In this world we really need to
SEEK Jesus
Just like Nicodemus and Bartimaeus
PARTICULARLY AT CHRIST-MAS TIME!
(go figure)
The shops are filled with DECORATIONS that do not remind us of Jesus
coming to earth as a baby 2000 years ago!
Some of these classic holiday images actually came from pagan origins.
I think reindeers should be donkeys or camels or sheep
Talking about sheep
THE CANDY CANE REMINDS ME OF JESUS
That’s right; it’s a candy cane! And you know, candy canes have been around for hundreds of years. There are some different stories about who originally invented this item and why, and we don’t know for sure what all of the details are. But candy canes are extra special because they can give us some important reminders about the true reason for the season! Let me share with you a little about this tasty treat.
First, let’s look at the shape of a candy cane. It’s curved at the end, kind of like a shepherd’s staff. Shepherds use these crooks to help in herding their sheep. And shepherds remind me of the shepherds in the Nativity story who heard the news of Christ’s birth from the angels. But shepherds are also important because Jesus said that He is the good shepherd, and he laid down His life for His “sheep” (that’s us!). But guess what else? If I turn this candy cane upside down, it looks like a letter…what letter might this be? It’s a J for Jesus!
Now, let’s look at the colors on a candy cane. The red stripes here can be a painful but powerful reminder to us that Jesus shed His blood to pay for our sins. By His suffering and death, we are healed. The white reminds us that Jesus was pure and He was the perfect sacrifice - He was the lamb of God who came to take away the sin of the world
So next time you see or enjoy a candy cane, think of Jesus. So many everyday items can be excellent reminders to us of God’s constant presence in our lives. He is always there, no matter where we go or what we do.