SYMBOLISM FOR KEEPING CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS

The Candy Cane Story

Candy canes started out as straight white sticks of sugar candy. In about 1670 the choirmaster at the Cologne Cathedral in Germany had the candy shaped into its cane form to symbolize the shepherd’s staff. He gave the candy to members of his children’s choir as a treat for good behavior and as a visual lesson of why we have Christmas. The custom of giving the candy cane as a Christmas treat spread throughout Europe and eventually came to the United States by the 1800’s. It was during the early 20th century that the candy cane received its peppermint flavoring and red stripes to further symbolize the Christ of Christmas. Approximately 1.7 billion candy canes are sold yearly in various sizes as a treat and decoration but few people really know why they are a traditional Christmas candy and what they represent. The following ten lessons on the candy cane are intended to help Christians everywhere more fully celebrate Jesus birth as the reason for the season.

1. The “J” of the candy cane represents HIS NAME. Matthew 1:18-21
God Himself named Jesus and sent His angelic messenger to Joseph saying, “…thou shalt call His name Jesus; for He shall save His people from their sins.” The name “Jesus” is the Greek form of the Hebrew name “Jehoshua” which means “Jehovah is Salvation.” J is for Jesus, born to be a savior, dieing to be the Savior, and living again to be our Savior. The name above all names, Jesus, at Christmas and in all seasons. He is JESUS, THE CHRIST.

2. The SHAPE of the candy cane represents HIS SHEPHERDING. John 10:11-16, 27-30
The shepherds crook reminds us that Jesus promised to care for us the way a shepherd cares for his sheep, watching over them, tending to their every need and protecting them from every peril. Sheep without a shepherd’s care will die, as spiritual sheep we will die eternally without Him. He is the “Lord Shepherd” of Psalm 23. He is the “.....Good Shepherd (that) giveth His life for the sheep,”(v.11) and He does “…give unto them eternal life”(v.28).

3. The CANE of the candy cane represents leaning on HIS SUPPORT. Isaiah 41:10; 46:4
The Apostle Paul wrote that when he is weak he is made strong by leaning on the Lord. The Lord promises that, “even to your old age I am he; and even to your gray hairs will I carry you”(v.4) and that he will hold us up with His righteous right hand (v.10). We sing “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms” but so often fail to realize that it is in His strength that we triumph over adversity and may confidently live day after day in full assurance of His support.

4. The SMALL STRIPES of the candy cane represents HIS HEALING. Isaiah 53:3-5
The delicate pink skin of the newborn baby Jesus would thirty years later be torn and bruised by Roman soldiers before being led to the cross. Isaiah says that by those very wounds our spiritual healing would be facilitated as Jesus humbly submitted Himself to the cross. Baby Jesus would be wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities, chastised for our peace and his flesh torn for our spiritual healing.

5. The LARGE STRIPE of the candy cane represents HIS SACRIFICE. I Peter 1:18-20
The events of Christmas cannot be separated from the events of Easter. Jesus was born as the Sacrificial Lamb of God. It was “foreordained” that His precious blood (v.19) would be the sacrifice price of our redemption. The large stripe stands out as a reminder; God paid a high price to give us the free gift of eternal life. Our salvation cost us nothing, it cost Jesus everything. His blood, in a bold red stripe, ran down the sides of the cross for you and me.

6. The WHITE CORE of the candy cane represents HIS PURITY. II Corinthians 5:21
He was always right in the sight of God, never making a mistake, indiscretion, or unrighteous offense of any kind to man or God. He was not only good in the way He conducted His life, the inward core of His being was perfect and pure. Jesus had to be perfectly sinless to be an acceptable sacrifice for our total sinfulness. As we accept His sacrifice for our sins God imputes His righteousness to us, we are made the righteousness of God in Him(v.21).

7. The TASTE of the candy cane represents HIS GOODNESS. Psalm 34:1, 8
The peppermint taste of this candy is generally accepted as a good flavor. It is pleasing to the senses, soothing to the mouth and throat and long lasting as is the goodness of God. This is evident in all that He wants for us and provides in His blessings to us. The mint taste is also likened to that of hyssop, which is identified in the Old Testament with purification and sacrifice. We are invited to “…taste and see…”(v.8) the goodness of God.

8. The FIRMNESS of the candy cane represents HIS STRENGTH. Psalm 62:1-2
David declares the Lord to be the solid rock of his faith. Jesus is the solid rock foundation of our faith in His sacrifice. As long as we are firmly planted on that foundation we shall not be moved from our confidence in Him. He is our strength, our hope and our salvation. The hardness of the candy cane reminds us to trust in His strength and not to rely on our own.

9. The EATING of the candy cane represents HIS BROKENNESS. I Corinthians 11:23-24
This candy was not made be eaten whole but broken into pieces and shared. Jesus took bread in the upper room, broke it into pieces, and distributed to His disciples as a reminder that His body would be broken for our sin. Sharing the candy with others reminds us to also share Christ as well. Hopefully, eating this candy will help us make this selfless act of His love for us more meaningful, more significant and more personal.

10. The HOOK of the candy cane represents HIS CRUCIFIXION. I Peter 2:21-24
The hook on the candy cane and Jesus Himself were both made to hang on a tree. Hanging the candy cane on our Christmas tree reminds us of that fact. Jesus came into this world for the sole purpose of redeeming us from the penalty of our sins at Calvary’s cross. Christmas is a time for us to reflect on the whole event of the incarnation (God taking human form). Jesus died a terrible death and rose again so that we might live a glorious life both here and in eternity.

The Candy Cane Story is not copyrighted.  It is FREE: download, copy, print and distribute in it's entirety. Hint:  Take the QR Code or the link(s) below to your local printer.  Order double sided copies to suit: Color pdf page:  https://hisways.org/whento/CandyCaneStory2020.pdf  or the   Black & white pdf page:  https://hisways.org/whento/CandyCaneStory2020BW.pdf . Page Path:   ||  Published: 12/06/2019  ||  Printed:  .