The candy cane was first made by a candymaker from Indiana, USA, who wanted it to be a witness to Christ. He started with a stick of white, hard candy. White which symbolizes purity, pointed to the virgin birth and the sinless nature of Christ. The hardness or firmness of the candy symbolized the firmness God’s promises. The shape of the candy, a “J,” represents the name of Jesus, and also depicts the Good Shepherds staff. The red stripes in the candy, symbolize Jesus’ blood shed on the cross, and the stripes of scourging He received prior to His crucifixion. The candymaker incorporated symbols of Jesus’ birth, and His life and death.
Although today’s candymakers and supermarkets look at the candy cane as another money maker at Christmas time, God continues to give us reminders of His Son’s purpose here on earth. Are you losing site of Christ as we come closer to the celebration of His birth? What do you need to do today to give Him His rightful place at Christmas? Reflect on the purity of His character? Claim the firmness of God’s promises? Proclaim the Good News of the gospel to a neighbor? Rest in your Good Shepherd’s arms? Accept His death on the cross as payment for your sins? How will you live out Jesus Christ for those around you today?
