The Candy Cane is in the shape of a shepherd’s crook. This was used by shepherds during the time of Jesus’ birth to protect and guide sheep. Some of the most well known (and dearly loved) people in the story of Jesus’ birth are the shepherds. We read in Luke 2:8,9a “And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them”

The imagery of shepherd and sheep is throughout the entire Bible and is often used to describe God’s relationship with his people. We read in Psalm 100:3 “Know that the Lord, he is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

To Little Ones: The Candy Cane looks like a shepherd’s Crook and reminds us of the shepherds in the story of Jesus’ birth and how God is our Shepherd who protects and guides us.

Jesus points to himself as the “Good Shepherd”. He does this in places like John 10:11a where he states “I am the good shepherd.” In saying this, he is declaring that he is God by drawing on previous scripture like Psalm 23:1a where we read “The Lord is my Shepherd”

In statements like these and many others, Jesus (who walked the earth as a human being) is declaring that he is also God. This understanding of Jesus as both God and human is known as the “incarnation” and is what we celebrate at Christmas. The Candy Cane reminds us that Jesus (our Good Shepherd) is both human (red for blood) and divine (white for holy).

To Little Ones: The Candy Cane reminds us that baby Jesus, who we celebrate on Christmas, was both human (represented by the red) and God (represented by the white)

Shepherding was a dangerous business in the first century. Both the shepherd and the flock were in constant danger of attack from wolves and other predators. Shepherds were often called on to put themselves in harm’s way in order to protect the sheep. Jesus (the ultimate Shepherd) explains what is required of himself in order to protect his sheep. Again in John 10 verse 11 we read, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

Jesus’ Incarnation (adding a human nature to his divine nature) was for an ultimate purpose. That purpose was so that he could die a truly human death to pay for human sin and save human beings from the penalty of that sin (which is physical and spiritual death).

We, lost sheep as we are, have a Good Shepherd, who has given the ultimate price to protect his sheep. The book of Isaiah (chapter 53 verse 6) describes it this way, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

To Little Ones: The Candy Cane reminds us that Jesus, our Good Shepherd, was born to protect us (his sheep) by dying on the cross to pay for our sins.