As Easter approaches, I wonder if our children know Easter is real or do they think it’s just part of the bunny and egg story? A friend of mine voiced a concern that her grandson wanted to know if Bible stories are true. He’s eight. Naturally, she couldn’t show him photographs. No wonder he asked the question because what he sees are drawings and animation. 

Several years ago my Sunday School class made garden tombs. Perhaps it’s time to revisit that living craft to remind our children and ourselves of the reality of the resurrected Savior from the empty garden tomb.

He’s the materials we used.

• a 10″ tray or larger
• potting soil
• smooth pebbles/rocks
• moss, violets, small ground cover herbs
• strips of cloth
• spices

We began by adding potting soil to the tray.

We added the stones to make a path, then stacked them to create a cave.

We wrapped strips of cloth around a golf pencil removing the pencil when we placed the grave clothes inside the tomb. We folded a small square for the napkin to lay beside the grave clothes.

The garden was then planted with the moss, violets and ground cover. By using live plants there is a necessity to revisit the garden every few days to water, reinforcing the Bible story.

Pinterest has some great pictures and ideas if you search garden tomb.

Here are some ideas to discuss as you put the garden tomb planter together.

• the tomb was borrowed
• the tomb was never used before
• the custom of wrapping the body in strips of linen cloth – swaddling clothes
• spices used in burial
• the meaning of folding a napkin at a meal instead of wadding it up

Visit John 19,20.  What truths can you share with your children?

Gail