On December 9, 1965, ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ debuted on national television. After 53 years, the beloved animated show has become a classic and watching it every Christmas has become a tradition for families all over the world. But there is one moment in this show that went seemingly unnoticed for 54 years.
I am a fan of all things nostalgic and all things Christmas, and so when the two are combined I am hooked, and the Charlie Brown Christmas special falls squarely into that category.
During Linus’ big speech when he recites Luke 2:8-14 to tell everyone about the true meaning of Christmas, something amazing happens I never noticed until this year.
Ready for it? Linus drops the blanket.
Why is this important?
Charlie Brown is best known for his uniquely striped shirt and that cute bald head of his, and Linus is most associated with his always-present security blanket. Throughout the story of Peanuts, the gang of Lucy, Snoopy, Sally and others all work to no avail to separate Linus from his blanket to no avail.
And even though his security blanket remains a major source of ridicule for the otherwise mature and thoughtful Linus, he simply refuses to give it up.
Until that one moment. When he simply drops it.
In that climactic scene when Linus shares “what Christmas is all about,” he drops his security blanket and I am now convinced that this is intentional. Look at the specific moment he drops it: when he utters the words, “fear not” (at :38 seconds).
Looking at it now, it is pretty clear what Charles Schultz was trying to say, and it’s so simple and brilliant at the same time.
Because of the birth of Jesus we no longer need to fear.
The birth of Jesus frees us from the habits we are unable (or unwilling) to break ourselves.
The birth of Jesus allows us to simply drop the false security we have been grasping so tightly to, and to trust and cling to Him instead.
The world can be a scary place, I don’t have to tell you that. You know. Most of us find ourselves grasping to something for security just like Linus did that blanket.
But in the midst of the fear and insecurity, this simple cartoon from 1965 continues to live on as an inspiration for us to seek true peace and true security in the one place it has always been and can always still be found. In Jesus.
Merry Christmas. May you be blessed beyond measure and discover the real security in Christ of Lord this season. Amen!
