Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Cooking to Teach and Celebrate Easter

These are two things we do every year for Easter. Most people know about the Easter Story Cookies, but few know about the Resurrection Rolls that follow.

I remember two years ago when our oldest was making the rolls. She would go through each of the steps, preparing Jesus body for burial. Then when they were eating the rolls, it made more of an impact at how empty they were (compared to the cookies), because they had put "Jesus" in the "tomb" and now he was gone.

The rolls are a bit too sweet for a dinner roll, so we usually eat them as a snack while waiting for our traditional Easter dinner. And while there is not as much Scripture involved in making the rolls (which is why we also do the cookies and do them BEFORE we do the rolls), they do have more of an impact, especially when they children help.

Easter Story Cookies
Ingredients
· 1 cup whole pecans
· 1 teaspoon vinegar
· 3 egg whites
· pinch salt
· 1 cup sugar
· zipper baggie
· wooden spoon
· tape
· and most important of all "THE WORD OF GOD" Bible

Preheat oven to 300 F.

Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children 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. [1] Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. [2] The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe [3] and went up to him again and again, saying, "Hail, king of the Jews!" And they struck him in the face.

Let each child smell the vinegar.
Put 1 teaspoon vinegar into mixing bowl.

- Explain - that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross He was given vinegar to drink.

- Read John 19:28-30 [28] Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty." [29] 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. [30] When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Add egg whites to vinegar.
Eggs represent life.

- Explain - that Jesus gave His life to give us life.

- Read John 10:10-11 [10] The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. [11] "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

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 sin.

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

So far the ingredients are not very appetizing.
Add 1 cup 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 one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 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. [1] Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. [2] 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." [3] In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."

Fold in broken nuts.
Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet.

- Explain- that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid.

- Read Matthew 27: 57- 60 [57] As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. [58] Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. [59] Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, [60] 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 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 [65] "Take a guard," Pilate answered. "Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how." [66] So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.

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, but 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.

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie.

Notice the cracked surface and take a bite.

The cookies are hollow!

On the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.

- Read - Matthew 28:1-9 [1]After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. [2] 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. [3] His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. [4] The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. [5] The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. [6] He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. [7] 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." [8] So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. [9] Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.

Resurrection Rolls

Ingredients:
· 3/4 cup warm water
· 1 large egg
· 3 cups flour
· 1 teaspoon salt
· 3 Tablespoons sugar
· 6 Tablespoons butter
· 3 Tablespoons dry milk
· 1-1/2 teaspoon yeast
· 1/2 cup butter
· 1 cup sugar
· 1 Tablespoon cinnamon
· 24 marshmallows

Combine first 8 ingredients (combine wet first, dry separately, then combine together. Let rise till double. Divide into 24 balls and flatten.

Mix sugar and cinnamon together.

Read Matthew 27:57-61

1. Give each child a marshmallow. This represents Jesus.
2. Have him/her dip the marshmallow in melted butter. This represents the oils of embalming.
3. Now dip the buttered marshmallow in the cinnamon and sugar which represents the spices used to anoint the body.
4. Then wrap up the coated marshmallow tightly in the flattened ball. This represents the wrapping of Jesus' body after death and being placed in the tomb.
5. Place rolls in a large greased pan and allow to rise till double - approx. 35 min. (Jesus was in tomb for three days before rising.)
6. Place in a 375 degree oven for approximately 15 minutes.

Rolls should be completely empty when cooled...like the empty tomb.

There is an easier version out there using crescent rolls from the refrigerated section of your grocer instead of made from scratch as the one above is. Replace first 8 ingredients and first step with the crescent rolls.


Now read Matthew 28:5-8

Explain: At the tomb, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary saw an angel, who told them not to be afraid. No one had taken Jesus' body, but He Had risen from the dead! The angel told the women to go and tell the disciples what they had seen, that Jesus had risen from the dead. They were so excited, they ran all the way home to tell the disciples the good news! He is risen from the dead! Alleluia!

After that Jesus appeared in person to Peter, then to the 12 disciples and after that, to more than 500 people. Jesus' appearance to eyewitnesses, those who saw Him with their own eyes, would give support and prove that Jesus rose from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:3-6).

By rising from the dead, Jesus proved once and for all that He was the Messiah, the Savior of the World, the Chosen One, and the Lamb of God. By dying on the cross and rising from the dead, Jesus did what no other had ever done before. As both God and man, He overcame sin, death, and hell. And now because of what Jesus has done, these things no longer have any power over those who believe in Jesus and allow His Spirit to lead and direct them. Rather than being slaves to sin and death, Christians ( those who love and believe in Jesus) are free to obey God and do good ( Romans 6:17-18). The Bible says in John 8:36, "If therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed."

However, we will only obey God if we listen to the Holy Spirit our helper. He enables believers in Jesus to do the right thing. It is important that we read the Bible (God's Word) because one of the ways the Holy Spirit helps us obey God is by reminding us of what He says to us in His Word. God's Spirit will never go against his Word. In fact, when we read God's Word, we are listening to the Holy Spirit. Of course, you won't always do the right thing; the Bible says this ) 1 John 1:5-10). But that is why we need to continue to confess our sins knowing that God forgives us, based on what Jesus did on the cross. This is also a reason we need to spend time with other believers in Christ so they can encourage us in our faith.

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