Candy Cane Cookies & The Scarlet Thread

Every year I make old-fashioned candy cane cookies that my grandmother taught me as a little girl. Year after year sweet memories flood my mind, heart, and senses with the smell of the peppermint and that first warm soft bite of this special treat.

This year we made the cookies on a Saturday and the very next day, the Lord's Day, we were blessed with an amazing lesson from one of our Pastors that will forever change the way I look at Candy Canes!

In this lesson our Pastor taught on the scarlet thread and the scapegoat used in temple traditions by the people of Isreal.

So, what is The Scarlet Thread?

Time for some history! According to Temple-era traditions (not the written law), around 30AD, a portion of scarlet dyed wool thread was tied to the temple door and a second portion was tied to a "scapegoat". The priest would confess the iniquities and transgressions of the people of Isreal over the scapegoat and then it was led into the wilderness out of the eastern gate and released, or taken over a cliff, to carry the sins away. Scapegoat in Hebrew translates to "absolute removal", so we can understand that the point was to make sure the scapegoat did not return. If God accepted the atonement for the sin the scarlet thread on the temple door would miraculously turn white! We find this in Isaiah 1:18 "Come now, and let us reason together, said the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." This was a sign to the people of Isreal that their sins where forgiven.

The LORD tells us here that our sins are SCARLET! Only through His acceptance of the atonement was the thread able to be made white as snow and Isreal forgiven for the iniquities and transgressions that the priest confessed over the scapegoat.

In the 40 years before the temple's destruction in 70AD, when the priests performed this ritual, the thread would no longer turn white. It would remain the crimson red. What do you think could have been the reason? Well, there is one perfect answer.... Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour! Jesus fulfilled and met this requirement with his ultimate sacrifice, shedding His own blood on the cross for our sins!

I know what you are thinking.... "but I was taught that sin is black".... I hear you and me too. However, stay with me and keep reading this amazing truth all the way through.

Scarlet is a vivid and bright red color. Its meaning can vary in Scripture, history, and symbolism. In a general sense, scarlet stands out and demands attention. Makes one think of the loud and obnoxious way of living FOR the world that sin is and can bring to our life before salvation. In physical life it is connected to vitality and death. It keeps us alive. Without it we are no longer vital... (think of no vital signs for those medical brains out there😉) Historically it is seen as royal and elite being worn or used in costly dye for fabrics. Still thinking of loud, boastful, and HEY LOOK AT ME???.... me too.

Now the most important meaning of all... BIBLICAL CONTEXT! In Hebrew and Greek, the meaning is similar, scarlet/crimson (Stong's Concordance H9144 and G2847). Scarlet represents deep-stained, visible sin, open, and glaring guilt like we just read in Isaiah. Scarlet appears in purification in Leviticus 14 with leprosy and in Numbers 19 with the red heifer ceremony. Even in Biblical history scarlet is worn as garments by the kings, nobility, and high-status officials. We even see Rome mocking Christ by putting him in a scarlet robe in Matthew 27:28 "And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe." This symbolizes Jesus who knew no sin taking on our sin with that scarlet robe. Finally, we see scarlet in its corruption in Revelation 17 with the "scarlet coloured beast". Here it represents earthly power, corrupt authority, and counterfeit glory opposed to Christ's Kingdom.

BIBLICAL TRUTH to take away.... scarlet shows how deep sin is but even better how powerful redemption is. Only God can make the deepest scarlet of our sin WHITE AS SNOW! For BY grace THROUGH faith are we saved.

I pray that after reading this, whether it be a soft warm bite of a specially baked candy cane cookie or any other kind of candy cane your thoughts are brought to Christ. As you look upon that classic red and white twist reflect on God's goodness and how we have salvation in him by repentance which cleanses us of our sins and redemption in salvation making God the master of your life. Thank Him always for washing those deep scarlet threads and making you white as snow as only He can do. No good dead, no work, no ritual.... just our Lord and Saviour. Hide His Word in your heart and seek the truth in that good old King James Bible daily.

To God Be the Glory,

Goodies & the Gospel