The Hunt for Easter

Happy Easter

Are you looking for a new Easter tradition? Or maybe just a fun thing to do with your kids? It doesn't need to be Easter to go on a Bible trivia hunt. You can do that any day of the year! In fact, it's a great way to get your kids excited about the Bible. You could simply switch out the Easter trivia questions for some trivia about a different Bible story. This would be an enjoyable and enlightening family activity to do several times a year.

For the past few Easter Sunday's our elementary aged kids at church having been going on a Hunt for Easter. They break up into teams, and follow clues which lead them around the church property to various locations. At each location, they must answer Bible trivia questions about Jesus' death and resurrection. While on this hunt, they have the chance of running into Elmer Fudd, who's chasing down the rabbit. "Be vewy vewy quiet, I'm hunting wabbits." When they've answer the trivia question, they are given a piece of the map, and their next clue. Once they finish their last clue, they can put together the map in order to figure out where the rabbit is hiding. (The end of the hunt, but not the true treasure. The real treasure lies in answering the questions and learning the story.)

If you want to make your own map, you can do this at Google Maps. Once you're there, you can type in the address of your treasure location, and off to the right side of the screen on the map, you should see a small icon that reads Satellite. Click on that and you will be able to get an aerial view of the spot you want. You can zoom in as much or as little as you'd like to.

You can make your hunt as simple as you want, or as complex as you desire. I think it would be fun to get in a car and travel to each location, but you could simply hide clues around your home too. We've done treasure hunts both ways. If you don't plan on leaving the house, make a hand drawn map, marking the x yourself.


Before you start, you've got to figure out your locations and clues. At each place you stop, come up with 2 or 3 trivia questions to ask. I would bring a Bible along in case the kids are stumped and can't figure out the correct answer. If the story isn't one your kids are familiar with, read it aloud together before you go on a hunt. Then the story will stick more once the kids are trying to figure out the trivia questions. If they have to search for the answer themselves, they will probably remember it next time they're asked! Want to make it really difficult, don't give them multiple choice questions; make them come up with the answer. Or if you feel like your kids are too old for trivia questions, make them more personal reflection questions.

Sound fun? Let's go for it!

WINDING THROUGH THE WOODS WITH A GENTLE FLOW, THE PLACE YOU ARE TRYING TO FIND; THE FISH, DUCKS, AND FROGS ALREADY KNOW. (Creek)

The trivia questions are:

1.) Before the rooster would crow, Jesus told which disciple he would deny that he even knew Him 3 times?
A: John
B: Judas
C: Peter
D: Thomas

2.) For how many pieces of silver did Judas betray Christ?
A: 20
B: 30
C: 60
D: 100

3.) How did Judas Betray Jesus?
A: Pointing at him
B: Gave him a hug
C: With a kiss
D: Shook his hand

WITH SO MANY WORDS USED FOR KNOWLEDGE YOU WILL FIND PLACES LIKE THIS EVEN IN COLLEGE. NOW WITH COMPUTERS DEWEY DECIMAL SEEMS BEHIND THE TIMES, BRING BACK WHAT YOU BORROW OR FACE SOME FINES. (Library)

4.) Who did Pilate send Jesus to after he had interrogated him?
A: Herod
B: Annas
C: Caiaphas
D: Caesar

5.) Pilate offered to release one prisoner- which prisoner did the Jews request to be released?
A: Jesus
B: Barabbas
C: Paul
D: Barnabas

6.) After Pilate found no guilt in Christ, for what reason did the Jews say that Jesus should die?
A: He claimed to be from heaven
B: He said He would tear down the Temple of God
C: He claimed He was their king
D: He had blasphemed God

TO BE A KID IS TO HAVE FUN, A PLACE DESIGNED FOR YOU TO RUN. WITH A LADDER LEADING TO A PLATFORM UP SO HIGH, THERE IS A FAST WAY TO GET DOWN THAT WON'T MAKE YOU CRY. (Playground)

7.) Who carried the cross for Jesus?
A: Simon of Cyrene
B: Simon Peter
C: Simon the Zealot
D: Simeon

8.) At Christ crucifixion what did the soldiers place on his head?
A: Crown of Gold
B: Crown of Thorns
C: Crown of Jewels
D: Crown of Thistles

9.) What was the color of the robe placed on Jesus?
A: Blue
B: Red
C: Purple
D: White

YOU FIND ME WITH CANDY OR SOMETIMES WITH ROLL; I'M HEAVY AND LARGE, ROUGH AND DULL. OUTSIDE THE CHURCH I BORDER THE LOT; LOOK CLOSELY YOU'LL FIND THE TREASURE I GOT. (Rocks)

10.) What was inscribed above the cross?
A: Prince of the Jews
B: King of the Jews
C: Savior of all
D: Lord of all

11.) With what was Jesus side pierced?
A: Sword
B: Knife
C: Spear
D: Spike

12.) For what of Christ’s did the soldiers cast lots?
A: Clothes
B: Jewels
C: Donkey
D: Cross

SCRUB, SCRUB SQUEAKY CLEAN. BEHIND THIS DOOR ARE CHEMICALS THAT MAKE THINGS GLEAM. ON THE SHELF IS SOME COMET, MAKE SURE YOU DON'T INJEST IT COULD MAKE YOU VOMIT. (Janitor's closet)

13.) What did Judas do with the silver pieces after he had betrayed Jesus?
A. He buried it in the ground
B. He gave it back
C. He put it in the bank
D. He bought a field

14.) When Jesus died for how long was there darkness over the land?
A: 3 days
B: 3 hours
C: 6 days
D: 3 weeks

15.) In what was Jesus wrapped before he was buried?
A: Goat skins
B: Linen clothes
C: Sheep skins
D: Golden robe

3 LITTLE LETTERS MEANING SO MUCH, LINES SO LONG YOU MAY MISS LUNCH. YOU BETTER GO IF YOU WANT TO DRIVE, TO GET YOUR LISCENSE YOU MUST GO INSIDE. (DMV)

16.) What was the name of the man who requested Jesus’ body for burial?
A: Nicodemus
B: Joseph
C: Phillip
D: Jonathan

17.) Jesus appeared to his disciples after the resurrection beside which sea?
A: Red Sea
B: Sea of Galilee
C: Sea of Tiberius
D: Dead Sea

18.) Who rolled the stone away from Jesus tomb?
A: Jesus
B: God
C: An Angel
D: A Roman guard

WITH A CAP ON HEAD AND MITT IN HAND, YOU ENTER THIS PLACE WHERE SCOREBOARDS STAND. SO MANY AMERICANS HAVE PLAYED THIS GAME AND THE PRO'S KNOW IT'S FOR LOVE NOT FOR FAME. (Baseball Diamonds)

19.) Who of these was the first on the scene after the resurrection of Christ?
A: Simon Peter
B: Cleopas
C: Judas Iscariot
D: Mary Magdalene

20.) Which disciple wanted to see the imprint of the nails before he would believe?
A: Andrew
B: Thomas
C: James
D: Bartholomew

21.) How long did Jesus remain after his resurrection before he ascended into Heaven?
A: 7 days
B: 3 days
C: 14 days
D: 40 days

After the last question has been answered, you can give the final piece of the map. One you've figured out the location, get your treasure. Since this was a church activity, our last location was meeting back in KidZone for a story and worship music. If I had done this hunt at home with my children, I might have had the treasure be back at home, where we would take communion together as a family.

In fact, we did this as a family the night before Easter. We watched an Easter movie of Jesus' death and his resurrection. We discussed what we had seen, and the parts that stood out to us. We read aloud from Isaiah chapter 53. My husband led us in communion, with sparkling red grape juice and sourdough bread. It was memorable.

One of the things that really stood out to my husband and I was while Jesus was dying on the cross. The soldiers are putting the nails in his hands and feet, and "Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.'” Luke 23:34

This wasn't done in anger. It was the words of someone who was broken, pleading and begging for the lives of others. He could have been selfish at that point, and just endured the punishment. But his thoughts are outside himself. He's desperately asking his daddy to forgive them. He genuinely doesn't want anyone to suffer, no matter what they've done to him. They were killing him, and he was pleading for their forgiveness. That is real love.

We talked with our children at great lengths about grace. We described it to them as getting something good that they don't deserve. It's a gift that we all must accept. It does us no good to know about, but not accept it.

In order to illustrate the point to them better, we had a gift.

One of the requirements for getting ready for school each day is to have your room clean, and your things picked up around the house. If something is left out in the living room, kitchen, computer room, etc., and they have left for the day, it becomes mine. I did the work of picking it up, so it now belongs to me. I have a box in my closet full of these items. When my children do a job around the house, anything that is not a normal chore, they have the opportunity of choosing an item from the closet. It's kind of a trade. I do a little work, they do a little work.

For Easter, we told the kids we were giving them some grace. My closet was to be emptied out. They were free to take back all their toys and books. No jobs would be necessary. It was grace. A good thing that they did nothing to deserve. The slate was wiped clean, and they could start fresh again.

We have that same opportunity on a much larger scale. Every day we have the chance for a fresh start. Jesus paid the price for our weakness. All we have to do is accept it. We must say thanks for the gift, and receive it. It's that simple. Forgiveness is in our grasp. Don't let it get away from you.

There is peace in knowing that you have been shown mercy. You're not going to get what you deserve. You're going to get a gift! The gift is there waiting for you to take it.