For Christians Easter is a time to reflect on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. But for our children the message of the risen Savior is often lost among jellybeans and colored eggs. It is our responsibility, as parents to help our children better understand the meaning of the holiday.
One suggestion is to make Easter cookies with your child. Each ingredient is symbolic and is accompanied by a scripture reference. It will help teach your child the true reason we celebrate Easter. I found the recipe in a newspaper column by Jennifer Nielson a number of years ago.
Ingredients:
1 cup whole pecans or almonds
1 tsp vinegar
3 egg whites
Pinch of salt
1 cup sugar
Directions and scriptural references:
The night before Easter you will make the cookies. Then eat them Easter morning. Preheat your oven to 300 degrees. It is important that the oven is preheated when you put the cookies in. Because you turn the oven off after putting the cookies in.
Put 1 cup whole pecans or almonds in a zip lock bag and break them into small pieces, you might need a rolling pin. Read John 19:1-3 and explain that just as they are breaking the pecans the Roman soldiers beat Jesus after his arrest.
Place 1 teaspoon vinegar into a mixing bowl. Let your children smell or even taste the vinegar. Read John:28-30. Tell them that when Jesus was thirsty he was given vinegar to drink.
Add three egg whites to the vinegar. Explain that the eggs represent life and that Jesus gave His life so we could have eternal life. Read John 10:10-11.
Sprinkle a pinch of salt into the bowl. This represents the tears shed by Jesus’ followers at his death and the bitterness of our own sins. Read Luke 23:27.
Your children might not think that the ingredients sound very good and they aren’t without the sugar. Add 1 cup of sugar and explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because he loves us. Read John 3:16.
Beat the ingredients in the bowl with a mixer for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks form. The mixture will be white which represents the purity of our souls when we repent and are forgiven by God. Read Isaiah 1:18. Tell them that this is possible only because of Jesus’ sacrifice.
Fold in the nuts and drop by teaspoonfuls onto a wax-paper-covered sheet. Read Matthew 27:57-60 and explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus’ body was laid after his death.
Put the cookie sheet in the oven close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each person a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Read Matthew 27:65-66 where Jesus’ tomb was sealed.
Go to bed. Explain that they may feel sad that they have to leave the cookies overnight, just as Jesus’ followers felt sad when they had to leave him in the tomb. Read John 16:20 and 22.
Easter morning unseal the door and share the cookies. The cookies will be hollow inside. Just as the tomb was empty when Jesus’ followers returned. Read Matthew 28:1-9.
I hope you enjoy sharing these cookies and the celebration of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection with your children.