What jelly beans can teach us about Jesus

Did you know that each color of jelly beans can be related to a biblical meaning? In this light-heartedness of this time of year, I hope these tidbits will help you, as it did me, as we learn what jelly beans can teach us about Jesus.

The quiet Saturday before Resurrection Sunday has me reflecting on how the death of Christ impacts my daily life, and I hope the same goes for you. However, reflection doesn’t only happen on this day; it’s a frequent event as I learn to apply God’s word to my life. But enough about me…

Let’s look what a project my son had done in a lesson about Jesus and jelly beans.

An innocent project tells a powerful story.

When my son was a tad younger than he is now, he came home from school with a little something that warmed my heart to bursting. The idea was for the class to have a hands-on lesson, and I’m sure it was quite tempting to NOT eat any jelly beans, a story about Jesus and the colors jelly beans represent.

At the time, this was something I wasn’t quite sure about how to relate the Resurrection of Christ to Easter with all the candy, baskets, and fillers for them at the store. Boy, am I grateful to his teacher for filling this unspoken request.

On a side note: this is one aspect that I’m grateful for the saying “it takes a village to raise kids,” and trusting in God in this department takes a burden off. Can I get an amen? I knew just about every holiday has a candy (or a few) associated with it; since that’s how the world works these days. Like jelly beans and the Easter bunny are related to Easter, it has confused me how they get pieced together with the meaning of religious/spiritual holidays.

Disclaimer:

The picture attached to this post was not created by me yet has my logo on it since it was colored by my child, which would make this picture mine. However, technically it’s not mine; it was created by someone else. I cannot take credit for the drawings or even the wording. It didn’t feel right to me to edit the credits out. I give a warm-hearted thank you to those who make this material available.

Colors draw pictures

The descriptive meanings for each jelly bean color are enough to illustrate what they represent in simple terms for a child to understand. Although there aren’t prayers included in each section, we can pray about what each of these means to us as a family and as individuals.

To recapture the words on the picture:

“Red is for the blood He gave.”
“Green is for the grass He made.”
“Yellow is for the sun so bright.”
“Orange is for the edge of night.”
“Black is for the sins we made.”
“White is for the grace He gave.”
“Purple for His hour of sorrow.”
“Pink for our new tomorrow.”

My heart warms when I read these words. How about you? What pictures do you visualize? Does it spark memories of yesteryear? Or gratitude for the newness that comes with forgiveness?

One more color is on my heart, although it’s not a traditional jelly bean color: brown. The color of the tree He was nailed to. Our healing comes from pain received which eventually changes back to the color it was before the blow we withstood.

Closing thoughts and ending prayers

If you are anything like me and didn’t know how to relate or even translate the meanings of certain candies, treats, or knick-knacks to their corresponding holidays I hope this enlightens you as these items are consumed, or even just looked at in reflection.

I hope you take the time to reflect on what Jesus came here to do. Also, what He has done for each one of us.

Since this came home with my child, I pray that these words and their meanings find a home in his heart and the other children who also took part in this activity. I pray these words lay a foundation for his future in Christ and the rest of his days.

Prayer:

Oh Lord, my God, thank you for your abundant love for us. We lift your name, Jesus, to be praised. Remembering what you have done for us on the cross is hard to witness, yet you did it anyway.

At this time, I want to thank the meanings behind the simple story of the jelly beans and what their colors represent. I pray that it moves hearts closer to You!

Thank you for the blood you gave and the grass you made! Thank you that the sun is bright, reminding us that your mercies are new every morning. Praise you, Father, for the colorful sunsets and the beauty you set before us to be reminded of your makings.

Your faithfulness is powerful. Also, Thank you, Jesus, for taking our sins and covering us in your grace that we don’t deserve.

I ask that you look over your children that read these words and guide us on the path You have made for us!

In Jesus’ Name, we pray, Amen.