Thirty-four years ago; M&M Mars introduced a giant candy bar known as the Marathon Bar. Anybody remember this delectable 8 inch long braided caramel bar coated in milk chocolate?

Commercials showed Marathon John (Patrick Wayne) riding into a scene. A villain would announce himself as Quick Carl and state something like, “. . . I do everything fast.” Marathon John would toss him a monstrous Marathon bar and challenge Carl to eat it fast.

The bright red package, complete with a ruler on the back, made it stand out in the candy isle and at the check out during the 70’s.

In reality the candy bar didn’t weigh any more than other chocolate bars of the day. Just stretched out thinner and longer. Still as a kid; I can remember trying to stuff the whole thing in my mouth all at once on several occasions.

However, despite the clever advertising campaigns and the colorful imagery, sales expectations were not met and Mars, Inc. pulled the Marathon Bar from the shelves in October of 1981.

Now of course candy bars are made this way on purpose; to look large but actually be smaller in weight. There also seems to be a trend of loading the chocolate bars with fillers like puffed rice cereals that make them seem big but really they are just full of a lot more air than ingredients.

This brings up a powerful truth. Have you ever met someone who at first look appeared to be a spiritual giant? But they were really full of a lot of hot air? Maybe they impressed you in such a way that you placed them upon a spiritual pedestal. They appeared large and in charge; but when you got to really know them. You noticed their faults and flaws and saw that they really weren’t the giants you thought them once to be.

I’ve found over the years that people like this desire the limelight. As the former Music Minister of my church I once was even told by a (not so great) singer that they were an upfront soloist and they needed to have a microphone each week so that they could be heard.

People who feel the need to pray eloquent long winded public prayers are much the same way. They do it just to be seen and heard. Jesus called these folks in his day hypocrites and broods of snakes.

Unfortunately the hypocrite Marathon Bars are no longer in existence today, but they do give us a good reminder. Appearances can be deceiving.

Blessings,

Pastor John

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