Emmanuel

The year was 1965 and I was a small child, only six years old.  Our home had but a single black and white television set which sat in our living room firmly on the fireplace’s hearth. We used to watch The Andy Griffith Show, Ed Sullivan, CBS news hour and many other programs. Now for the past several weeks, CBS had been airing commercials about a new animated Christmas special called “A Charlie Brown Christmas” that was going to premier December 9^th in full color. Children all across America and even some adults, looked forward to the special. The story was written by Charles Schulz and directed by Bill Melendez. It was 25 minute long and featured Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy and friends as they all struggled with the commercialism of Christmas and searched for its true meaning.

 Sally Brown, Charlie Brown’s little sister, puts it all into proper prospective when she delivered her rather choppy line “All I want is what I have coming to me. All I want is my fair share". The climax of the show features Linus Van Pelt’s famous monologue which Charles Schulz took directly from the gospel of Luke 2:8-14. As Charlie Brown sighs “Good Grief!” and wanders off in total disgust, the house lights dim and all spotlights are trained on Linus who boldly proclaims what Christmas is all about; which of course is the birth of Jesus!

“Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.  For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly host, praising God and saying ‘Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill towards men!’”

The Christmas story is really unique in many ways. It’s first and foremost, the climax to the long awaited and foretold birth of the Jewish Messiah. It’s a story of a loving God who took upon Himself our humanity. By choosing to be born into His own creation He can now identify with us, feeling our own infirmities. The birth of the Christ was foretold thousands of years before He actually came into the world. Even the place where Jesus was born is very significant. He was born in a small village called “Bethlehem” which translates “house of bread”. Later on during His ministry, Jesus would proclaim of Himself “I AM the bread of life”.

Interestingly, God chose to enlighten lowly shepherds, who were out in field watching their flock, about the birth of the Messiah before anyone else. King David, who Bethlehem is named after, also began his career here as a shepherd watching his flock on these very same hills. Even the Lord would one day refer to Himself as “The Good Shepherd”, “The Gate” and “The Only Way” into His sheepfold which is an allegory for eternal life with God.

Do you remember when families use to send each other Christmas cards? There is a verse that used to grace the front of many Christmas cards I saw as a child. Isaiah 9:6, 7 “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end,”  Another verse was Micah 5:2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from old, From everlasting.”

Focus on Jesus this Christmas and don’t get so busy that you overlook the true meaning of Christmas. And if you are anything like me, then we will probably meet sometime in the weeks ahead, elbow to elbow, in some department store looking for that perfect gift to give to a loved one. So if you start to feel like Charlie Brown, that we have totally commercialized Christmas,  then remember little Linus giving his monologue on Luke 2:8-14. And as the house lights dim and the spotlights go on, think about the star that came to stand still over Jesus, the son of Mary, our Emmanuel.