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Every year, it seems to me that Christmas, and its true meaning, get pushed further and further into the background. Wherever you turn, we are inundated with commercials, signs, and retail ads that promote the buying of gifts and giving and receiving, which, mind you, there is nothing wrong with. But rarely is there any mention of the true meaning and reason for the season. And to make matters worse, the greeting Merry Christmas is also being shoved under the table and is often replaced with Season Greetings or Happy Holidays.
My wife loves Christmas and enjoys watching Hallmark Christmas movies. Yes, I occasionally sit with her and watch some as well—poor acting and fake snow aside. What I’ve noticed in these movies, and many others, is that there is rarely any mention of Jesus and his birth. They all fail to declare the real reason for the season. The actors say things like, “Christmas is all about giving and receiving, and buying this and buying that. Christmas is friendship, generosity, and being together with family and friends.” Once again, there’s nothing fundamentally wrong with any of those principles. I enjoy all of those things, as anyone would. But it’s sad that much of society has stopped viewing Christmas as a life-altering occasion that involves the birth of a baby boy lying in a manger in an animal stable—a child wrapped in swaddling clothes in the town of Bethlehem as wise men gather to worship the Saviour of all mankind.
One of my favourite Christmas television programs is from the Peanuts cartoon characters, featuring Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy, and the entire gang. Charlie Brown is on a stage and says to Linus, “I guess I really don’t know what Christmas is all about.” Then he holds out his hands and asks, “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?” Linus replies, “Sure, Charlie Brown. I can tell you what Christmas is all about.” Linus walks to the centre stage, and the lights dim. He recites 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 Saviour, 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.” (KJV)
Linus then walks up to Charlie Brown while clutching his coveted security blanket. “That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown,” he calmly explains.
With all the secular hustle and bustle that Christmas has become, the world needs to pause and listen to what Linus has to say. He knew the true meaning of Christmas. And because of Jesus, we have been given the best gift ever—a gift that saves us for all eternity when we place our faith, trust, and hope in a tiny baby in a manger.
Paul Smyth
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