A candy maker wanted to make a candy for Christmas that would be a witness to his Christian faith. He incorporated several symbols for the birth, ministry, and death of Jesus Christ.

He began with a stick of pure white, hard candy. White to symbolize the Virgin Birth and the sinless nature of Jesus, and hard to symbolize the Solid Rock, the Foundation of the Church, and firmness of the promises of God.

He made the candy in the form of a "J" to represent the precious name of Jesus, who came to earth as our Savior. It also when turned upside down represents the staff of the "Good Shepherd" with which he reaches 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 candy maker stained it with red stripes. He used the three small stripes to show the stripes of he received on our behalf when the Roman soldiers whipped him. The large red stripe was for the blood shed by Jesus on the cross so that we could have the promise of eternal life, if only we put our faith and trust in him. Sometimes a green stripe is added as a reminder that Jesus is a gift from God.

The flavor of the cane is peppermint, which is similar to hyssop. Hyssop is in the mint family and was used in the Old Testament for purification and sacrifice. Jesus is the pure Lamb of God, come to be a sacrifice for the sins of the world.

Unfortunately, the candy became know as a Candy Cane - a meaningless decoration seen at Christmastime. But the meaning is still there for those who "have eyes to see and ears to hear".

So everytime you see a Candy Cane, remember the message of the candy maker: Jesus is the Christ!