Empty Tomb Biscuit

This is an activity that I used several years ago, but I brought it out again this year to remind my boys what the real meaning of Easter is. Here is a list of supplies that you will need.

1 can of refrigerated biscuits

1 large marshmallow per biscuit

cinnamon and sugar mixed together (about 1-2 tsp of cinnamon & 1 cup sugar)

1/2 stick of melted butter/margarine
baking sheet
oven.

You can read the Easter story from several places Matthew 27-Matthew 28; Mark 15-Mark 16; Luke 23-Luke 24; John 19-John 20. When I did this with the boys yesterday, I read through parts and pieces. But here is how it went.

Putting the marshmallow into the butter
Jesus taking on our sins

Each please take a marshmallow. This represents Jesus. It is pure white and without sin. He hasn't done anything wrong.  Then please put the marshmallow into the melted butter and cover it in the butter. The butter represents the sins of the world that Jesus took for us. Jesus (marshmallow) has the sins(butter) of the world on it and was crucified. Once he gave up his final breath, Joseph asked to have the body. It wasn't prepared properly, but they most likely had some spices and quickly wrapped his body.

Adding cinnamon and sugar
Jesus' dead body with all our sins having the burial spices applied

Please take the sin covered body of Jesus and cover it in the burial spices. The cinnamon and sugar represent the spices.

wrapping with biscuit
Wrapping in the burial cloth

Now they wrapped his body in stripes of material. The biscuit represents those stripes of material. Now make sure that all of the body is covered and that the seams are sealed.

Putting into oven
Placing the wrapped body into the grave.

 Now you will place the body into the grave, represented by the oven. (You will cook these according to the directions on the tube, but about 12-15 minutes.)  Then ask the children to check the grave clothes, because Jesus has risen from the grave. (Actually the marshmallow has just melted into the biscuit) These make great little treats, but also a wonderful time to spend with your children and answer their questions about the events that lead up to Easter morning!

Robert said that he remembered eating these before, but he didn't remember the meanings and he was glad that I included him in doing this activity again. So I guess it is worth rerunning some of these learning hands-on activities!