The Easter Picture Read: Mark 16:1-7 
Tom worked carefully on his drawing for the Easter picture contest. As he was sketching, his friend Mark looked over his shoulder. "Easter eggs? Got them a little out of shape, didn't you?" scoffed Mark. "Wait till you see my picture -- Peter Cottontail with a whole basketful of eggs! Hey, what color are you going to paint your eggs?"
Tom shook his head. "These aren't eggs. This one's a big stone. And look -- see this? It's the opening of a cave. The big stone was rolled away from there," he explained, pointing to his drawing. "Stone!" Mark exclaimed. "What's that for? This is supposed to be an Easter picture. You're supposed to draw Easter rabbits or maybe some chicks -- stuff like that." "This is an Easter picture," Tom insisted. "I'm drawing the empty tomb. I thought I might try to draw an angel or the disciples or something." Tom paused. "I don't think I can draw them good enough to win the contest though," he added doubtfully. Mark was puzzled. "I don't get it," he said as the bell rang. "What are you talking about? What's that got to do with Easter?" Tom looked at him in surprise. "Don't you know about Jesus?" he asked. "Jesus?" repeated Mark. "Well, I know He was born at Christmas time. Oh . . . I guess maybe I did hear a story once about Him dying or something. Is that what you're talking about?" Tom did some quick thinking as they put on their jackets to go home. "Look," he said, "why don't you come to my house? We can have some milk and cookies while I show you the Easter story in my Bible storybook. It's time you learned what Easter is all about!" How about you? Do your friends know what Easter is all about? Will you tell them? Ask the Lord to help you to share the real meaning of Easter with at least one friend this week. Then do it! 
Tell friends that Jesus arose!
Memorize: Matthew 28:6 "He is not here; for He is risen, as He said." 
Jesus' birth brought great joy to people. His miracles brought healing. Yet Jesus understood that His whole life was a preparation for the time when He would give His life as payment for the sins of the world. As Jesus was eating His last supper with friends, the disciple named Judas left. He told officials that they would soon find Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives where He went to pray. It didn't take them long to make their move. After a hurried trial and the consent of Pilate, the Roman governor, Jesus was led away to be crucified.
The Crown--The thorns twisted into the crown that the soldiers mockingly crushed on Jesus' head may have been what is now called the Christ Thorn. The plant has extremely long, sharp thorns--much longer than rosebush thorns. Scourging--Before the prisoner was hung on the cross, he was stripped of his clothes and "scourged." A scourge was a leather whip with several leather "tails". Fastened to the end of each tail was a piece of sharp metal, bone, or rock. Many prisoners died from these scourgings. 
The Cross--The condemned man was fastened to the cross by nails or ropes. Often he would have a seat or peg for his feet to reduce the pressure on the arms and prolong the agony. In order to gasp a quick breath, he had to push up on his feet enough to relax his chest cavity.
The Mark Of A Prisoner--The prisoner's crime was usually hung on a sign around his neck as he walked to the crucifixion site: "robber," "murderer," "led a revolt." The sign on the cross above Jesus' head was different. It said, "The King of the Jews" in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. Good To Be Roman--Crucifixion was one of the most torturous punishments known to mankind--so cruel that it was done only to slaves and criminals. Roman citizens were almost never crucified. The Temple Curtain--At the moment Jesus died, something incredible was happening at the Temple. The curtain that separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom. A Jewish historian named Josephus reports that the curtain was about four inches thick and so strong that a pair of horses couldn't pull it apart. But God tore it apart to show that people no longer had to be separated from God. Anyone can go into God's presence anytime and all of the time through Jesus! 
Once, long ago in England, a monk saw poor families living together in rag tents on the streets of his town. Easter was two days away, and the monk thought to himself, "On the day of the rebirth of our Savior, families should not go hungry."
This monk had once been a baker, so he now baked a great many spiced buns with raisins inside. He decorated the shiny brown tops of the buns with a cross, and while they were still piping hot, he went out among the families and gave them the delicious buns. A young boy named Giles would not take even one. "Bake me a basketful of buns that I can sell," he said. "I do not want charity." The monk looked at the boy's ragged clothes and dirty face, and though he felt sorry for the lad, he saw that Giles had pride, so he baked the child a basket of the buns. 
That Easter morning, Giles took his basket from house to house, singing out in a voice that carried over the clear air:
"Hot Cross Buns. Hot Cross Buns. One a penny, two a penny, Hot Cross Buns. If you have no daughters, give them to your sons. Hot Cross Buns. Hot Cross Buns." Before Mass that morning, Giles had sold all the buns. He put the money he had earned in the poor box at church. To this day, children all over the world chant the words of his song. Hot Cross Buns Recipe
Turn out onto a floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 6 to 8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl and turn over to grease the top. Cover with a damp towel or plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size (about 1 hour). Punch the dough down and shape into 30 balls. Place on greased baking sheets. Using a sharp knife, cut a cross (or X) on the top of each roll. Cover again and let rise until doubled (about 30 minutes). Beat the water and egg yolk together and brush over the rolls. Bake at 375°F for 12 to 15 minutes. Cool on wire racks. Drizzle icing over the top of each roll following the lines of the cut cross. ICING: Combine 1 cup confectioners' sugar, 4 teaspoons milk or cream, a dash of salt, and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract. Stir until smooth. Adjust sugar and milk to make a mixture which flows easily.
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