Christ Centered Easter

As a parent sometimes it is hard to celebrate our religious holidays with fun faith filled activities. During Easter our family tries to integrate our faith with the traditional holiday celebrations. So, before the Easter Bunny's visit and egg hunt you can celebrate Christ with these fun activities.

Making empty tomb cookies are a great way to tell the kids about the resurrection, the true reason we have Easter. Begin this recipe the night before Easter. You will need these ingredients.

1 cup whole pecans

1tsp vinegar

3 egg whites

Pinch of salt

1 cup sugar

Zipper bag

Wooden spoon

Tape

Bible

First preheat your oven to 300*F.

Then put the pecans in the zipper bags and let the kids beat them with the wooden spoon. Then read John 19:1-3. Tell how Jesus was arrested and beaten by Roman soldiers.

Now let each child taste the vinegar. Add 1 tsp of vinegar into a mixing bowl. Read John 19:28-30 and tell the children how Jesus was given gall to drink on the cross.

Add the egg whites into the mixing bowl. The eggs represent life. Tell how Jesus sacrificed his life for us, and read John 10:10-11.

Give each child a little salt to taste. Add a pinch of salt to the bowl. Read Luke 23:27 and tell the children about the tears shed by Jesus' followers.

Now add 1 cup of sugar to the bowl. Read Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16. Explain how Jesus is the sweetest part of the story because he died for us.

Mix on high for 10 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed.

Tell how the white color represents purity in those whose sins are washed away by Jesus, and read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3.

Fold in nuts then drop teaspoonfuls onto wax papered cookie sheets.

Point out to the children how the mounds look like a rocky tomb and read Matthew 27:57-60.

Now place the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn it OFF. Next tape the oven door's seal, and tell how Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matthew 27:65-66.

Now go to bed.

On Easter morning give everyone a cookie and tell them to bite into it. Notice how the cookies are hollow! Just like Jesus' empty tomb. Read Matthew 28:1-9.

Another fun way to tell the Easter story is with resurrection eggs. You will need an egg carton, 1 dozen Easter eggs, construction paper, and these items. All items must be small enough to fit inside the egg.

Bread

Coin

Purple cloth

Thorn

String

Cross

Nail

Sign

Sponge

Spear

Rock

Write these verses on small strips of the construction paper and place in egg with correlating item.

Bread Matthew 26:26. While they were eating Jesus took a piece of bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to His disciples. And said, "take eat this is my body."

Coins Matthew 26:14-15. Then one of the disciples, Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.

Purple cloth Mark 15:17. They put a purple robe on Jesus.

Thorns Matthew 27:29. They placed a crown of thorns on His head and said, "Long live the king of the Jews!"

String Mark 15:15 They scourged Him and handed Him over to be crucified.

Cross John 19:17-18. He carried His cross to Galgotha where they crucified Him.

Nails John 20:25. Thomas had to see the nail scared hands.

Sign Luke 23:38. Above Him was written: This is the King of the Jews.

Sponge Matthew 27:48. They gave Him a sponge soaked in vinegar to drink.

Spear John 19:34. They speared Him in His side and blood and water poured out.

Rock Matthew 27:59-60. They put Him into a tomb and rolled a large stone across the entrance.

Empty Matthew 28:6. The tomb is empty He has risen!And finally end your day with the family watching "The Passion of Christ" by Mel Gibson. This film is more suited for older children and adults, due to its graphic nature. I hope your family can use these activities to remember Christ and His resurrection on Easter.