A candy maker  wanted to make a candy that would be a witness, so he made 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 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.

          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 savior.  It also 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 thinner stripes to show the stripes of the scourging Jesus received by which we are healed.  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.

          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. 

          On that Christmas long ago, a clever Christian candy maker gave a special candy gift:  a sweet treat that was also a secret symbol.  And the meaning is still there for those who "have eyes to see and ears to hear."