Resurrection Day - Cookies!

At a Good Friday service 2 years ago, the children's ministry pastor passed out a recipe for cookies that included the story of the crucifixion and resurrection. We tried them that first year and all really enjoyed the process, accompanying Scripture and the resulting delicious cookies.

These cookies have made the level of "tradition" in our house. This was our third year now making the cookies. Here is the instructions and some pictures of our family making them this year.

Resurrection Cookies

Ingredients and items needed:
1 cup whole pecans
1 teaspoon vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch of salt
1 cup sugar
Ziploc sandwich bag
Wooden Spoon
Electric mixer
Wax paper
Cookie Sheets
Tape
Bible

Preheat oven to 300° Farenheit.

Place the pecans into the Ziploc bag. Let the children beat them with the wooden spoon to break them into smaller pieces. Explain how Jesus was beaten by the Roman soldiers after he was arrested.

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 the vinegar. Put the vinegar into the mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, Jesus was given 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 the egg whites to the bowl, explaining that eggs represent life and how Jesus gave His life for us.

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.

 Add a pinch of salt to the bowl to represent the tears shed by Jesus' disciples and followers after His death. Have each child taste the salt to remind them of the bitterness of sin.

Luke 23:27 A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him.

Add the sugar while telling the children how the sweetest part of Jesus' story is that He died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him.

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 the mixture with the mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes, until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity of those whose sins have been cleased 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."

Next, fold in the broken pecans and drop by teaspoons onto cookie sheets covered with wax paper. Each cookie represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid to rest.

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 a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.

Put the cookies in the oven and close the oven door. Turn the oven off and seal it with tape to represent the way that Jesus' tomb was sealed off.

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. 

It is sad to leave the cookies there and have to wait until morning. Jesus' disciples and followers were saddened by the sealing of His tomb.

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. 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.

In the morning, open the oven and distribute the cookies which are (hopefully) hollow on the inside. On the first Easter, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.

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 worshiped him.

Enjoy the fruits of your labor. Yum!