The Best Easter Object Lesson Ever

Every year, my mom wants to buy our boys new Easter outfits. Also every year, my mom forgets to buy our boys new Easter outfits.

She doesn’t forget entirely, she just forgets until close enough to the date that either she has to pay exorbitant shipping charges to get everything here on time or she takes her chances with USPS and hopes they arrive earlier than later.

Last year the package arrived the Monday after Easter. These fails have become some our favorite memories.

This year, the clothes came in stages. A pair of pants here, some shoes there.

Leading up to this morning, we had gotten every item except the 4 year old’s shoes that we were supposed to pick up over the weekend from Target’s site-to-store feature.

Since Target is on the way to church, we decided to pop by this morning.

Small problem.

Do you know what is closed on Easter?

Target.

Other small problem.

We didn’t bring a backup pair of shoes.

Our family does a lot of things well.

Presenting ourselves orderly and collectedly is not one. (We would make a terrible royal family.)

But we still make a good team – dabs, “potato” haircut, knockoff blue Crocs* – and all.

*thanks for still being open on The Lord’s Day, Walmart

• • •

Far more importantly,

we found the best object lesson yesterday.

I’m always looking for ways to make faith tangible for littles. It’s why we do Resurrection Rolls each Easter morning. (note: marshmallow Jesus is delicious.)

So I was SUPER EXCITED when I stumbled upon a visual for how Jesus’ death on the cross takes away our sins.

After 18 unsuccessful practice attempts, we finally got this down enough to share:

Supplies:

• a penny
• colored water
• a white votive candle
• a flat plate / pan
• lighter / match
• a glass

Instructions:

Put the penny on a plate or a flat dish.

(Make sure it’s really, actually, super flat or this won’t work.)

We are submerged in, covered by, ensnared in sin. All of us.

“For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

And yet.

He didn’t view our sin and brokenness and disgust from afar, he came down right into the middle of it.

“You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin.” 1 John 3:5

Light the candle and talk about how Jesus was the Light of the World.

(Make sure Jesus has a long wick. I used a new votive each time for maximum burn time.)

He lived a blameless, spotless, sinless life, and even still…

Put the glass over the lit candle, making sure a) the glass is flush against the surface and b) there is enough liquid to cover the rim of the glass.

When the light extinguishes (i.e. Jesus dies), it will suck all remaining water up with it, because

Jesus took the sins of the world once for all time.

“Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.” 1 Peter 3:18

All sin.

Every last bit.

(If candle-Jesus doesn’t take away all of your sins, try moving the glass around like a vacuum to suck it up.)

The first blog I read about this said, “Even if there’s a little bit of water leftover the kids will be so mesmerized by how much ends up in the glass that they won’t notice!”

If by “not noticing” she meant my kids would yell, “THERE’S STILL SOME SIN! JESUS DIDN’T GET IT ALL!” then, yeah, they didn’t care at all.

She is right, though. They were mesmerized.

And we shall do this lesson for every Easter Sunday henceforth.

• • •

Dear internet, friends, and internet friends,

I pray that each of you meet God today.

I pray you’re reminded that no matter what this earthly life looks like right now – whatever pain or tension or joy or grief you are experiencing – I pray you know that Sunday is coming. Jesus is returning, and all will be made new.

I pray that you feel how high and long and wide and deep Jesus’ love is. The love that was so intimate and penetrating, it took on every last drop of sin – yours and mine – and freed us to be blameless and confident in his sight.

Today is a celebration of hope.

Happy Easter.