A Candy Cane Testimony

What did we talk about last week?

*Christmas is not—
Presents, Tradition & stories, Trees, etc.

*Christmas is—
Jesus (Immanuel, God with us)
A miracle, never to be repeated

How can you tell other people about what Christmas really is?

I use objects—like the little Christmas tree—to teach and to remember something that is true. Today we will use another Christmas tradition as our object.
One of the traditions that many people have is special food & candy at Christmas. Did you know that we can even use candy as an object lesson to witness to people about Jesus?

Display candy cane. Do you know how to use a candy cane to tell people about Jesus? Why should we tell others about Jesus? BECAUSE HE TOLD US TO.
March 15:19 Jesus said to the healed man, "Go home to thy friends and tell them what great things the Lord hath done for thee."

What does the candy cane have to say? Let's take a look at it.
It began as a pure white stick of candy. White reminds me of Jesus. He never sinned in His whole life—There was no dark spot of sin in Him at any time at all. (I John 3:5 "..in Him there was no sin.")

He had to be without sin so that He could take the punishment for our sin. (Rom. 3:23 "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."

Turn candy upside down to form a "J". This "J" reminds me of His name…JESUS. The angel told Joseph to name Him "Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins." (Matt. 1:21

There are red stripes on this piece of candy. They remind me that before Jesus died, He was whipped and nailed to a cross. When He died, His blood ran down, just as these stripes do, for me. He died in my place…and in yours…so that we would NOT have to be punished for our own sin. Because Jesus did that for us, our sins can be forgiven and we can go to Heaven some day to be with Him forever.

This candy cane is mine, isn't it? I bought it, and I can do whatever I want with it. If I want to give it to you, you don't have to pay me for it because it is mine to keep or mine to give away.
Jesus says that He has bought our salvation so that we may have our sins forgiven. We cannot pay Him for it. It pleases Him to give it to us as a gift.

but…

Just as this candy will not be yours unless you take it when I give it you, the forgiveness and salvation that Jesus wants to give you will not be yours unless you accept it. If you truly believe that Jesus has died in your place, take the forgiveness that He is offering you. Thank Him for dying for you…and tell others about Him so they can have His free gift of salvation, too.