Issue 2000 #4
THEME:
Together We Uphold
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The Candy Cane Story
Many years ago a candy maker in India wanted to make a candy that would be a
witness of his love for the Christ child.
First of all he made a stock of pure firm white candy. White to symbolize the
virgin birth and sinless nature of Jesus and firm to symbolize the Solid Rock,
the foundation of the church and the firmness of the promises of God.
The candy maker made the candy in the form of a 'J' to represent the precious
name of Jesus who came to earth as our Saviour. It could also represent the
staff of the Great Shepherd with which he reaches down into the ditches of the
world to lift out the fallen lambs who, like sheep, have gone astray.
Thinking that the candy was somewhat plain, the candy maker stained it with
red stripes. Three small stripes to show the stripes of scourging Jesus received
by which we are healed, the large red stripe was for the blood shed by Christ
on the cross, so that we could have the promise of eternal life.
Unfortunately, the candy became known as the candy cane, a meaningless
decoration seen at Christmas time, but the meaning is still there for those
who have eyes to see and ears to hear.
I trust that this symbol will again be used to witness to the wonder of Jesus
and God's great love that came down at Christmas and remains the ultimate and
dominant force of the universe today.
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