You have all probably seen this project already on Pintrest, and I’m in no way claiming that it’s mine…because it’s not, but I would like to incorporate a teachable lesson to accompany it.  Please find the elements of this project accompanied by scripture passages below free for you to use if you so choose to do so.  This teachable craft can be used for youth programs, women’s ministries, senior adult ministry or even at home with your family.  

Elements & Scripture Discussion: 

1. The Potting Saucer – 

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth – Genesis 1:1

 the saucer for this Easter craft represents (at least to me) the world in which we live.  God created it and we live in a location and placed that was formed by His hands.  We are blessed to live in such a world and should take care of this world as best we can.  Genesis 2:5 –  “The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.”  God still wants us to take care of this world that He has entrusted us with.  

2.  The Potting Soil – 

The potting soil represents you, me and all of creation.

 “Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” Genesis 2:7

God created this world for us and He desires to have fellowship with us.  He longs for us to love Him in return and so in this Easter story we recognize that we too play a part in the crucifixion and the resurrection.  Jesus came to die for us because we really and truly matter to Him.  He created us and this Easter story is about our salvation through Christ Jesus.  

 

3. The Gardening Rocks 

 

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” -Romans 3:23

“Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned” -Romans 5:12

The gardening rocks represent sin in this world.  It weighs us down and keeps us bound in our slavery to it.  We cannot save ourselves from its weight, nor can we do enough good works to receive eternal life.  We need help.  We are all fallen, each one of us and because of this Jesus came to set us free and to remove the weight of sin from our lives.  

 

 

 

4. The Three Crosses

 

“And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death–even death on a cross!” -Philippians 2:8

The Cross of Jesus is suffering and death.  But it was suffering and death for a purpose.  Jesus died so that the sins of every person on earth could be forgiven and also that we could be restored in our fellowship with God.  Without the cross and Jesus’ suffering we are still hopelessly lost.  We must look to the cross and Christ on the cross for our source of salvation.  

The bindings of the cross pieces represent (to me) the lashings that Jesus received prior to his crucifixion.  It should also represent for us the truth that we (sinful man) put Him there.  We bound Him to that cross, but He willingly went in place of us.  

A.W. Tozer: “The old cross is a symbol of death. God salvages the individual by liquidating him and then raising him again in newness of life. God offers life, but not an improved old life. The life He offers is life out of death. It always stands at the far side of the cross.“

5. The Tomb and the Large Rock

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Both the tomb and the large stone (it could be white to represent life or another color) represent Christ’s resurrection.  I’m sure it’s obvious to us all, but it also represents the fact that sin & death could not hold the Son of God!  We can find peace, assurance and hope in this empty tomb!  

“At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid.” John 19:41

“Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”  “3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. 8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9 (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) 10 Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.” John 20:1-10

“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,” John 11:25

“For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.”  1 Thessalonians 4:14

6) The Grass seed or sprouts (Plant the grass seed before you place the rocks)

The grass seed will grow during the Easter season which will serve to remind us of the eternal life/ new life that Christ brings to us.  

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Corinthians 5:17

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” John 14:3

Each of these verses talks about the new life that only Jesus Christ offers to us.  New life is a free gift to us all if we accept it and believe in Christ and His love for us.  

As we watch this “new life” grow during the season of Easter, may it continue to serve as a remind of God’s love for us and of our deep desire to grow in our faith.  We shouldn’t stop learning about this relationship.  We have also been given the help of the Holy Spirit to guide us and instruct us in this new life!  “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” John 14:26  The Holy Spirit will show us areas of our lives that we need to still surrender to God and He will continue to work within us, helping us along the way.  

This new life isn’t only about getting into heaven, it is also about  living that eternal life right here on earth so that others might see Christ through us.  When we embrace this new life, we become Christ’s representatives (Light) into the world (which is still lost in darkness).  Be God’s light to others as you bloom and grow!  

 

***Disclaimer:  Again I didn’t invent this craft, I simply adapted it and provided a simple yet effective method for teaching this amazing story of love that God has for all of us!  I am sure you can tweak this and make it your own in order to fit the demographic you wish to do this teaching craft with.  This lesson play is free to use as you see fit! To God be the Glory!****