Story of the Candy Cane

The candy cane can be used as an object lesson by which to share the true meaning of Christmas.

Give a candy cane to each child. Ask him or her to describe it to you. After the children share their observations, tell them how each candy cane tells about Jesus Christ.

The white stripe indicates that Jesus was pure and holy; He was without sin. Scripture: Hebrews 4:15: "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin."

The white is also a picture of how God cleans us from our sin, making us white as snow. Scripture: Isaiah 1:18: "Come now, let us reason together," says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."

The red stripe is a picture of the blood Jesus shed for each of us; the red stripes depict the stripes on His back as He was beaten Scripture: Isaiah 53:5: "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."

The hardness of the candy represents that Jesus is our "Rock." If we build our lives upon Him, they will be secure. Scripture: Luke 6:38: "He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built."

The candy cane is shaped like a shepherd's staff; the Bible calls Jesus our Good Shepherd who watches over us and cares for us; we are called the sheep of His pasture. Scripture: John 10:11: "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."

If you turn the candy cane upside down though, it makes a "J" for Jesus! Scripture: Matthew 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."