JESUS CAKE



IDA'S PASTRY SHOPPE'S JESUS

I had never heard of a Jesus Cake until I saw one a couple of years ago during the Easter season at Ida's Pastry Shoppe in Jenison, Michigan.  I thought it was her creation and I worried about using it on the blog.  However, I received a Christmas family letter from friends that detailed their Christmas celebration with a Jesus Cake.  Since I saw it in two different places I decided I could share it here. The cake can be used as a birthday cake for Christmas or a remembrance cake for Easter.

HERE IS IDA'S VERSION OF THE JESUS CAKE.

MY FRIEND'S VERSION OF THE JESUS CAKE.

This is one of our family traditions.  We celebrate Jesus’ birthday by bringing gifts and gathering around the birthday cake with candles and song.  The cake has special symbolic meaning: 

John 3:16   The shape of the cake is round to represent the world into which Jesus was born.  Each layer has a special meaningful color.

Romans 3:23   The bottom layer is black (chocolate) representing the fact that all men have sinned.  This is the reason Jesus came to earth.

Ephesians 1:7   The center is red (strawberry) symbolizing Jesus’ blood that was shed for our sin.

1 John 5:11-12   The top layer is green symbolizing the new life we have in Christ after our sins have been washed away.

2 Cor. 5:21  The frosting is pure white standing for the righteousness and purity of Christ. 

Romans 12:5   A border of red hearts stands for brothers and sisters united in Christ circling the earth as His witnesses.

Galatians 3:28   On top is a gold star typifying the star that shone heralding His birth and lighting the way to where it had taken place.  This is a six-pointed pointed star of David because six is the number of man and shows us that the grace of God included us all, not only the Jewish people whose Messiah is our Savior.

John 8:12   In the center on top of the cake is one large red candle representing Jesus who came in the dark world to bring it light and truth.