According to legend there was a candy maker who wanted to invent a candy that was a witness to Christ. The result was the candy cane.

First of all he used a hard candy because Christ is the rock of ages. This hard candy was shaped so that it would resemble either a "J" for Jesus or a shepherd's staff. He made it white to represent the purity of Christ. Finally a red stripe was added to represent the blood Christ shed for the sins of the world and three thinner red stripes for the stripes he received on our behalf when the Roman soldiers whipped him. Sometimes a green stripe is added as reminder that Jesus is a gift from God.

The flavor of the cane is pepermint 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.

So the next time you see a candy cane hear the sermon it preaches: Jesus Chirst, the Good Shepherd, is the sinless rock of ages who suffered and died for our sins.