Author Unknown
This little story simply brings our Lord Jesus Christ into a Candy Cane which is important part of Christmas to many people. After seeing how it ties in with Christ, it is with hope that each time you see a Candy Cane you will think of Him, and it will mean something special.
There were once two villages in a far-off land. One was in a valley and one on a mountain top. The folks in the mountain village wanted to give each person in the valley village a gift of love at Christmas. The people in the valley village were having a difficult time, but those on the mountain village were doing well (sometimes when we are on a mountain top, we can help those who are going through a valley in their lives – this is what these mountain folks wanted to do also). So, a committee was formed to see if someone would be able to think of something special. Money was limited, and each gift had to be of equal value to each person. After much time, discussion and consideration, a decision was finally reached. An elderly gentleman who had loved Jesus for many years and who was well respected in the mountain village came up with the idea of a candy cane. Now you are thinking, what is so special about a candy cane, and how can it ever be tied in with Christmas – here is how and why!
The candy cane is in the shape of a shepherd’s staff – Jesus is our shepherd, and we are his flock. A sheep follows his own shepherd, knows his voice, trusts him and knows he is totally safe with him. A sheep will follow no other shepherd but his own. This is how we are to be with Jesus if we totally follow him. (See John 10:11, Psalms 23:1, Isaiah 40:11). Upside down the candy cane is a “J” – the first letter of Jesus name. (Luke 1:31)
The wide red stripe represents the blood He shed on the cross for each one of us, so we can have eternal life through Him. He redeems us and cleanses us with His shed blood which is the only thing that can wash our sins away. (Ephesians 1:7; Luke 22:20) 11
The white stripe represents the sinlessness and purity of our Lord. He is the only human being who ever lived on this earth who never committed one single sin. Even though He was tempted, just as we are, He never sinned (1 Peter 2:22)
The narrow red stripe represents “that by His strips (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 (1 Peter 2:24); Isaiah 53:5).
The flavoring in the candy cane, it reminds us that Jesus’ body was broken for us. When we have Communion, this is our reminder of what He did for us. (1 Corinthians 11:24).
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. (1 John 4:7-8).
God gave himself to us when He sent Jesus. He loves us so much that he wants us to spend eternal life with Him, which we can do if we accept Jesus in our heart as Savior and Lord. (John 1:12; John 3:3; John 14:6).
