sinner with sin in you, but you prefer to keep it on you because you do not accept Jesus Christ as you Saviour?

Second picture – the clean picture – You know you are a sinner with sin in you, but by God’s grace you know that you can put your sin on Jesus Christ who died for your sins.  Your sins are no longer in or on you – Jesus paid the full price.

How can you put your sins on Jesus – by confessing them to God in the name of Jesus Christ.  Then you have the promise:  When you die you will be with Jesus in paradise!

EASTER MEAL AND EASTER TABLE:    Celebrate Easter with a Biblical meal:  Eat food like: lentil soup, nuts, raisons, dates, pomegranates, figs, bread rolls, grape juice, etc.

Decorate your Easter table with the 5 colours of the wordless book: Gold, Black, Red, White and green.

Use a white table cloth, a red table cloth in the middle, golden and red ribbons, a wooden cross, black and white hearts, green leaves, white, red and green candles.   You can print the Bible verses on little cards and the guests around the table can read them where they are necessary.

Use the colours and explain the Gospel message like this:

1.  The gold speaks about God and His holiness .God created and owns the world . He is the King of Kings . He is pure and holy . He lives in Heaven Isaiah 6:3 “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts…”

God wants you to be with Him in Heaven one day after your death

2.  The dark or black speaks about sin and its consequences Rom. 3:23 “For all have sinned…”

What is sin?  disobeying God and His commandments.  God must punish sin because He is just and fair.  Sin separates us from God.  If you die as an unforgiven sinner you will spend eternity in Hell where you will be separated from God for ever and ever.

3.  The red speaks about Jesus Christ, and His death for our sins Rom. 5:8,9 – “Christ died for us – we are justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him”. God sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ to be our Saviour . He died to save us from our sins .  He took God’s punishment for all the wrong things we have done.  

4.  The white speaks about salvation – especially about justification

2 Cor. 5:21 “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us – that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”   When we trust Jesus Christ as our Saviour, God forgives all our sins.  He sees us as pure and as clean as Jesus Christ Rom. 10:13 – Do you want to be saved?  Call on the Lord Jesus Christ, confess your sins and ask Him to .

5.  The green speaks about spiritual growth after salvation. 1 Pet. 2:2 “As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby”

·          Grow by reading Bible

·          Grow by talking to God regularly - pray .

·          Grow by telling others about the Lord Jesus .

·          Grow by confessing sin to God

·          Grow by meeting regularly with other Christians and by attending an Evangelical Church