12 Easter Scriptures for Kids (+printable cards)
It’s starting to feel like springtime outside, and that means it’s Easter season! While we love the Easter eggs, baby chicks, and Easter baskets, this day is about so much more. On Easter, we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. As a mama, I love seeing the excitement on my boys’ faces when they get some fun candy in their Easter basket or go on an egg hunt with friends. But I want them to understand the Easter story and how it’s so much more. These Easter Scriptures for kids are a great way to share the story of Jesus’ death on the cross and resurrection.
The world uses Easter to celebrate spring and new life. But we can use it as at time to teach our kids about the new birth we have because of Christ Jesus!
While the Easter Bunny is hippity-hopping down the bunny trail. let’s help our kids know that Jesus is the true reason we celebrate Easter.
A Good Short Easter Bible Verse for Children
Easter is a wonderful time to share the hope of eternal life with kids. During Holy Week and on Easter Sunday, we have a perfect opportunity to share the miracle of salvation with kids.
If you’re looking for a short verse that quickly shares the significance of Easter with kids, try Matthew 20:19.
“And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.”
This is pretty much the whole story of Easter summed up in one verse. Jesus came, died, and rose again.
This Bible verse reminds kids and adults of the living hope we have at Easter! It is a powerful message of hope and promise we can teach children in a way that they can understand. Whether it’s through an Easter egg hunt or a storybook, sharing this verse and the story behind it will leave a lasting impression on children.
Related: A Reflective Easter Bible Reading Plan to Inspire You During Holy Week
The Easter Story for Children
Too often we let kids think that Easter is all about the Easter Bunny and some plastic eggs. But as Christian mamas, we want to make sure our children understand why we celebrate Resurrection Sunday.
Palm Sunday
The Easter story begins on Palm Sunday when we tell our kids about Jesus riding into the city of Jerusalem on the back of a donkey. The people waved palm branches and spread their coats on the road as He passed by. They shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” It was a moment of happiness for Jesus’ followers.
The Last Supper
The Jewish people were ready to celebrate the feast of the Passover. Jesus and His disciples met together in an upper room to share the meal together. While they were there, Judas Iscariot went out to find the chief priests. He had planned to betray Jesus to them in exchange for thirty pieces of silver.
In the Garden
Jesus and the disciples went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. While His disciples slept, Jesus prayed that He would not have to face this awful death. But He was willing to make the sacrifice for us.
The Roman soldiers found Him there and arrested Him.
Before Pilate
Jesus was taken to see Herod and Pontius Pilate to be tried. Neither man could find any fault in Him, but they allowed the religious leaders to crucify Jesus. They beat Jesus, put a purple robe on Him, and placed a crown of thorns on His head.
They took Him to a hill outside the city, called Mt. Calvary, where they crucified Him between two thieves. When He died, the earth shook with a great earthquake. The sun went dark for about six hours. Inside the temple, there was a large veil that separated the holiest place. As Jesus died, it ripped into two pieces from the top to the bottom.
Waiting
Some of the disciples removed Jesus’ body from the cross and placed it into an empty tomb. They rolled a heavy stone over the door. That evening began a Jewish holiday, so they weren’t able to do anything for three days. They waited together, heartbroken and alone.
Resurrection Day
On the first day of the week, Jesus’ mother, Mary, Mary Magdalene, and some other women came to the tomb. They found that the stone was rolled away, and the body of the Lord Jesus. The women went inside and found a linen cloth folded neatly where Jesus lay, but His body was gone.
When they went back outside, they saw two men in shining garments standing at the entrance of the tomb. The man asked them, “Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee.”
The women ran back to tell Jesus’ disciples that He was gone.
This is a simple way to share the story of Easter with your kids. Download a printable lesson for your Sunday school here.
12 Easter Scriptures to Share with Your Kids
Ready to talk to your kids about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus? These best Easter Bible verses are a great way to remind your kids of God’s love for us and the true meaning of Easter.
These popular Bible verses are perfect to use in your Sunday School class, homeschool or Christian school to talk about Jesus’ resurrection with kiddos!
Luke 24:5-6
And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee.
Talk to your kids about the joy these women must have felt when the angel of the Lord spoke these words! Their hearts went from broken to hopeful in just a few minutes, and their lives were forever changed.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
While this verse is not particularly about Easter, it is the reason for all of our Easter celebrations. God sent Jesus to die on the cross for our sins because He loved us so much! John 3:16 is one of the most popular verses in the Bible. In just a few simple words, this verse shows us God’s grace and the sacrifice Jesus made for us.
Matthew 28:6
He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
Imagine hearing these words spoken in a loud voice by a man wearing a shining white robe! He shared this good news with the women at the tomb on that first Easter Sunday morning.
John 11:25
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
Jesus spoke these words before His death. He wanted to help His followers know the reason He came to earth was to die for our sins. Although they couldn’t understand it at the time, it became more obvious to them after His resurrection.
John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
The only way to have eternal life is through the Son of God. He is the Author of Life, and only he has the great power to offer forgiveness of sins. The only way to the Father is through Jesus. If your kids only understand one thing about Easter, this should be it!
1 Corinthians 15:3-4
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
As Paul wrote this verse to the Corinthians, He was assuring them of Jesus’ resurrection. I imagine it would’ve been hard to believe that someone raised from the dead if you hadn’t seen it with your own eyes. But Paul assured them (and us!) that it really did happen and we can trust God’s Word.
Romans 5:8
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
This is a great verse to talk about with kids since they already have strong opinions about who they like and don’t like! Romans 5:8 reminds us that Jesus died for us even though we didn’t like Him! Most of us would not try to help a person we didn’t like. But God loved us and wanted us to be close to Him.
1 John 4:19
We love him, because he first loved us.
As we raise our kids and teach them to love God, we want to make sure that they know He loved us first. We only know true love because of His great mercy and the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross.
Matthew 27:29
And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!
It’s not pleasant to think about Jesus’ suffering on the cross, but it’s important to remember it. He went through those things for us. We want our kids to know that Jesus suffered all that pain, and even death because He loved us so much.
Romans 10:9
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Don’t be surprised if reading Easter verses with your kids raises questions about salvation. This verse is a great way to start the conversation if your kids want to know how they can be saved.
1 Peter 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
This is a beautiful verse for both kids and adults! Before Jesus’ death and resurrection, we had no hope. We were doomed to an eternity without God. But because of God’s mercy and grace, we have hope of eternal life in Heaven with God.
Download the Easter Scripture Cards
Share these important Bible verses with your kids to help them understand this important holiday. Download the free printable Easter cards and get started today!
More Easter Activities for Kids and Families
Still looking for fun ways to celebrate Easter with your kids? Check out these other posts:
- 25+ Christian Easter Activities for Kids and Families
- Jesus is Alive! The Easter Bible Story for Kids
- The Triumphal Entry: A Palm Sunday School Lesson for Kids