Look at the Candy Cane
What do you see?
Stripes that are red
Like the blood shed for me
White is for my Savior
Who's sinless and pure!
"J" is for Jesus, My Lord, that's for sure!
Turn it around
And a staff you will see
Jesus my shepherd
Was born for Me!

Many years ago, a candy maker wanted to make
a candy at Christmas time that would serve as a
witness to his Christian faith.
He wanted to incorporate several symbols for the birth,
ministry and death of Jesus.

He began with a stick of pure white hard candy;
white to symbolize the Virgin Birth and the sinless nature of Jesus;
hard to symbolize the solid rock, the foundation of the Church;
firmness to represent the promise of God.

The candymaker made the candy in the form of a "J"
to represent the name of Jesus, who came to earth as our Savior.
He thought it could also represent the staff of the Good Shepherd,
with which he reached down into the ditches of the world
to lift out the fallen lambs who, like all sheep, have gone astray.

Thinking that the candy was somewhat plain,
the candymaker stained it with red stripes.
He used three small stripes to show the stripes of the scourging
Jesus received, by which we are healed.
The large red stripe was for the blood shed by Christ
on the cross so that we could have the promise of eternal life.

Unfortunately, the candy became known as a candy cane
a meaningless decoration seen at Christmas time.
But the true meaning is still there
for those who have eyes to see and ears to hear.

Author Unknown

1. The candy cane is in the shape of a shepherds staff. Jesus is our Shepherd and we are His flock. A sheep follows his own shepherd, knows his voice, and trusts him and knows that he is totally safe with him. The sheep will follow no other shepherd but their own. This is how we are to be with Jesus if we truly follow Him (John 10:11; Psalm 23:1; Isaiah 40:11)

2. Upside down the candy cane is a "J", the first letter of Jesus' name. (Luke 1:31) It is made of hard candy to remind us that Christ is the rock of our salvation.

3. The wide red stripes on the candy cane represent the blood He shed on the cross for each one of us so that we can have eternal life through Him. He redeems us and cleanses us with His shed blood - the only thing that can wash away our sin. (Luke 22:20)

4. The white stripes on a candy cane represent the virgin birth, sinless life and purity of our Lord. He is the only human being who ever lived on this earth who never committed a single sin. Even though He was tempted just as we are, He never sinned. (I Peter: 22)

5. The narrow red stripes on candy canes symbolize that by His stripes, or wounds, we are healed. Before the crucifixion Jesus was beaten; the crown of thorns was placed on His head; His back was raw from the whip. We are healed by those wounds. He bore our sorrows and by His stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:3)

6. The flavoring in the candy cane is peppermint, which is similar to hyssop. Hyssop is of the mint family and was used in Old Testament times for purification and sacrifice. (John 19:29; Psalm 51:7)

7. When we break our candy cane it reminds us that Jesus' body was broken for us. When we have communion it is a reminder of what He did for us. (I Cor. 11:24)

8. AND, if we share our candy cane and give some to someone else in love because we want to, it represents that same love of Jesus because He is to be shared with one another in love. (I John 4:7,8) God gave Himself to us when He sent Jesus. He loved us so much He wants us to spend eternal life with Him ... which we can do if we accept Jesus in our hearts as Savior and Lord. (John 1:12; John 3:3,16)

*Special Note*

Some people believe this story of the candy cane is just a legend. Others believe it really happened. We do not know for sure exactly how the candy cane was invented, but there it one thing for certain ... it is an excellent picture of Christ and His love for you.