Easter Eggs with a Difference
by Jeanne Zornes

Here's an activity that will help you and your family observe Holy Week (the week before Easter).

Begin with 11 of those plastic Easter eggs that pull apart. You'll also need 10 different items representing the story of Holy Week (more about that later).

In the first ten eggs, put a different item listed below and a slip of paper with the accompanying Bible verses. Put the eggs in a basket or bowl on your table or another place where your family can gather. Beginning ten days before Easter (not counting Easter Day), each day, you can open one egg, read the Bible verses, and talk about them together.

Egg Number 1: A bit of greenery to represent the palms that the people spread in front of Jesus when he entered Jerusalem (Zechariah 9:9; John 12:12-15)

Egg Number 2: Pennies or miniature doves to represent Jesus' cleansing of the temple (Matthew 21:12-13)

Egg Number 3: A small strip of terry cloth to represent Jesus' washing his disciples' feet (John 13:3-17)

Egg Number 4: Silver sequins to represent the coins that Judas received for betraying Jesus (Matthew 26:14-16; 27:3-7)

Egg Number 5: A piece of leather shoestring to represent Jesus' flogging (Mark 15:15-20)

Egg Number 6: A miniature lamb or bit of wool to represent Jesus' silence when accused (Isaiah 53:7; Matthew 26:62-63)

Egg Number 7: A nail to represent Jesus' crucifixion (Psalm 22:16; Matthew 27:35-40)

Egg Number 8: A piece of sponge to represent Jesus' thirst (John 19:28-30)

Egg Number 9: A piece of purple cloth torn in two to represent the splitting of the temple curtain at Jesus' death (Matthew 27:50-51)

Egg Number 10: A rock to represent the stone rolled in front of Jesus' tomb (Mark 15:46-47)

Mark the Eleventh Egg with a cross. Leave it empty and save it to open on Easter morning and talk about the empty tomb (Luke 24:1-12)