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A Lot Can Happen in a Week!

Easter Week

by Janice Ross

Suitable for Key Stage 2

Aims

To consider the unfolding of the Easter story and the change in attitude towards Jesus within one week.

Preparation and materials

Assembly

  1. Explain that today we are going to be thinking about popularity.
    Show Slide 1.
    Ask the children what they think this image shows.
    Listen to a range of responses.
    Explain that it shows a gathering of the Lionesses football team fans in Trafalgar Square, after they had won UEFA Women’s Euro Championship. It was the first time England had won a major tournament in women’s football.
  2. Point out that often when national sports teams win huge tournaments, people will gather to wave flags and cheer their heroes.
  3. Explain that Easter week started in a similar vein, but it all ended very differently.
    A lot can happen in a week!
  4. Show the YouTube clip ‘The Story of Easter' (The Triumphal Entry) This can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-39h0xYqdE
    Ask question: What is happening in this clip?
    Explain that many people made their way to Jerusalem at this time of year to celebrate the Passover. Passover was a special remembrance service for the Jewish people, as they thought about a time when God brought them out of captivity in Egypt and took them across the Red Sea.
    Explain that many believed that Jesus was their long-awaited king, the Messiah, who was going to rescue them from the Roman Empire.
  5. Christians remember Jesus arriving in Jerusalem on a donkey on Palm Sunday – the Sunday before Easter Sunday. On that day the crowds all cheered for him. However, soon after many of the crowds turned against him.
    Although Jesus was popular with the ordinary people, he had never been very popular with many of the religious leaders. Jesus often challenged the views of the religious leaders and asked them questions that were difficult to answer. Because of this the religious leaders began to plot against him.
  6. During Easter week, Jesus met with many people and carried on teaching and caring.
    During Easter week the religious leaders met together to discuss what to do with Jesus.
    They were angry because he was so popular and some of the things he said made them look bad.
    They felt that Jesus was upsetting everything, and they wanted to trap him. The religious leaders didn’t have long to wait. A man called Judas approached them and asked if they would give him some money, if he arranged to hand Jesus over to them.
    It was agreed that for 30 pieces of silver Judas would betray Jesus and hand him over to people who wanted to hurt him.
  7. Jesus was arrested and brought to trial. Eventually the religious leaders managed to whip up the crowd into a frenzy and they began to shout, ‘Crucify Jesus, Crucify Jesus!’
    Within a week Jesus had gone from being popular to having people wanting him killed.
  8. Jesus was crucified and died on a cross. This feels like a sad story! However, Christians believe that it is the most amazing story ever! They believe that Jesus died but that after three days he came back to life again!
  9. Christians believe that the death and resurrection of Jesus means that people can be forgiven for anything wrong that they have done. So, the Easter story may be sad…but it is also very happy!.

Time for reflection

Over the years, many artists have produced music to help us celebrate different events. One piece of music that is particularly popular at Christmas and Easter is the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah.

Play the Hallelujah Chorus for Handel’s Messiah.
An example can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUZEtVbJT5c

Ask the question:

How did that last song make you feel?
What words would you use to describe Easter Sunday?


Prayer
Dear God,
Thank you that Jesus is risen and is alive for evermore.
Thank you that millions of people all over the world love to sing about him.
Thank you that the Easter story finished so happily
Amen.

Song/music

Cheeky Pandas – Easter Song – Happy Easter Everyone! This can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCEsdXSqbow

Publication date: April 2025   (Vol.27 No.4)    Published by SPCK, London, UK.
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