My six-year-old proudly held up his Styrofoam cup full of dirt. I knew his teacher was using the planting of marigold seeds to teach the children about death and resurrection.
“They’re my flowers,” he announced, despite no sign of life. He then pointed to the wooden barrel sitting on the corner of the patio where, each May, I planted herbs and geraniums. “Can we plant them?”
It was early spring. I glanced at the huge barrel, then down at the cupful of soil and dead seeds. The world would have said, they don’t stand a chance, especially with the unpredictability of Midwest winters. But I’m a gardener, so I told him to start digging.
While my knowledge of growing zones, germination, and soil conditions caused me to weigh the possible outcomes, this young child had only blessed assurance.
What I didn’t count on was abundance.
The process of seed planting and germination is a common analogy–and activity–we use to explain Jesus’ death and resurrection to children. And why not? Jesus used it with the hope that even adults could understand!
In John 12:24-25, Jesus says: “‘Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.’”
Several weeks after my son and I planted the seeds, the barrel was exploding with yellow and orange marigold blossoms. Not only did the original few seeds sprout to life, they produced many seeds.
That’s a part of the analogy Jesus gave that we don’t often focus on with children. We explain that, like Jesus, the seed is dead but it will come back to life in its truest and most beautiful form. We shouldn’t stop there, nor should we rush ahead to the message of eternal life–that because Jesus died and rose again, our children are saved and will live forever too if they follow Him.
Let’s not miss that miraculous story of abundance, of many seeds. Children can also learn that this good news is for everyone–for their friends at school, for their family members, for their teachers and their neighbors too. And they can share that good news so that one day the few seeds will become a great multitude that no one can count! (Rev. 7:9)
“EggPlants”
While seed germination takes more than the three days Jesus was in the tomb, planting seeds and watching them sprout is still one of the most powerful ways to teach children about Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Here’s a fun way to sprout seeds at home with something you have in your refrigerator–eggs!
This activity is also a great alternative to coloring and hiding eggs.
What you need:
- Egg carton
- 24 eggshell halves (any number is fine; these instructions are for a carton of eggs)
- Seeds (e.g., bean, cucumber, regional flower varieties)
- Potting soil or seed starter mix
- A sunny window (warm, indirect light works but takes longer)
1-2 weeks before Easter (or less if you bake or eat a lot of omelets!):
Save one egg carton and the shells from all 12 eggs. To save the shells: Carefully crack the eggs in the middle as you use them. Try to keep each half intact. Gently wash the shell halves and air dry. Once dry, place each shell half, open side up, into its carton compartment. (You can use the top of the carton for the other 12 halves.)
Optional: You can color the eggshells by dipping them into cups of water and food coloring. Allow to dry before placing them in the cartons.
When ready to plant:
- Fill each eggshell half about three-quarters of the way to the top with soil.
- Place 1-3 seeds on top of the soil and press them lightly beneath the surface. (Or cover the seeds with a little additional soil.)
- Place the filled eggshells in a sunny window. (If the room is cold or dry, you can cover the eggshells with plastic wrap until the seeds sprout.)
- Water as needed to keep the soil moist but not soggy. (A spray bottle works well for this.)
- Optional: Once the seedlings are a couple of inches tall, you can transplant them into larger pots or container gardens. Simply crack the bottom of the eggshell with a spoon to allow the roots to come through, then plant the seedling, eggshell and all.
Amanda Cleary Eastep is the author of the new Tree Street Kids middle grade (8-12) series from Moody Publishers in Chicago. Books 1 and 2, Jack vs. the Tornado and The Hunt for Fang, release in April 2021.