“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.”
— Luke 2:11
In 1965, Charles Schulz (1922–2000), creator of the Peanuts comic strip, was asked to create a Christmas special for CBS featuring Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the rest of the Peanuts gang. Schulz, a devout Christian, agreed to do so but with one stipulation — that they allow him to include the Scriptural narrative of Jesus’s birth. Although at first the network executives were hesitant to consent, and tried to convince Schulz otherwise, he remained insistent. As a result, for over half a century now, millions of people have watched “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and have been blessed to hear “what Christmas is all about” — the birth of “the Savior, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11).
But did you know that Schulz also included a “hidden message” in his animated Christmas special? It centers around Charlie Brown’s best friend, Linus, who apparently has some insecurities as he carries a security blanket with him at all times. In fact, Linus NEVER drops his blanket. That is, except once: while he’s sharing the message of “what Christmas is all about;” at the exact moment he recites the words “fear not” (Luke 2:10), Linus drops his blanket.
In this seemingly innocent moment, Linus delivers a subtle, yet powerful reminder of the true meaning of Christmas. Believers are to “fear not,” for the Savior is born. We have no need to rely on any material thing for security, we have God with us, “Immanuel” (Matthew 1:23), Jesus Christ, the Son and Lamb of God (see John 1:29–34). Faith — not fear; this is the true meaning of Christmas. The gospel of Jesus Christ. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16; cf. 2 Timothy 1:7).
— Ron Metheny, Christmas Presence: A Book Of Advent Readings (December 23, pp. 67–68)
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