The Easter story: Jesus died on the cross and rose again

The story of Easter for children

Passover was a festival that the Jews celebrated every year, to remember when God brought them out of Egypt, where they had been slaves. It was during this holiday that the story of Jesus, which we know as the Easter story, unfolded. The Easter story contains many elements, some of which are described here, and the most important message is collected in the animated films.

What does Easter mean for us today?

At Easter, Jesus sacrificed His life for us. He was crucified and died, even though He was completely innocent. Jesus had never sinned, so He wasn’t really supposed to die. Satan had no right to claim His life. When Jesus died on the cross anyway, He died for the sins we have committed so that we can be reconciled with God. That means that our sins are forgiven and we can come back into a right relationship with God. It also means that we can now have eternal life.

Palm Sunday: Welcomed like a king

When Jesus came to Jerusalem one week before Passover to celebrate the holiday with his disciples, He was welcomed like a king. The people welcomed him with palm branches and shouted “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ The King of Israel!” (John 12:13). But not everyone was as excited about Jesus. The chief priests did not like Jesus and had plans to kill Him.

Maundy Thursday: The last supper with the disciples

Jesus loved being together with His disciples. They shared the Passover meal together and Jesus blessed them. He was like a servant to them, giving them good, strengthening words. After the meal, Jesus and His disciples went to a garden called Gethsemane. Jesus knew that the time had come for Him to be betrayed and crucified. He knew it had to happen, so that we could be saved. He prayed a lot to God that night, but He didn’t pray for His life to be spared. He said, “Not My will, but Yours, be done.” All of His life He sacrificed His own will, to do God’s will. And He did it for our sake.

Good Friday: Jesus is arrested and crucified

One of the disciples, Judas, had made a deal with the chief priests to betray Jesus. He led the soldiers to the garden where Jesus and the disciples were, and then he kissed Jesus on the cheek so that the soldiers would know who it was they had to arrest. They took Jesus prisoner. Jesus was tormented and beaten, and sentenced to death. Then He died on the cross, on Calvary. The disciples were in despair. But fortunately, the story doesn’t end there.

Easter morning: Jesus rises from the dead

Jesus was completely innocent when He died for our sake, so that we can have our sins forgiven and get peace with God. But because Jesus had never sinned, death could not hold Him. He rose again on the third day, he broke open the gates of the kingdom of death (Hades), and at the same time took the keys to Hades and Death. That’s why He can give us eternal life. He has defeated both Satan (the devil) and death. This means that we who believe do not need to fear death.

The work of salvation is completed

At Easter, the work of salvation was completed. Jesus not only brought forgiveness for our sins, but through the life He lived here on earth, He opened a way out of sin back to God. That task was completed when He died on the cross.

Just think what Jesus did for us – for you and me! And what is absolutely certain is that Jesus does not regret what happened, now the way is open for us back to God, and there we can be with Jesus for ever. He’s looking forward to that.

Now we can follow Jesus

After Jesus had gone up to heaven, He sent His Spirit to earth. The Holy Spirit can help us follow Jesus.

Jesus helped His disciples, and today He wants to help us. We who couldn’t do good before can be forgiven for the bad things we have done, and we can get all the help we need to follow Jesus. The Holy Spirit gives us the strength to choose the good.

Animated films about the Easter story

Film 1: Jesus is crucified

On this theme page, there are several films that tell the Easter story. The first film takes us to when Jesus and His disciples traveled to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover, and the last night they spent together, when Jesus was arrested. He had to endure false accusations, torment and mockery, and then Jesus was crucified. Jesus knew this was going to happen, but He did nothing to stop it. He knew that it was God’s will for Him, because when He died on the cross it was for our sake, that our sins might be forgiven. And the story didn’t end with Jesus dying on the cross! On the third day after the crucifixion, Jesus rose from the dead!

Film 2: Jesus rises from the dead

The second film tells the story of what happened after the crucifixion. On the third day, Jesus rose from the dead. Mary was the first to discover that His grave was empty. She was very upset and thought someone had taken Jesus’ body. But then she saw that Jesus was alive. He spoke to her! He wasn’t dead anymore; He had risen and He told her to go and tell the other disciples about the joyful news.

Later, Jesus also appeared to the others and told them that He would soon leave them and return to His Father in heaven. But He comforted them that He would send the Holy Spirit to help and strengthen them.

Complete film: Jesus died on the cross and rose again

This is a combination of the two films mentioned above, put together into a single film about the Easter story. You can use these as you wish with your own group of children. For some, it may be most useful to split the story over two films, and for others, it may be best to watch it all in one go.