The Legend of the Candy Cane
Sometimes, “We can’t
see the forest for the Christmas trees.”
Or to put it another way, “The Christmas lights are on, but no one is
home.” All around us, like the Bethlehem
angels of old, the symbols of the season shout the grandeur and profound nature
of something that is more than meets the eye.
You see, just like 2014, only the seekers understood then, and only the
seekers understand now. But it all makes
sense if only we take a second look.
Look for instance, at
the lights of Christmas, which represent Jesus as the Light of the world, the
tree which reveals the cross on which Jesus would hang, and the gifts which
represent Christ as the free gift of salvation. If we’re not careful, we’ll find ourselves
“Christmasing” with a whole new point of view.
But one of my
favorites is the delectable candy cane.
For years, like the other favorite Yuletide treats of eggnog and apple
cider, I savored the tasty flavor with little regard that it too, had some kind
of meaning.
David and Helen
Haidle, dear friends for many years, wrote a children’s book entitled “The Candymaker’s Gift,” in which they
tell the story of an old candy man whose greatest delight came from bringing
happiness to the children of his town.
For all the joy they received during Christmas through their tasty
treats, the godly store keeper wished that in some way he could create a candy
that would not only have a special taste, but tell a special story.
As he knelt in his
shop, the Lord gave him an idea for a candy that would present the message of
salvation. This was to be a message
so simple that even the smallest child could understand God’s love through His
Son. But in order for the candy to truly
communicate, it had to have certain qualities.
1. Hard Candy: It reminds us that Jesus is the “rock,”
strong and dependable. (Psalm 31:3)
2. Peppermint Flavor: This speaks of the gift of spices from the
wise men that would foretell those used in His burial. (Matthew 2:11)
3. White Candy: This stands for Jesus as the holy, sinless
Son of God.
4. Cane:
It is like a staff used by shepherds in caring for sheep. Jesus is our “Good Shepherd.” (John 10:1-18; 27-30)
5. The Letter J: When held upside down, the “J” is for the
Name of Jesus, our Savior. (Matthew 1:21)
6. The Color Red: This is for God’s love that sent Jesus, and
for Jesus’ love in giving His life for us on the cross. (John 3:16; Revelation
1:5)
7. The Stripes: These remind us of Jesus’ suffering, His
crown of thorns, the wounds in His hands and feet, and the cross on which He
died. (John 19:1-30)
A plain and simple
piece of candy? Maybe. But we need to be careful not to minimize its
significance in the process. After all,
big things have been known to come from small packages.
Terry Risser
Reflections:
1) Which of the symbols of the
candy cane most stands out to you?
2) How can you apply that to
your life?
Consider reading the Word today:
Copyright 2014- Terry Risser
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