Luke 2:10-14
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that
will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a
Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This
will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in
a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with
the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor
rests.”
You gotta love Linus!
I don’t think I’ve missed watching A Charlie Brown Christmas
since the show debuted in 1965. Over the years, I’ve come to appreciate Linus
and his blanket. If you watch closely, when he recites the story of Jesus’
birth, he drops his security blanket. He knows his true security has come as a
babe in the manger. Yes, the characters are cartoons, but the story is real. Charlie
Brown represents all of us who are searching for the truth, and Linus presents
it to him in the most beautiful way.
As Linus tells, the angels addressed the shepherds with good
news of great joy. Years ago, a hymn called Hark How All the Welkin Rings by
Charles Wesley evolved over time into Hark the Herald Angels Sing. Welkin means
heavens or skies. He shared the beautiful idea of the angels, who rejoiced.
Wesley’s hymn changed, but the story of Jesus’ birth remains the same. The angel
approached shepherds, a lowly lot by society’s standards, and shared the good
news of Jesus. That act shows me Jesus came for every one of us so we can have
a relationship with His Father, God.
A few years ago, I realized I’d clung to this hymn because
Linus and all his pals sang it at the end of A Charlie Brown Christmas. It has
stayed at the top of my favorites list for years.
As you contemplate Christmas and the love of Jesus, I hope
you sing with joy.
