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Why the Easter Story Still Matters: A Perspective from the Holy Land

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Faith

Why the Easter Story Still Matters: A Perspective from the Holy Land

Children’s hearts are easily touched by the Easter story. Being intentional about refocusing on Christ’s resurrection power can show your children that they can invite the Lord’s peace into their circumstances.

A few months before Easter, my son, Aviel, and I witnessed a violent scene a block away from the Garden Tomb in a Muslim neighborhood, not far from where we live in Jerusalem. The Easter story was on our minds. However, this incident made us consider the Easter story in a completely different way.

A group of young men were beating someone with metal rods. A few others carried stones to throw. I began to panic, thinking this man would be murdered before our eyes. Fortunately, an older man dispersed the violent group, and we were able to hurry away.

My son asked, “Why were they hurting him?”

The Easter Story and Us

Related article: Living in a Broken World by Philip Yancey

I wanted to give him an honest response that would not hinder his love for our Arab neighbors. I reminded him that some people worship an idol that tells them to do things that break God’s heart, while others don’t realize that God wants us to love each other. But then I said to him, “We’re here to tell them about Jesus so He can make them new.”

A few weeks later, the incident still affected my son. We talked about how we can have peaceful hearts through Jesus, no matter what happens around us.

“Do you remember how Jesus rose from the dead at Easter?” I asked. “Let’s pray that we see His life revealed in our experiences today.”

Related article: Why Easter Matters by Tony Evans

The Power of the Easter Story

Children’s hearts are easily touched by the Easter story. Being intentional about refocusing on Christ’s resurrection power has shown Aviel that he can invite the Lord’s peace into his circumstances, even when they are scary or confusing.

To help combat the darkness around us, we pray each day for our neighbors — especially when we hear the Muslim call to prayer — that they would know Christ and His freedom.

Easter is when we celebrate Jesus bringing light to darkness. Because the Gospel provides the eternal solution to all of life’s problems, we can embrace this season as a time to engage with our children’s questions, knowing that Jesus has conquered evil.

As you approach Easter with your family, consider how you can guide your children’s focus towards the power and depth of the Easter story. Remain intentional in how you describe scripture. Understand how you can use age-appropriate language to describe the Easter story. Ask your children questions. Then, provide helpful context and examples to help your kids visualize the Easter story.

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