There
were once two villages in a far off land, one was in a valley and one
was 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 were having difficult times but those in the
mountain village were doing very well. (Sometimes when we are on a
mountain top, we can help those who are going through a valley in
their lives too. That is what those mountain folks wanted to do,
also.)
So a committee was formed of townspeople 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 and loved, 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 the 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 that 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 truly follow him. (John 10:11, Psalm
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
stripes 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 which is the only thing that can wash
our sins away. (Luke 22:20)
• 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 symbolizes 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)
• The flavoring in the
candy cane is peppermint which is similar to Hyssop. Hyssop is of the
mint family and was used in the Old Testament for purification and
sacrifice. ( John 19:29, Psalms 51:7)
• When we break our 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 Cor.
11:24)
• And if we share our candy cane, and give, in love, some
to someone else, 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)