Lenten season is upon us. This forty day stretch that brings us into Holy Week is a time of deep reflection, introspection, and sacrifice. It is a contemplative time, giving us opportunity to grasp anew the gospel of grace that was accomplished for us by our Lord Jesus. It is also a time of contrition because “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” (Psalm 51:17)

I like to spend these forty days reminding my boys of why Jesus had to come. We begin with the story of creation and make our way through all of Scripture, highlighting the promised Savior. We have a “resurrection tree” that I use to hang ornaments that represent the Scripture passages we are reading. The ornaments are made from small objects that we found and some are ones we simply cut out from cardstock. We read a passage each morning and then hang the ornament on the tree. The passages we study include the covenant promises God made about the coming Savior to Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David. I include prophets like Jonah and Daniel. We also cover Jesus’ birth, baptism, miracles, calling of the disciples, etc. During the days of Holy Week, the items we hang on the tree are based on Jesus’ final days and hours.

Here are the passages we read and the ornaments we hang:

1. Read story of creation-ornament of the earth

2. Read story of the Fall-ornament of a fruit tree (could also do a snake)

3. Read story of Noah and the Flood-ornament of animals (could also do an ark)

4. Read story of Abraham and the covenant God made with him-ornament of a star to represent the number of children

5. Read the story of Abraham and the sacrifice of Isaac-ornament of a ram

6. Read the story of Jacob-ornament of a ladder or a picture of a bowl of stew

7. Read the story of Joseph-ornament of a coat with many colors

8. Read the story of Moses and the Passover-ornament of a lamb

9. Read the story of the ten commandments-ornament of a scroll or slate with the words, “The Law”

10. Read about David becoming King-ornament of a crown

11. Read Isaiah 53-ornament of hands (for a servant) or a lamb

12. Read Daniel 7:13-14-ornament of clouds for Son of Man coming with the clouds (Jesus is referred to as the “Son of Man” over 80 times in the Gospels)

13. Read story of Jonah and refer to Matthew 12:41 where Jesus calls himself as “one greater than Jonah”-ornament a large fish

14. Read the story of the angel announcing to Mary the good news that she will bear a son-ornament of an angel

15. Read about Jesus’ birth-ornament of a manger or a gift package

16. Read about John the Baptist’s ministry-ornament of locust or honey

17. Read about Jesus’ baptism-ornament of a dove

18. Read about Jesus’ temptation-ornament of a snake or stones

19. Read one of Jesus’ miracles such as the feeding of the 5,000-ornament of bread or fish

20. Read about the anointing by Mary-ornament of perfume

21. Read about when Jesus enters the city on a donkey (Palm Sunday)-ornament of a palm tree

22. Read about the Last Supper-ornament of wine

23. Read about Judas being a traitor-ornament of a bag of coins

24. Read about Peter’s denial-ornament of rooster

25. Read about Jesus’ trial before Pilate-ornament of a whip

26. Read Matthew 27:35-ornament of a nail

27. Read Matthew 25:37-ornament of a sign “Kings of Jews”

28. Read Matthew 27: 48-ornament of a sponge

29. Read Luke 23:44-49-ornament of a cross

30. Read Luke 24: 1-12-ornament of a stone

Do you have any traditions for teaching Jesus to your kids during the days leading up to Easter?