The Colorful Story of Jesus

The story of Jesus -- His birth, life, death, burial and resurrection; His ministry and mission – has been depicted in many ways throughout the 2000+ years since He lived on Earth.  Artists have portrayed it in wood, stone, brass and pottery as well as charcoal, ink and paint of every color and hue.

Literature has presented it in prose and poetry with dramas ranging from manger scenes to passion plays.  Music encompasses the scale with everything from cradle songs to stirring anthems.  Greeting cards and gift bags, ornaments and jewelry are available as well.

Perhaps no life has ever been represented in such a wide array of mediums, and new ones continue to surface each year.  One of the simplest and most colorful can be found in a bag of jelly beans which are for sale in abundance around Easter.  These shiny, delicious little candies can represent many truths about Jesus as recorded in the Bible.

WHITE for the purity of His virgin mother:

the angel Gabriel was sent by God…to a virgin (named) Mary…

the angel said to her…”behold you will conceive in your womb 

and bring forth a son, and shall call His name Jesus”  

(Luke 1:26-31)

PURPLE for His Heavenly royalty:

The Lord is King forever and forever…the Lord of Hosts, He is the King of glory…

He Who is the blessed and only potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords 

(Psalm 10:16;24:20; 1 Timothy 6:15)

  

PINK for the human body into which He was born:

Christ Jesus…Who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery 

to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, 

taking the form of a servant, and coming in the likeness of men 

(Philippians 2:5-7)

ORANGE for the straw in His manger bed:

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, 

and laid Him in a feed trough, because there was no room for them in the inn 

(Luke 2:7)

YELLOW for the star that led the wise men to Him:

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem…

behold wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, 

“Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?  

For we have seen his star in the East and have come to worship him”…

and behold the star…went before them, till it came and 

stood over where the young child was.  

When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy

 (Matthew 2:1-10)

BLACK for human beings’ sinful nature:

Through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, 

and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned – 

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God 

(Romans 5:12; 3:23)

RED for the blood He shed to pay the debt of our sin:

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that 

while we were still sinners, Christ died for us

 (Romans 6:23).

GREEN for the eternal life He offers to everyone who believes:

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, 

that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life 

(John 3:16)

What a colorful message! What a wonderful assurance for all who turn from sin and self-will to trust in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord of their life.

Lord, the colors of the rainbow in a bag of jelly beans,
remind us of Your time on Earth with all its many scenes.
How You were born a baby in the same way that we were,
and lived among the people, knowing all that can occur
in a lowly human’s lifetime, yet without a single sin.
You took our guilt upon You and You died for sinful men;
then You rose in final triumph over Satan and the grave.
To everyone, the way to God, in victory You gave.
Thank You for Your payment of the debt You didn’t owe.
Help us love and serve You, Jesus, while we’re living here below.

Glenda Collins Inman