Beyond the Easter Bunny

by Sharmen Tucker

“Here comes Peter Cottontail, hopping down the bunny trail, Hippity Hoppity, Easter’s on it’s way…” these were the words to the bunny song that my sister and I used to sing as we anticipated that Sunday morning when we would wake up and find our Easter baskets filled with chocolate bunnies, marshmallow chicks and malted eggs. We would awaken with the sun (much to our parents’ dismay) and tiptoe into the living room in order to see what Peter Cottontail had left for us. After being allowed to feast on our “goodies” for a few minutes, our mother would fix our breakfast and then remind us of the real reason for celebrating the day.

We would then brush our teeth and hair and slip into our new dresses. Although it was difficult for our parents financially, my sister and I always had a new dress to put on for church services on that Special Sunday. (There were a few occasions when we were unfortunate enough to merit a matching hat for the day, as well). Upon dressing, getting our tights pulled up (finally) and bows being tied, we would assemble on the front porch for picture taking which was always fun. Keeping two children who were full of sugar and excited about the day’s coming activities was no easy accomplishment!

The day’s most special time would take place as we all loaded into the family car and headed to church. I remember the church always being packed on Easter Sunday and feeling an unexplained sense of newness and excitement as we arrived at church. During Sunday School, we would hear the wonderful story about our Savior, Jesus Christ who died a horrible death on the cross for our sins and yet rose again to reign in Heaven. We would do a special crafts project to depict Christ’s resurrection and pray thankfully to Him for loving us enough to die for us. Upon dismissal, I remember, as a child being irritated because the Easter visitors who didn’t go to Sunday School would get into the auditorium first and take “our” pew, forcing us to sit elsewhere for that one Sunday service of the year. Regardless of where we sat, each Easter Sunday we knew better than to talk or be silly during this special service. We would listen intently as the choir sang hymnals about Jesus; songs such as “He Lives”. We would then read through the list of the people who had passed away during the year and been remembered with an Easter lily presented in their name by a family member or friend. Finally, the preacher would preach the timeless sermon of Jesus’ sacrifice, death and miraculous resurrection. We would then stand and sing a familiar hymn of invitation and my sister and I would watch in awe as adults would quietly walk down the aisle to accept Christ as their Savior. It was not until I had my own daughter that the full impact of these yearly lessons would dawn on me.

As a child, I was blessed enough to have Christian parents who took my sister and I to church, had personal relationships with Christ and knew the real meaning behind the celebration of Easter. Although we did participate in “secular” traditions of Easter such as Easter Egg Hunts and singing the Bunny Song, there was no confusion about who that special day belonged to. Jesus was, remains, and always will be, the true reason for celebrating Easter.

Each year as I celebrate Easter with my own child now, I strive to give her the same kind of wonder-filled, childhood memories my parents gave to me. While, in my opinion there is a place for the Easter Bunny and Dying Eggs, it is important that my husband and I, as Christian parents also, do not fail to lift up our risen Savior as the true meaning of the Easter season. One way that we have found to do this is by baking Resurrection Cookies. Each year, I watch in amazement at my daughter’s child like innocence as she tries to figure out how this recipe “works”. I have also watched as this tradition becomes more and more meaningful to her. As my daughter gets older, I pray she grows to realize the depth of Christ’s sacrifice for her. I wonder if we, as grown ups take the needed time to understand that sacrifice. How many of us can say that we would willingly lay down our lives for others who do not even know us or may not even desire to?

It is my heart’s prayer that you will take this special time with your little ones to teach them about the love and sacrifice of Christ. Children as young as two can “help” add the ingredients and listen to Scripture verses while older children may enjoy doing most of the work for the cookies themselves. I hope your family will find this recipe exciting and that it will become an anticipated, much loved tradition in your house, as it has in ours.

Recipe for Resurrection Cookies
These cookies are made the evening before celebrating the Resurrection, and are cooked in a warm oven overnight so they will be ready on Easter morning.

You need to preheat the oven to 300 degrees (this is important—don’t wait until you are half done with the recipe!)

3 egg whites
1 cup whole pecans
1 tsp. Vinegar
A pinch salt
1 cup sugar
A zipper baggie
A wooden spoon Tape
Bible

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 tsp. 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 sin.

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 Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16.
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 Isa. 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 Matt. 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 Matt. 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 Resurrection morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Resurrection, Jesus’ followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.

Read Matt. 28:1-9