Resurrection Cookies

We make these cookies every year on the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter. It isn't so much that we like the cookies - some of us do, and others don't - but it is an opportunity for us to remember Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection together. We find it to be a meaningful family tradition. 

You will need - 

• 1 c pecans
• 1 tsp white vinegar
• pinch of salt
• 1 c white sugar
• 3 egg whites - you will want to separate these before you begin, especially if you are making the cookies with little children. 

You will also need - 

• Bible - or you can preprint the verses. 
• Ziploc style bag
• Rolling pin or wooden muddler - the original directions call for a wooden spoon, but we've found we want something a little heavier.
• Mixing bowls
• Mixer - we use a KitchenAid stand mixer, but we've used an electric hand mixer in the past. (It might be possible to whisk it by hand, but it would be a bit of work!) 
• Cookie Sheet
• Parchment Paper
• Masking Tape

Directions

Preheat the oven to 300F.

The Pecans Remind Us That Jesus Was Beaten

Start by reading John 19:1-3 - Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands. (ESV)

Put the pecans in the baggie, and beat them with the rolling pin - or whatever you choose to beat them with. You want to break them into very small pieces, but you must take some care or you will destroy the bag and have a big mess. 

Set the broken pecans aside.

The Vinegar Reminds Us That Jesus Was Given Vinegar to Drink

Put a little vinegar in the bottle cap and let everyone smell it. 

Read John 19:28-30 - After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (ESV)

Add 1 tsp. vinegar to the mixing bowl. 

The Egg Whites Remind Us of Life

The eggs represent life. We are reminded that Jesus gave his life so that we might have forgiveness for our sins and receive eternal life. 

Read John 10:10-11 - The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. (ESV)

The Salt Reminds Us of the Tears of Those Who Mourned Jesus' Death

Place a little salt in everyone's hands and let them taste it. Remind everyone that our tears are salty, and there were people who cried as Jesus suffered and died. 

Read Luke 23:27 - And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him.

The Sugar Reminds Us That the Message of God's Love and Forgiveness is Sweet

Let everyone taste the sugar like you did with the salt. Remind everyone that while our tears of sadness are salty, the good news of God's love for us in Jesus is sweet. 

Read Psalm 34:8 - Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! (ESV)

Read John 3:16 - “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." (ESV)

The Color White Reminds of God's Forgiveness 

Ask the children what color the egg whites are. At this point they will be translucent or clear. Beat the egg whites until they form firm peaks. It will take 5-10 min.

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 like crimson,

    they shall become like wool." (ESV)

Read Revelation 7:13-15 - Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

“Therefore they are before the throne of God,

    and serve him day and night in his temple;

    and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. (ESV)

The Pecans Remind Us of Rocky Ground at Jesus' Tomb

Fold the broken nuts into the egg whites. (Some people use mini chocolate chips here, too.)

Line your cookie tray with parchment paper. 

Use a teaspoon (not a measuring spoon) to drop the batter onto the lined cookie tray. Each mound reminds us of the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was placed. 

Read Matthew 27:57-60 - When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud 60 and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away. (ESV)

The Oven Reminds Us of the Tomb

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven off. (That's right turn it off. There is plenty of residual heat to cook the cookies.) 

Seal the oven with a piece of masking tape. (Each child will probably want to add their own piece of tape.) 

Read Matthew 27:62-66 - The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard. (ESV)

Waiting Reminds Us That Jesus' Followers Waited in Sadness

Leave the cookies in the oven overnight. (We used to try to time this to be the last thing we did in the day. Sometimes that was a little stressful with getting everyone ready for the next morning.) 

Remind everyone that Jesus' followers were sad and most of them left Jesus so that he was very alone in the tomb. They knew the tomb was sealed and they had to leave him there. 

Read John 16:20 & 22 - Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. ... So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. (ESV)

Opening the Oven Reminds Us that Jesus Rose from the Dead

On Easter morning take the cookies out of the oven and give everyone a cookie. If the recipe worked, when you bite into the cookies they should be hollow. Remind everyone that on Easter morning Jesus' tomb was empty.

Read Matthew 28:1-9 - Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him.

Celebrate Jesus' Resurrection with the Easter Greeting

Remind everyone that there is a traditional greeting for Easter, and that they will probably hear the pastor say "Alleluia! Christ is risen!" And when he says that they can all say, "He is risen indeed! Alleluia!" 

Children may ask what "alleluia" means. If they do remind them that it means, "Praise the Lord!"