Corporate logos are a constant in today’s world. And there is an entire industry revolving around the recognition of logos and what they communicate about the entity. Consider the “golden arches,” “the peacock,” or “the blue bow tie.”
Yet one of the more widely seen logos, or actually a symbol, during this season of the year is not understood by the masses. I speak of: The Candy Cane!
There was a candy maker who wanted to create a candy that was a witness to Jesus Christ. First, he used hard candy because Christ is the Rock of Ages. Its shape was like a shepherd’s staff, for Christ is the Good Shepherd.
A red stripe was added to represent the blood that Christ shed for the sins of the world. Three thinner red stripes remind us that Christ suffered a whipping for our transgressions. “By His stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5) Sometimes a green stripe is used to remind us that Jesus is a gift from God. The white stripes represent purity, and by His death we were made pure.
The flavor of the cane is peppermint, which is similar to hyssop. Hyssop is in the mint family and was used in Biblical times for purification. “Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” (Psalm 51:7) The taste is sweet, just as it is sweet to walk with Jesus. When the candy cane is turned upside down, it becomes a “J” for Jesus.
In this era, when society pushes the true reason for Christmas into the background, isn’t it good to know that the most popular Christmas candy of all points directly to the Lord?
