Resurrection Cookies

Last year, on Saturday evening before Easter, my grandsons and I made resurrection cookies. As the boys helped mix ingredients, I told them the story of Christ’s crucifixion and afflictions. We placed the cookies into a sealed oven, and on Easter morning they took the cookies out and they heard the good news of Jesus’ resurrection.

To promote the sacredness of this season, make these cookies and retell the old, old story, the always relevant story of Jesus.

(Preheat oven to 300 degrees.)
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup whole pecans, 3 egg whites, 1 cup of sugar
1 tsp. vinegar, 1 pinch of salt

OTHER SUPPLIES:
Mixing bowl, wooden spoon, Bible, zipper baggie, waxed paper, cookie sheet, tape

Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them into small pieces with the wooden spoon. Tell about Jesus’ arrest and beatings by Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3. Scripture readings may be paraphrased for younger children.

Let children smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. into mixing bowl, explaining Jesus’ thirst and the offering of vinegar to quench it. Read John 19:28-30.

Add egg whites to the vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave his life so we may live eternally. Read John 10:10-11.

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. The salt represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our sins. Read Luke 23:27.

So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup sugar, and explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus gave his life because he loved us. Read Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16.

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 11-15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed, explaining that the color white represents the purity of those whose sins are cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3.

Fold in broken nuts. Drop cookie dough by teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper covered cookie sheet. Each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body laid.

Put cookie sheet in the oven. Close the door and TURN OFF OVEN. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Tell how Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matthew 27:65-66.

Go to bed. On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. The cookies are hollow. On the first Resurrection Day, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matthew 28:1-9.

Jesus’ victory at the tomb is the foundation of the Christian faith because “He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).

Happy Easter! He is risen! Hallelujah!

You may reach Cathy at www.cathymessecar.com