12 plastic eggs - numbered 1-12
easter grass - we used paper - less static
egg carton - ours was spray-painted purple (fun!)
a note, saying: "This Easter advent is to remind us of the sacrifice God made of his only begotten son, Jesus Christ. Open one egg a day, eleven days prior to Easter, opening the last one Easter morning."
fun ribbon to secure the note to the egg carton
egg #1:
object = sacrament cup, or you could use a thimble
scripture = Matthew 26:39 - And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
egg #2:
object = 3 dimes
scripture = Matthew 26:14-15 - Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, and said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.
egg #3:
object = a length (~3 inches) of rope/cording with knots at both ends
scripture = Matthew 27:1-2 - When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: and when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
egg #4:
object = a small piece of sponge and a small piece of soap
scripture = Matthew 27:24-26 - When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.
egg #5:
object = a small square of red cloth
scripture = Matthew 27:28-30 - And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. 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! And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.
egg #6:
object = toothpick pieces glued into the shape of a cross and a small nail
scripture = Matthew 27:31 - And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.
egg #7:
object = one die
scripture = Matthew 27:35 - And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.
egg #8:
object = a small bag of dirt tied at the top (you can cut the corner from a ziploc)
scripture = Matthew 27:50, 51, 54 - Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent... Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.
egg #9:
object = small square of white cloth
scripture = Matthew 27:57-60 - When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple: He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then pilate commanded the body to be delivered. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock...
egg #10:
object = small rock
scripture = Matthew 27: 60, 65, 66 - ...and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed. Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.
egg #11:
object = a bay leaf and a few whole cloves
scripture = Mark 16:1, Matthew 28:2 - And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had brought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
egg #12 (to be opened on easter morning):
object = nothing
scripture = Matthew 28:5, 6 - And the angel answered and said unto the women, fear not ye: for i know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. HE IS NOT HERE: FOR HE IS RISEN, AS HE SAID...
