Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Easter story cookies

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

Place one cup pecans in a zip lock bag.  Let each child take turns beating the pecans with a spoon until all the pecans are broken into small pieces.  Then set them aside.  Jesus was arrested and beaten by the Roman soldiers.  John 19:1-3 Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe and went up to him again and again, saying, "Hail, king of the Jews!" And they slapped him in the face.


Let each child smell and taste vinegar.  Pour one teaspoon into the bowl.  Jesus became thirsty and they gave him vinegar to drink.  John 19:28-30 Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty." A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.


Add three egg whites to the vinegar.  Eggs represent life and Jesus gave up His life in order to give us new life.  John 10:10-11 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."


Sprinkle a dash of salt into each child's hand.  Have each child taste it, then brush the rest into the bowl.  Jesus' followers shed salty tears.  Their sin was bitter.  Luke 23:27 A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him.

Give each child a teaspoon of sugar to taste.  Pour in one cup of sugar.  The sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us.  He wants us to know Him and follow Him all the days of our life.  Psalm 34:8 Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.  John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.


Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12-15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed.  The color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus.  Isaiah 1:18 "Come now, let us settle the matter," says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.  John 3:1-3 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him." Jesus replied, "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again."


Fold in the broken nuts.  Drop by teaspoon onto wax paper-covered cookie sheet.  Each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid.  Matthew 27:65-66 "Take a guard," Pilate answered. "Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how." So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.


Place the cookie sheet in the oven.  Turn the oven off.  Have the children seal the oven door with tape.  Jesus' tomb was sealed.


Go to bed.  The children may be sad that they have to leave the cookies in the oven overnight.  Jesus' followers were saddened as well.  John 16:20-22 Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.  A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.


On Easter Sunday, break the seal and give each child a cookie.  Notice the cracked surface and take a bite.  The cookies are hollow!  On resurrection morning, Jesus' followers discovered that Jesus had risen!  Matthew 28:1-9 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you." Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.