Family
- Seasonal Activities
Easter Story Cookies
dltk-kids.com
Reprinted with permission from www.dltk-kids.com
Ingredients:
• Bible
• 1 c whole pecans
• 1 tsp. vinegar
• 3 egg whites
• pinch of salt
• 1 c granulated sugar
• 1 qt. or gal. size zipper bag
• wooden spoon
• tape
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
2. Place pecans in Ziploc bag and let kids beat them with the wooden
spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested,
He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read: 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 struck him
in the face.
3. Let each child smell the vinegar. Add teaspoon of vinegar into
the mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross
He was given vinegar to drink. Read John
19:28-30. Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so
that the 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.
4. Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that
Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read 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."
5. Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste
it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents
the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of
our own sins. Read Luke
23:27. A large number of people followed Him, including women
who mourned and wailed for Him.
6. So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup of
sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus
died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him.
Read Psalm
34:8 - Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man
who takes refuge in Him and John
3:16 - "For God so loved the world that He gave His only
begotten son, that whoever believeth in Him shall not perish but
have everlasting life."
7. Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12-15 minutes until stiff
peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity
in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read
Isaiah
1:18 - "Come now, let us reason together," 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." And John
3:1-3 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus,
a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night
and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from
God, for no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing
if God were not with him." In reply Jesus declared, "I
tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he
is born again."
8. Fold in broken nuts.
9. Line cookie sheet with waxed paper. Drop mixture by spoonfuls
onto waxed paper. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb
where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matthew
27:57-60. As evening approached, there came a rich man from
Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus.
Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body, and Pilate ordered that
it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in clean linen
cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of
rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb
and went away.
10. Place the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn
the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven
door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read 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
a guard.
11. GO TO BED. Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies
in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the
tomb was sealed. Read John
16:20. "I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while
the world rejoices. You will grieve, buy your grief will turn to
joy." And John
16:22. "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."
12. On Easter morning, open the oven and remove the cookies. Take
a bite. Notice the cookies are hollow. On the first Easter Jesus'
followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.
13. Read 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." So the women hurried
away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell
His disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them, "Greetings," He
said. They came to Him, clasped his feet and worshipped Him.
Click
here for a printable version (PDF, 14KB)
|