Resurrection Rolls: An Easter Object Lesson

Easter is my very favorite holiday.  I love what it represents, the excitement of the season, and the anticipation of the children. My family is Christian and we keep the focus of our Easter season on the true meaning of Easter – the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It can be challenging to keep that focus in a sea of Easter bunnies, boiled eggs, and Peeps, but it is possible. One activity we do Easter morning is a fun and tasty object lesson on the empty tomb. These Resurrection Rolls help the kiddos connect with the truth of the empty tomb and an added bonus is that they taste a lot like cinnamon rolls.

Here’s what you will need:

• 1 can of Grands crescent rolls (the smaller ones don’t seal up as well)
• 8 marshmallows
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 2 tablespoons cinnamon and sugar mixture (we use a half and half ratio)

Here’s how we do this lesson:

I make the first Resurrection Roll, explaining what I am doing as I go. Then I let the kids do the remaining rolls.

1. Preheat oven according to directions on crescent roll packaging and spray a muffin tin with a cooking spray like Pam.
2. Unroll the dough and separate into the pre-cut triangles.
3. Take a marshmallow and tell your children that it represents Jesus.
4. Dip the marshmallow in the melted butter and then roll it in the cinnamon sugar mixture. This represents the burial spices (myrrh and aloes) used to prepare Jesus’ body for entombment.
5. Place the marshmallow at the tip end of a crescent roll and roll it up toward the wide end. Explain that this represents the linen cloths used to wrap Jesus’ body.
6. Fold the loose ends of the dough over and pinch it all together. Make sure it is completely sealed or you will end up with a melted marshmallow mess. Tell your children this step represents the sealing of the tomb.
7. Place the roll in the muffin tin and repeat with remaining ingredients.
8. Bake rolls according to the package directions.
9. When rolls are finished, let them cool off for about 5-10 minutes. Serve rolls warm.
10. The final step is to bite into the roll, cut it in half, or tear it open to show that it is hollow inside. Jesus is gone! This represents the empty tomb.  

These actually taste good and are not as overly sweet as cinnamon rolls are. Make sure you let the kids help make these and you might even consider letting an older child take the lead in explaining the story. I usually like to summarize the story while we are making the rolls and then read from the Bible as they are cooling off.  I prefer to read Luke 23:50 – 24:8.

The empty tomb means everything to a Christian and this object lesson really grabs a child’s attention and engages their sense of wonder. Oh, plus they like to eat them. Happy Easter. He is risen.