Every morning when my kids wake up, they ask me what day it is. When I tell them it's Friday, they get all excited because today we bake "Jesus bread". Yes, we do celebrate Shabbat, but in our own special way and not because we have to, but because we want to. This is the day I use to teach my kids where to go when they are tired. Matt 11:28 ~ “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Today I'll share the recipe but I'll also share the spiritual meaning (in its simplest from) of each ingredient from my own perspective and in a way my kids understand it. This is a teaching tool I use to teach my kids more about Jesus and different aspects in the Bible. For those who are interested, I'll do a in-depth post on the meaning and blessings that go with the ingredients.
You'll need these ingredients - Notice that there are 7 basic ingredients!
Flour (I use cake flour)
Sugar
Salt
Yeast
Oil
Water
Honey
- Mix 1 cup of luke warm water (not too warm) with 1 packet of yeast,
2 tablespoons honey and 50 ml oil. Set aside until the yeast is ready (10 min)
The mixture is ready to use when it's bubbly on top.
Spiritual meaning of ingredients:- Water symbolizes life. Just as we cannot live without water we also cannot live without Jesus. Water provides life-force
and nourishment to all things. - Yeast is what enables our dough to rise. It represents growth and expansion. I explain to my kids that the yeast is the
word of God. - Oil represents the Holy Spirit that lives inside us. This I'll demonstrate when pouring this mixture into the flour.
- Honey represents prosperity and abundance. Proverbs 10:32 ~ The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and He adds no
sorrow to it.
- Water symbolizes life. Just as we cannot live without water we also cannot live without Jesus. Water provides life-force
- Sift 3.5 cups of flour into a bowl. Add 1 teaspoon salt and 0.5 cup sugar and mix.
Spiritual meaning of ingredients:
Flour represents sustenance and the bread of life. Jesus is the fine flour, even, balanced and perfect. Without Him, there is no bread.
Salt is used as a preservative and also for purification. Whatever has salt, lasts longer and when you get hurt, it cleans a wound.
Sugar represents the sweetness and good in our lives. Sugar also represents emunah (faith). I always add a little extra!
- Beat 2 eggs together
Spiritual meaning of ingredients:
Eggs represent the renewal of life and the potential of something new about to happen. I explain how a egg hatches and that there is new life inside it
Now mix all the ingredients together and mix well. Set aside and cover for about an hour or until the dough has risen. With this process I explain that all good things comes to those who wait. Be patient.
Divide the dough into 3 strands. Roll each strand out evenly and braid. (I use 4 strands - From left to right, over, under, over, under)
Brush generously with egg
Bake at 180 degrees for about half an hour or until golden brown.
Finally, my kids go play while the dough is rising and baking. When the bread is done and I call them to see, I explain that this is how God works. We leave everything in His hands and even though we did some of the work, the rest is up to Him. God is always working to give us the perfect result, even if we are not aware of it :)
This is a delicious bread and it has many different uses. My kids love it!
