That's What Christmas Is All About
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| "The Angel and the Shepherds" by James Tissot |
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Grace to you and peace from God our Father and
the Lord Jesus Christ!
I’m guessing that most
of you have seen “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” the Christmas special featuring
Charlie and all the other “Peanuts” characters. First aired in 1965, it, more
than any other Christmas special, captures the true meaning of Christmas.
On their way to join
their friends ice skating, Charlie confides in Linus that, despite all the
things he likes about the Christmas season, he is still depressed. When Linus
offers little help, Charlie visits Lucy, who suggests that he direct the group’s
annual Christmas play so he might get in the Christmas spirit.
As he heads for
rehearsal Charlie becomes even more discouraged by the commercialization of
Christmas. Lucy laments not receiving real estate for Christmas; Snoopy
decorates his doghouse for a neighborhood lights and display context; and
Charlie’s younger sister Sally asks him to write a greedy letter to Santa Claus.
At the rehearsal, Charlie Brown finds a play fit for the 1960s with dancing,
lively music, an uncooperative cast, and a Christmas diva (Lucy). Unable to
control the cast, Charlie Brown decides the play needs something to enhance the
“proper mood,” and recommends getting a Christmas tree.[i]
At the tree lot,
Charlie Brown picks the only real tree left, a spindly small sapling. Linus
questions his choice, but Charlie believes that once decorated, it will be
perfect. When they return, however, Lucy and the others laugh at him and the
tree. Exasperated, Charlie Brown loudly asks if anyone knows what Christmas all
is about; Linus says he does, walks to center stage, asks for a spotlight,
recites the annunciation to the shepherds:[ii]
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the
field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord
came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were
sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you
good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born
this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this
shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes,
lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the
heavenly host praising God, and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on
earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:8–14, KJV 1900).
Finishing his
recitation, Linus comes back to Charlie and says, “That’s what Christmas is all
about, Charlie Brown.”
This scene is the
highlight of this Christmas classic, one that Peanuts creator, Charles Schulz, a devout Christian had to fight to
have included in the final cut of the special. But it really sums it up. This
is what Christmas is all about: That little babe born in Bethlehem, the one the
shepherds will find “wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” He is
Christ our Lord, our Savior.
He doesn’t look like
much. But looks are often deceiving when it comes to God’s plan of salvation. This
baby is the Seed of the woman who will crush the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15).
He is the Son of Abraham, the One through whom all the families will be blessed
(Genesis 12). He is the Son of David, the One promised who will reign in His
kingdom forever (2 Samuel 7:13). He is the Suffering Servant, foretold by
Isaiah, who was despised and rejected by men, a man acquainted with grief, stricken,
smitten, and afflicted, wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our
iniquities, upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His
stripes we are healed.
This baby, the Son of
God, and son of Mary is born to die, to die on the cross in payment for the
sins of the world. They will wrap Him in strips of cloth and lay His in the
tomb. Three days later, He will rise from the dead. That’s what the angels mean
when they say, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that
will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David
a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11).
“Fear not!” Those are
the first words of the angel to the shepherds. Which reminds me about another
thing about “A Charlie Brown Christmas” that I’d never noticed until one of my
pastor friends pointed it out: Did you ever notice when Linus says, “Fear not,”
he drops his ubiquitous security blanket? The same words that calm the fears of
the shepherds that first Christmas night, seem to give Linus courage and
confidence, too. He takes his blanket and wraps it around the base of the
skinny tree for support.
For the faithful, the
birth of Christ brings an end to all fear (cf. 1 John 4:18). Unfortunately,
some still choose to reject God’s kingdom, and they will receive the news of
Jesus’ birth with fear (e.g., Herod). Thus, Jesus’ birth portends both Law and
Gospel: the child will cause the fall of some, the resurrection of others
(Luke2:34). Though God’s will is for it to be received as great Gospel joy.[iii]
God is awe-full and perfect
and hating sin. His holiness and almightiness frighten us and make us want to
hide from Him and Adam and Eve did in the Garden of Eden and as people often do
today. A sinner in the Presence of the Lord God Almighty is quite uncomfortable.
But dear children of all ages, look at the Babe in Bethlehem. There is God. Are
you afraid of a baby? No, not at all. We all love babies, especially the Baby
Jesus. No one is offended at this Jesus. We can handle a baby; and if this Babe
in Mary’s arms is God … well, we can handle God, right?
But there’s the problem
and it’s a problem for everyone here today … from those who are here for the
first time, for those who are here every week possible. We all like the Jesus of
the Christmas story because we think this is a fine story and it’s profoundly
good and worthwhile to listen to it once a year on Christmas Eve. But too often
we want to keep Jesus at arm’s length … like the wooden manger and the doll
that we store away for 364 days a year … or like an ornament that is taken from
the box and hung on the tree … hung on a tree … hmmm.
This becomes the major
issue with many people. They don’t mind the symbolism of the Jesus doll in the
manger on the floor but become offended with Jesus on the cross … at the
crucifix on the altar. Why? Because Christ born is more acceptable than Christ
crucified. Please do not be offended at the Good News of great joy … at the
Gospel for the apostolic declaration for the pastor is to be determined to
proclaim nothing among you except Christ crucified for the sins of the world.
Behold, the Jesus of
Bethlehem is the same Jesus of Golgotha. We may not separate the two, for there
are not two Jesuses. Rather, it’s the same Body and Blood at both places—Jesus
in Bethlehem’s manger—Jesus on Golgotha’s cross. Jesus was born in order to die
… to shed His Blood to pay for the sins of the world … to give His Body unto
death … to suffer hell in order to open heaven … to die in order to give life.
Even all of this is not
enough, however. For Jesus could have died a thousand times and you could have
heard that truth a thousand times; and it still would not be of any benefit to
you. Jesus died. That is true! But it would not be of benefit until you heard
that Jesus was crucified and died … for you! That Jesus rose again from the
dead for you. That He gave His life for you … for you! In fact, Jesus
could have been born a thousand times and you could hear this truth year; and still,
it would not be of any benefit to you. Jesus is born. This is true. But it
would not be of benefit until you heard that Jesus was born … for you … for
you! God did all this for you.
This Babe’s for you. So
also, you could show up seventy Sundays in as many years to hear the Christmas
Story, but it is not of any benefit until you realized that this is the true
story of the Birth of the Savior for you. Or as the shepherds heard from
the Christmas angel …
Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger (Luke 2:10-12 KJV 1900).
Jesus was born for
you … lived for you … died for you … rose again for you and
ascended into heaven for you! That’s what Christmas is all about!
Go in the peace of the
Lord. You are forgiven for all your sins.
In the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
[i] A
Charlie Brown Christmas - Wikipedia,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Charlie_Brown_Christmas.
[ii] A
Charlie Brown Christmas - Wikipedia,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Charlie_Brown_Christmas.
[iii]
Arthur A. Just, Jr. Luke 1:1-9:50 Concordia Commentary series. St.
Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 106-07.
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