A candy maker in Indiana wanted to make a candy that would be a witness, so he created the Christmas candy cane.

He incorporated several symbols for the birth, ministry, and death of Jesus Christ.

He began with a stick of pure white hard candy. White symbolizes the virgin birth and the sinless nature of Jesus. The hard candy symbolizes the solid rock - the foundation of the church and firmness of God's promises.

The candy maker made the candy in the form of the letter "J" to represent the name of Jesus. It also represents the staff with which the Good Shepherd reaches down to 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. The candy maker used three small stripes to represent the scourging Jesus received by which we were healed. The large red stripe was for the blood shed by Christ on the cross.

The flavor of the candy 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.

Since that time, however, the candy has become known as the candy cane. The story of its creation has been lost to tradition and mass production, and it is now available in many different colors, shapes, and sizes.

But the next time you see a candy cane, hear the Sermon it preaches: Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, is the Rock of all Ages who suffered and died for our sins.

"For God so loved the world,
that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish,
but have everlasting life."
John 3:16