We are getting close to that time of year in which we celebrate the basis of our faith which is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This post is geared toward Easter Bible verses for kids and hopefully provides not only an understanding but awe of what Christ did for us.

I like to say “Resurrection Sunday” but I find people say Easter far more often. I guess we could call these Easter Sunday verses or Resurrection Sunday verses for kids.

Easter Verses for Kids: The Importance of Sharing our Faith

There is no doubt that the death and resurrection of Jesus is of utmost importance to us, but how do we explain it to our kids?

For younger children, begin with God’s love for them. Teach them what sin is, and encourage them to see how God loved them so much that He sent Jesus to earth so that they could live in heaven. Simple Easter passages about God’s love for them will encourage their young faith while keeping them feeling safe.

Death is not an easy thing to talk to children about, but it is a fact none the less and these discussions will help them understand the sacrifice that Christ made for us.

For older children, it is important to lead them back to the Old Testament. Discuss the need for a sacrifice, the Passover with Moses and the significance of the blood on the doorposts. Then lead them into the Easter story in the Bible and Christ’s sacrifice.

Simple Easter Bible Verses

Let’s begin with simple Easter Bible verses. These would be great to study with your toddler and preschooler. This is a simplified version of the Easter story in the Bible for young children. They would also enjoy the religious Easter coloring pages I’ve included after these simple Easter verses.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

Isn’t it wonderful that Jesus loves us? He wants us to live with him forever, but before we could live with him forever, he had to die on the cross.

Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two.  And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ ” Having said this, He breathed His last. (Luke 23:45-46)

The disciples and all of Jesus’s friends were very sad. They were crying and scared that they would be killed also.

After Jesus died, they went home, had a special dinner, and stayed in their homes all day Saturday because it was their day of rest. They prayed and were probably asking God why Jesus had to die.

The good news is that Jesus didn’t stay dead! Early on Sunday morning some women went to the tomb where Jesus was buried and met some angels.

 Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. 

But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb.  Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. 

Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 

He is not here, but is risen!  (Luke 24:1-6)

Aren’t you so happy that Jesus is alive! And you know what he promised? He promised to make a home for us in Heaven.

My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.  (John 14:2-3 NIV)

Easter Verses for Older Kids

I’ve also created a Bible reading plan that would be great for the entire family (especially for older children) to study together which gives a more detailed look at the Easter story in the Bible, beginning with the fall of man and why we need a savior, moving onto Passover scriptures, the death and resurrection of Jesus, and a call to follow Christ.

Many of these scriptures for our Easter study are long so I suggest you plan on spending several weeks. This gives opportunity for discussion, questions, and anything you want to add to your family devotions.

• The fall of man, a need for a savior. Genesis 3:1-24, emphasizing verse 15 which is our first promise of a deliverer.
• Man’s sin is seen right away. Genesis 4:1-15
• Man continues to sin and God is forced to destroy the Earth with a flood. Genesis 7:1-9:15 The purpose of these verses is to simply show that God cannot abide by sin and yet loves mankind and wants to save him.
• The First Passover with the blood of the lamb on the doorpost. The story of Moses and the children of Israel’s deliverance from slavery is a direct analogy of our deliverance from sin through the blood of Jesus. Exodus 3:1-10, Exodus 7:14-10:29, (if your children are not at the age to sit through this number of verses, you can always paraphrase and simply read what each plague is) Exodus 12:1-32 (these are the important Passover verses)
• The Passover is observed in the wilderness. Numbers 9:1-5. Why was it important to observe the Passover even though they had already been delivered? To remember what God had done for them!
• Prophesy of Jesus’s sacrifice. Isaiah 53:1-12 is a beautiful prophecy of Jesus’s sacrifice for us.
• Jesus as the Lamb of God. John 1:29, Revelation 5:8-14,
• The last supper. Matthew 26:1-30 The significance of the last supper is seen when we understand the original Passover. This holy day that the Jews had celebrated for thousands of years was in preparation for this day, when Jesus gives his life as the final sacrifice.
• Prayer in the garden. Matthew 26:36-44. The struggle Jesus went through as he prayed in the garden shows his humanity and obedience. It goes a long way in driving home the point of what Jesus’s sacrifice meant to him and helps us not to take it for granted.
• Jesus’s trial and crucifixion. Luke 23:1-56
• Jesus’s resurrection. The death of Jesus would mean nothing to us if he had remained in the ground. It was necessary for him to rise again, defeat death (and satan) and save us from our own spiritual deaths. Luke 24:1-12, Matthew 28:1-10, John 20:1-18
• Faith in Jesus. This is all simply a weird story unless we have faith, believe in Jesus, and call on his name to be saved. John 20:29-31, 1 Peter 1:19-21, Hebrews 9:11-14

While I am not one who observes holy days because I feel I have to for the purpose of salvation, I do believe there is a lot to be gleaned from them. Freedom Hill has an excellent post that describes how to celebrate Passover in case you want to study this more.

Easter Verses for Kids to Color

There are many coloring pages with Easter bunnies and Easter eggs on them, but since we are really focusing on Christ’s death and resurrection, I wanted to be sure to include some religious Easter coloring pages. Feel free to click on the image and download these.

Because I have a wide age range (my youngest is 3 and my oldest is 13) I find that if I give the younger kids coloring pages while I read the Bible with the older kids then they become less antsy. They are still listening but not expected to stay still. Hopefully, these religious Easter coloring pages will be helpful to your family!

I also have a great post full of Bible coloring pages your kids will love!

Bible Coloring Pages for Kids to Grow Their Faith

Easter Bible Verses for Kids: The Responsibility We Parents Have

We have a responsibility to raise our children in God’s truth, am I right?

“And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.  (Deuteronomy 6:6-7)

I hope these Easter Bible verses for kids have helped you explain and study the significant work of the cross and God’s unconditional love for you and your family.

For more devotional type posts to encourage your children in faith, be sure to check these out!

Fruit of the Spirit for Kids

Inspirational Bible Verses for Kids about God’s Love

Bible Verses about the Power of Words: Hands on Devotions for Kids

Fun Devotions for Youth: Learning God’s Word Hands-On