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Dear
Friends,
Celebrating
Easter as a Family
Here are the devotionals and projects for Tuesday through Thursday
of Holy week. Feel free to incorporate into your family
devotions. If you would like some specific questions and more
explanation for Wednesday, you can explore it deeper on our website. This
information is adapted by Jan Brown. May you find it
meaningful!
TUESDAY: TEACHING AT THE TEMPLE, (MARK 12:28-34)
Every
day Jesus came to teach at the temple.
One of the teachers of the law asked Jesus, Of all the
commandments which one is the most important? Jesus replied, Hear, O Israel, the
Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart
and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.
The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no
commandment greater than these.
Share your love for God with a neighbor by taking an Easter Lily to
them. The Easter Lily is a symbol of purity and light. Jesus came as our
pure sacrifice and as a light in the darkness. But God demonstrates His
own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8
WEDNESDAY: A SWEET SMELLING SACRIFICE
At
the Home of Mary and Martha
John 12:1-7
Martha and Mary were friends of Jesus. Their brother Lazarus
was the man that Jesus raised from the dead. They wanted to give Jesus a
special dinner to celebrate and give thanks. The dinner was held at the
home of Simon, a leper that Jesus had healed. This was a night for
celebration. Lazarus was alive! Simon was healed! What the guests did not
realize was that in just a few short days Jesus would die. The story
tells about one woman who gave of the best that she had. Go over the scripture about Mary's gift
to Jesus during your family devotions. Light a fragrance candle or
incense. Talk about our lives being a sweet fragrance and sacrifice for
God. Pray and ask God to help your family to always give your best to Him.
THURSDAY: PREPARING FOR PASSOVER MEAL
The
Last Supper was held at Passover.
Invite another family over and share a Passover Meal. Read
the story of the Last Supper from John 13:1-11. As you eat the
traditional Jewish meal, discuss the symbolism of each of the items at
the meal.
Serve Unleavened bread: This symbolizes the
Bread the the Israelites took with them from Egypt. In their haste, they
did not have time to let it rise. The bread that Jesus broke at the Last
Supper was without yeast or unleavened. Yeast stands for sin. Jesus said
the bread represents his body. He was without sin. His body was broken
for us.
Serve Lamb: The Lamb was killed so that the blood could mark the
doorposts of the houses of the Israelites. When the angel of death saw
the blood on the doorpost he would pass over that house and not kill the
first born child. Jesus is our Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the
world.
Serve Horseradish as a reminder of the bitterness the
Israelites experienced while they were slaves. We remember how bitter our
lives are when we are slaves to sin.
Serve Haroset. (Grind apples, nuts and a little honey
together) The Haroset is eaten as a symbol of hope. Jesus is the hope of
the world. He is sweeter than the honey in the honeycomb.
Dip Parsley into
salt water and taste. This reminds us of the tears that were
shed in Egypt. The parsley is a symbol of new life. We are reminded of
the sorrow we feel when we think of Jesus dying on the cross. But the
green reminds us of the new life that we have in Him.
Serve Grape Juice. Jesus said this cup was a sign of his
shed blood for us on the cross. Whenever we drink it, we should drink it
in remembrance of Him.
Have a great Easter!
Michael "Kapp" Brown
Executive Director
House on the Rock Family Ministries
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If you found this information helpful, we have made other Pebbles of Truth articles
available on our website (www.hotrfm.org).
Each month we feature articles on the topics of: men's issues, marriage,
blended families, parenting, and church ministry to families. You will
also find a great deal more information about House on the Rock
Family Ministries! Thanks for visiting.
Please feel free to forward this to friends and
family … we just ask that you keep it intact … thanks
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