Willy Wonka’s claim to fame as “The Candy Man” gives him the following reputation: “He mixes it with love and makes the world taste good.” In a similar way “The Candy Cane” too has a claim to fame: What can take God’s story, wrap it some mint? Give Him all the glory for the Precious Son He sent? A candy cane can. A candy cane can. Many of us in the States have heard about how the candy cane can be used to tell the story of Jesus. Most Japanese, however, aren’t as familiar with candy canes or the spiritual symbolism found therein: the shape of the cane being reminiscent of a “J” for “Jesus” or the shape of a Shepherd’s staff, the red stripes reminding us of how Jesus suffered on behalf of our sins, the white reminding us of the purity offered to those who put their trust in Jesus as their Savior and Lord. Last Christmas my mother sent us several boxes of candy canes for us to use in evangelism in our city of Sendai, Japan. Please pray for the hundreds of Japanese (like those pictured here) with whom we shared the story of Christ through a simple candy cane last year; pray that God will remind our friends and neighbors of His desire to care for them as a Good Shepherd cares for His sheep, even to the point of laying down his life for them. Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11)
December 3, 2009 Donna Qualls
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