Easter Story Cookies

These cookies are a tradition at our house. The cookies themselves are a meringue type cookie. They have an empty center just like Jesus' tomb on the third day! Making these cookies every year is a unique, hands on way to share the Easter story with children. They are to be made on the evening before Easter.

Bible
1 cup whole pecans
1 tsp. vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch of salt
1 cup white sugar
quart zipper bags (as many as there are children helping)
wooden spoons (as many as there are children helping)
masking or freezer tape

Preheat oven to 300.
Divide the pecans into zipper bags and let the children beat them with wooden spoons to break them up into small pieces. Explain to them that after Jesus was arrested, Roman soldiers beat him. Read John 19:1-3: Pilate took Jesus and had him beaten. The soldiers made a crown out of thorns and placed it on his head. They put him in a purple robe and mocked him, saying, "Hail, king of the Jews!" And they hit him in the face.

Let all the children smell the vinegar. If they want to taste, let them dip their finger into a small dish of it. Pour the teaspoon of vinegar into a mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was on the cross and thirsty, he was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30: Later, knowing that all was completed, and so the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said," I am thirsty." The soldiers had a jar of wine vinegar and soaked a sponge in it. Thy tied the sponge to a hyssop branch and held it up to Jesus' mouth. When he received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." Then, he gave up his spirit and died.

Add the egg whites to the vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain how 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 his sheep.

Sprinkle a small bit of salt into each child's hand. Let the children taste the salt. Add a pinch of salt to the mixing bowl with the eggs and vinegar.. Explain this represents the salty tears that the followers of Jesus shed. It also stands for the bitterness of our sins that Jesus died for. Read Luke 23:27: A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and cried loudly for him.

Talk about how the ingredients so far aren't 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 belong to him and know him. Read Psalm 34:8: Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. Read John 3:16: For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Using an electric mixer, beat on high speed until stiff peaks form, about 12 or 15 minutes. Explain that the color of white represents purity. This means that people who ask God to forgive their sins are 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 white as snow; though they are red as crimson , they shall be like wool."Read 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."

Stir in the broken nuts.

Line a cookie sheet with parchment or waxed paper. Drop mixture by spoonfuls onto lined cookie sheet.

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 and went away.

Put the cookie sheet into the preheated oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and let them 'seal' the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed too. 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.

Explain that everyone feels sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were sad 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, but your grief will turn to joy." Read 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."Go To Bed!

On Easter morning, remove the tape and open the oven. Take the cookies out and let each child have one. Take a bite- the cookies are hollow!!

On the first Easter morning Jesus' followers were amazed to see the stone rolled away and the tomb empty!

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 the back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was white like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid that they shook and become like dead men. The angel said to the women," Do not be afraid, for I know 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 he 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.

For more healthy recipes, visitThehealthyhomemaker.com/.