Charles Schulz, in his classic 1965 Peanuts Christmas Special, A Charlie Brown Christmas, takes us on a journey as Charlie Brown searches for the meaning of Christmas. Charlie Brown looks around him, and instead of experiencing the holiday spirit or seeing the magic of Christmastime, he feels depressed. This feeling is exacerbated by encounters with his dog Snoopy “going commercial” and winning a lights and decoration contest, and with his sister, Sally, who asks Santa to send her money in tens and twenties if he cannot fulfill all of her Christmas desires.
In the midst of his despair, Charlie Brown seeks help by consulting his friend Lucy. Lucy uses her psychiatric "prowess" to give him the best advice a nickel can buy: she tells him to get involved and appoints him as the director of the Christmas play. I am sure you know how the story unfolds—Charlie Brown doesn’t find the meaning of Christmas in directing the play either, but he is led to it through his ill-advised selection of a Christmas tree.
While reflecting on this Christmas classic, I wonder how many people are searching for the real meaning of Christmas today. They may not be exactly like Charlie Brown, who saw through the commercial racket of all that was happening around him. Many today are filled with holiday cheer and Christmas spirit, but I wonder if they truly understand the real meaning of Christmas in their hearts.
Christmastime often becomes a season of rushing, hurrying, and scurrying everywhere. There seems to be so much to do and no time to do it, and in the midst of it all, we can forget what Christmas is all about. Or perhaps you’ve never known what Christmas is truly about. It isn’t about presents, Santa Claus, or even something as wonderful as family and friends.
Christmas has a very specific purpose, and I am reminded of the pinnacle of Schulz’s Christmas classic when Linus tells Charlie Brown what Christmas is all about by simply quoting Luke 2:8-14:
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 Savior, 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.
While it may be cliché, it is true: Jesus is the reason for the season. This Christmas season, it is vital that we take time to remember that God sent us a Savior, born in Bethlehem so many years ago. Jesus had to come because we have sinned against God, and God loved us so much that He sent us the greatest Christmas gift one could ever imagine—Jesus Christ!
Just like the presents that are passed around at Christmastime, we must receive and unwrap the gift that God has given us. Romans 10:9-10 tells us how to do that:
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
Simply put, we must admit that we have sinned, believe that Jesus is the only one who can save us, and choose to follow Him. If we do this, we will receive the promise given just a few verses later in Romans 10:13:
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
This Christmas season, I want to invite you to remember what the true meaning of Christmas is. If you have never received the gift of Jesus Christ as your Savior, I want to invite you to do that today! It will be the best Christmas present you ever receive. Remember, Jesus is the reason for the season!
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