Have you noticed how few ideas there are “out there” for Easter activities that actually have something to do with the real meaning of Easter? I went on Pinterest and found a few, but mostly there are just tons of {cute} Spring and bunny offerings. I took all I have and gathered all I could find and created a Pinterest board entitled “Jesus and Easter”. In this post I’ll share a few of my favorites combining Easter and Jesus, and the rest can be found on the Pinterest board.
Whatever it is that we do in our homes, whether we are single, married, no children, or a house-full… whatever it is, especially this week, let’s not miss celebrating this most important gift of New Life, Forgiveness, and Eternal Life! (If you’re not sure what the real meaning of Easter is, I’d love to share it with you! Click here.)
Of course, probably my all-time-favorite Easter activity/possession is our set of homemade Resurrection Eggs. I shared our “recipe” and instructions last week, with print-out included. You can get that here. (I have even used this with my adult ladies’ Sunday School class!)
How to make your own Resurrection Eggs – with 6 additional eggs that continue the wonderful story!
One of the first Easter and Jesus traditions we started in our home was the Cross Cake. It’s so simple and easy to make (especially with children), and a treasured and meaningful part of our Easter dinner. Plus, since it’s made by the children, there is no pressure to present a perfect dessert! BONUS! š
The Cross Cake
Simply make a rectangular cake, (pan of brownies, or cookie cake) and cut out the four corners to leave the shape of the cross. Then decorate and serve. Iāve used many different cake mixes (yesā¦ Iām a cake-mix-kind-of-gal) for the cake, but a favorite one is āQuick Red Velvet Cakeā (recipe follows).
Even as the children were babies, they had a part in making this Easter Cross Cake. Nathanās was 5 months old on his 1st Easter, so as I frosted the cake, I took his little fingers and ran them through the icing to make the āswirlsā on it. This is a picture of our 1st Easter Cross Cake and of Nathan.
Nathan and our 1st Cross Cake, Easter 1997
The message that year said: Jesus lives for Nathan, Mommy, and Daddy!
By the time Abigail had her first Easter, Nathan was big enough to help ice the cake and choose what would go on it. He chose jelly beans. Then Abigail got to help add the jelly beans to the cake. (Btw, the color on jelly beans run when they are damp.) It wasnāt too pretty, but a lesson was taught and a memory was made. (And, the cake was delicious ā this one was a spice cake.) š
Abigail and her 1st Cross Cake, Easter 1999
No matter how old you or your children are, this Cross Cake makes a wonderful addition to Easter dinner ā a delicious reminder of the mercy and grace God gave to us through Jesusā death AND RESURRECTION! He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!!!
This is a delicious and moist “red velvet-type” cake, and is the preferred flavor of our Cross Cake.
Quick Red Velvet Cake
Cake: 1 pkg Pilsbury Moist Supreme German Chocolate Cake mix 1 cup sour cream 1/2 cup water 1/4 cup oil 1 (1 oz) bottle red food color 3 eggs
Frosting: (I used cannedā¦ vanilla or cream cheese are my favorites, but whatever is easiest for you will work!)
In large bowl, combine all cake ingredients at low speed until moistened. Beat 2 minutes at high speed. Pour batter into greased and floured pans. Bake at 350 for 25-35 minutes, or until top springs back when lightly touched in center. Cool 15 minutes, then remove from pan(s).
If making the cross cake, cut the corners out, leaving the shape of the cross. Then frost and decorate as desired. Be sure to take pictures, so you can start your own Easter Cross Cake tradition. š
This idea came from a wonderful article from the Focus on the Family website here. It’s a super idea and a way to make the egg-dying all about Jesus.
Tell the Story of Easter and Jesus with Eggs
Instead of merely coloring eggs this Easter, why not use the eggs to tell the story of God’s love and forgiveness?
Before you hide the eggs or put them in baskets, encircle each one with a colored strip of paper (or place the strip inside plastic eggs) that tells one small part of the Easter story. When the eggs have been found, the children must unscramble the story and put it in the right order.
Instead of decorating the eggs with dye, or in addition to dying them, write one attribute of Jesus on each egg. You can do this by writing on the egg with a crayon before you put it in the dye. If you are using plastic eggs, you can write with a permanent marker or paint pen.
Send kids on a hunt for the eggs that have Jesus’ attributes written on them. Instead of just discovering eggs, they will be discovering the wonderful things that make Jesus so special. If the eggs are plastic, fill them with treats to remember how sweet the life of Jesus really is.
Dye eggs in certain colors and use them to tell the story of salvation. (See the Jelly Bean post for those colors and the story to go along with them.)
Jelly Bean Prayer Baggies:
Here is a fun “Easter” gift for young children to make and give to their friends at school, church, dance, etc.
Take a small ziploc snack baggie and fill it with one or more of each color of Jelly Bean mentioned below. Attach the following poem to the baggie. As you put this little gift together and talk about the wonderful truths represented by the different colors of Jelly Beans, your children will probably remember and think of these truths each time they enjoy Jelly Beans.
Red is for the blood He gave. Green is for the grass He made. Yellow is for the sun so bright. Orange is for the edge of night. Black is for the sins we made. White is for the grace He gave. Purple is for His hour of sorrow.
Pink is for our New Tomorrow.
A bag full of Jelly Beans – Colorful and Sweet, is a prayer, is a promise, is a special treat.
May the joy of Christ’s resurrection fill your heart and bless your life!
For older children, this is an adaptation to each color of Jelly Bean
Red ~ the blood of Jesus that He shed Black ~ Our sin, His death, the final hour.
White ~ Pure and holy. The Blood’s cleansing power.
Green ~ New Life that His death brings.
Purple ~ The Royal color, A reminder that Jesus is King of Kings.
Orange ~ is for the Holy Spirit Fire that glows,
Pink ~ is for the Infilling of the Holy Spirit that your life shows.
Yellow ~ is for the Joy & Celebration that Easter Brings.
Resurrection Rolls
Without fail, this is a fun activity we do during the Easter season. Itās become a tradition in our home. Even though our children are older and know the Easter Story and the price Jesus paid so that we could liveā¦ this is always a good and fun (and tasty) way to remind us of the incredible miracle of Jesusā resurrection and the new life we have through Him. We still look forward to making these favorite Easter and Jesus treats.
What you will need:
1 pkg. crescent rolls (Or canned biscuits ā they are yummier with the crescent rolls, however)
1 large marshmallow for each crescent roll
Ā½ cup butter, melted
Cinnamon /Sugar mixture
Depending upon the age of your children, read or teach through Matthew 26-27. Then start this activity.
1. Preheat the oven to 350.
2. Hand everyone a crescent roll triangle or biscuit. (The dough represents the tomb.)
3. Give everyone a marshmallow. (Representing Jesus.) 4. Dip the marshmallows in melted butter. (Representing the embalming oils.) 5. Dip the buttered marshmallow in the cinnamon sugar. (Representing the spices used to anoint Jesusā body.) 6. Wrap the marshmallow tightly in the crescent roll. Seal it well. (Just as Jesus was tightly sealed in the tomb.)
7. Place the rolls in the oven for 10-12 minutes. (Representing the time Jesus was buried in the tomb.) While the rolls are cooking and cooling, read/teach through Matthew 28:1-10.
8. Let the rolls cool completely. When the rolls have cooled, slice your roll open. The marshmallow is no longer there ā just as Jesus is no longer in the tomb ā HE IS RISEN!!
His story continues: After that Jesus appeared in person to Peter, then to the 12 disciples and after that, to more than 500 people. Jesusā 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 IS 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, āIf therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.ā
This needs to be made the evening before Easter, or whenever you want to give this lesson. You will need:
1c. whole pecans
1 tsp. vinegar
3 egg whites
a pinch salt
1c. sugar
zipper baggie
wooden spoon
tape
Bible
1. Preheat oven to 300
2. 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, that the Roman soldiers beat him. Read John 19:1-3.
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.
4. Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11.
5. Sprinkle a little salt into each childās hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesusā followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27.
6. So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1c. 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.
7. 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 Godās eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah. 1:18 and John 3:1-3.
8. Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesusā body was laid. Read Matt. 27:57-60.
9. 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 Jesusā tomb was sealed. Read Matt.27:65-66.
10. GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesusā followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22.
11. 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 Jesusā followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty! Read John 20:1-10
Just a few ideas to spark your thinking… I believe that if we ask Jesus HOW we can take every aspect of our Easter celebrations and focus them on Him, He will show us. James 1:5 promises!
With a grateful heart for what Jesus did for me/us, and Praising Jesus for Life and Freedom through Himā¦ and praying that youāll experience His grace in an abundant way this Easter and Jesus seasonā¦ and always with love,
Via: http://www.motherhoodonadime.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/resurrection-cookies
