Pastor James Conley

Follow the Candy Cane Road…

As the stores kick off the Christmas season, it’s always fun for my mother and sister and I to go look at the ‘New’ Christmas decorations and goodies that cover the shelves (nowadays you can do this as early as Nov 1st).  One holiday product we can all count on being continued year after year is the simple box of Red and White striped Candy Canes.  Yes, other colors and knock offs have come and gone throughout the years, but the traditional pattern we all know and revert to remains a constant staple year after year.  If only the stores knew what I’m about to share with you… but shhhhh it’s a secret!

Although a simple and naïve little candy, the bold message it portrays can change someone’s life forever!  Most of you probably know that if you flip the candy upside down and turn the little hook around (ok I’m done rhyming) it becomes a J!  When I asked my AWANA kids what they thought that stood for, of course they all knew the answer, JESUS! They shouted!  Yes, the Candy Cane is a J shape for Jesus.  Jesus is the savior of the world!  He didn’t just show up as a superhuman, but came to earth as a little baby, but his name was known before he was born.  Matt 1:21 “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.,”  the angel told Joseph. 

Now turn that J upside down and you have a Shepherd’s Crook, the staff they used to care for, protect, and lead their sheep.  The shepherds were the lowest in society, but the night Jesus was born, they had the honor of being some of the first people to meet Jesus, the new king.  Jesus would come as a humble baby, but would grow up to become the Good Shepherd, who would lay down his life for his sheep (John 10:11).

Traditional colors of the Candy Cane are Red and White, and the stripes descend as 1 thick red, 1 thick white, and 3 little red/white stripes.  You see, the three little red stripes remind me that my sin separates me from God.  According to the bible, I’m not the only sinner; we are all sinners! (Rom 3:23) White shows that only Jesus is pure and holy, and the little white stripes mean only he could take the punishment and stand in the gap for all our sins, because he was sinless.  “God made him who had no sin, to be sin”…2 Cor 5:21a.  Red reminds us of the sacrifice he made, shedding his blood…”for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Cor 5:21b.  While we are sinners we can never be ‘together’ with God, but Jesus’ singular gift of his life for our sins, covers all who believe in him under his blood (the big, red stripe), washing us of our sins and making us pure and righteous so we can be with God (the big, white stripe) (Is 53:5). 

BUT that’s not all folks!  This Candy Cane story might make sense to you, but it isn’t just for us who believe.  You see this Candy Cane story is meant to be a gift, just as you were once taught about the reason Jesus came to earth, so you need to gift it on to the next person.  Because the Candy Cane is only half the story, put two together, hook to hook and you will get a heart, which is the WHOLE REASON JESUS CAME TO EARTH IN THE FIRST PLACE!  He loves us and God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit = 3 red stripes) couldn’t bear to let us remain in darkness. 

“God so loved the world, He sent his only Son, that whoever believes in Him would not perish, but have eternal life.” Jn 3:16. 

So now you’re in on the secret too, but honestly, between you and me, do you really think the Candy Cane story should remain a secret?  No?  Well what are you waiting for?  Put this newsletter down and head to the store to get your traditional box of Candy Canes and get to spreading the Christmas Cheer while you share the Candy Cane’s    secret with those still needing its message.  And don’t worry about Wal-Mart finding out, God’s way ahead of their Christmas cancel culture already :)                          Merry Christmas!  Stephanie Lamm