YOU NEED:

1 cup whole pecans, 1 teaspoon vinegar, 3 egg whites, pinch of salt, 1 cup

sugar, zipper baggie, wooden spoon, tape, Bible.

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

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

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

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave

His life to give us life ... Read John 10:10-11

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 sins ... Read Luke 23:27

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 Psalms 34:8 and John 3:16

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12-15 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 and John

3:1-3

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

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

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 and 22

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everybody 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