It’s a little cartoon with a simple plot. The Christmas pageant is approaching, and the boy-director can’t do anything right. Now, 50 years later, A Charlie Brown Christmas still draws excellent ratings in parts of the world. Why?
The genius of the story is that it doesn’t get in the way of the Big Story. As Charlie Brown makes an increasingly bigger mess of things, one of his “friends” declares, “You’re hopeless, Charlie Brown. Completely hopeless.” Humiliated and exasperated, Charlie Brown shouts to the ceiling, “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?”
It’s then that Linus answers, “Sure, Charlie Brown. I can tell you what Christmas is all about.” Clutching his blanket and sucking his thumb, Linus ambles to center stage. Politely requesting the spotlight, he launches into a soliloquy for the ages—the Christmas story from Luke 2. His recitation complete, he shuffles off the stage and simply says, “That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”
Christopher Shea, the actor who voiced Linus’ unforgettable role when he was just 7 years old, died in 2010 at age 52. But he knew where the power of that Christmas special came from. “It’s the words,” said Shea. “As I got older, I understood the words more, and I understood the power of what was going on.”
One day our lines will be complete. We’ll walk offstage and into eternity. If we understand who it’s all about, we can exit in satisfaction and fulfillment, fully confident of meeting the One behind the words—He who came to rescue His creation. “The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!” (Luke 2:11).
Jesus is what Christmas is all about.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: 1 John 1:1-10
More:
Read Philippians 2:5-11 to see the bigger story of what it meant for Jesus to rescue us.
Next:
How are you trying to leave your mark on the world? In what areas are you glorifying yourself? In what ways are you living to advance God’s story?
Gary Shultz on December 25, 2015 at 7:34 am
Today on Christmas I open another gift sent by the way of our beloved Contributors. Each day I find challenge, resolve, praise and interspection as I contemplate what has been placed under my tree (so to speak). This is what Christmas is about too, you shall know them by their love, you show us care and love by the gift you give. Thank you today Mr. Tim for our Christmas reading and for all those writers who invest in us. God’s gift gives on.
Tim Gustafson on December 25, 2015 at 10:32 am
Appreciate that! It is our privilege and joy to get to do this! Merry Christmas to you and all our readers.
gagirllive on December 25, 2015 at 8:14 am
Merry Christmas! Interestingly, at our Christmas Eve service last night, Pastor talked about the Charlie Brown Christmas Story. He shared something that I have never heard before or noticed about Linus . In fact, I had to come home afterwards and do a YouTube search of the show to see it with my own eyes. This is what I found: as Linus is reciting the passage in Luke and he gets to the part where the angels say “Do not be afraid”, he drops his blanket…for the FIRST TIME EVER in all the shows! Deeper meaning: Linus can let go of his beloved security blanket because he “gets it”….what Christmas is all about. Our salvation (security) has come in the person of Jesus Christ–Immanuel–and we no longer have to live in the fear of darkness and sin and separation from God. Glory to God in the Highest!
Tim Gustafson on December 25, 2015 at 10:36 am
I hadn’t noticed that either, and I’ve seen this special, oh, 50 times or so. 🙂 Charles Schulz knew what he was doing. “Do not be afraid.” The best news ever.
Mike Wittmer on December 25, 2015 at 9:06 am
Thank you for this Christmas message, Tim. I heard this week that in the middle of reciting the Christmas story, Linus drops his blanket. Linus always clutched his blanket because of his fear and insecurity, but when he read the line, “Fear not,” he dropped it. May we all drop our blankets this Christmas as we bow before the manger.
elegantstarr on December 25, 2015 at 10:48 am
Mary CHRISTmas to all of you! As you celebrate today with family and friends, remember the real Reason for the season!