A Lesson From Linus
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
Luke 2:10
“ A Charlie Brown Christmas” debuted on national prime-time television on December 9, 1965. Fifty-seven years later, the beloved animated production, with all the characters from the comic strip “Peanuts” present, is considered a classic, and watching it has become a tradition for many families.
However, it wasn’t until recently that someone noticed a beautiful moment that has been hidden in plain sight in the show. It has to do with Linus and his security blanket.
He carries it everywhere and it becomes a source of ridicule, especially as it relates to Linus’ sister, Lucy. She is embarrassed by her brother’s devotion to his blanket.
So she often tries to get rid of it. On one occasion Lucy buries it. On another, she turns it into a kite. She even uses it as a science fair project.
Linus knows that he should be less dependent on his security blanket. However, he simply refuses to give it up. Until one magic moment in the television show. Let me set up the context for you.
Linus and His Blanket
In the movie, the time comes when a frustrated Charlie Brown asks, “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?”
Linus, with his security blanket in hand, responds, “Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about.” Linus steps forward and quotes Luke 2:8-14.
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 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.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
In that dramatic scene, right in the middle of the recitation, a remarkable thing happens. Linus drops his security blanket – that thing he clings to when afraid.
What’s striking is the specific moment he drops the blanket. It’s right when he utters the words, “fear not.”
Take a look.
Looking at it now, it is pretty clear what, Charles Schulz, the creator of the show was saying. And it’s brilliant.
The birth of Jesus is the solution to our fears. The arrival of the Savior allows us to drop the false security we have been grasping so tightly and learn to trust and cling to Him instead.
It’s a beautiful moment. However, after Linus’ blanket-dropping moment when he responds to Charlie Brown’s quest for meaning, he picks the blanket back up.
Why would he do that after so boldly proclaiming an end to fear? Why does he leave the stage with that security blanket still in his hand?
The Linus in Us All
A writer named Jason Soroski offers the observation that Charles Schulz is making another point – that in effect we are all Linus. And we all carry the same blanket.
Just like Linus, we may stand tall in a moment of faith, but in this scary world, fear still haunts us. So we pick up the blanket, looking for security.
But that is not where the blanket story ends. In the final scene, the children are gathered around a simple Christmas tree and begin to sing. Soroski describes it this way:
“The show ends with the Peanuts gang not just singing, but clearly and unquestionably singing in worship. Even the musical style at this point is different from anything else heard previously.
The obvious song choice here could have been “O Christmas Tree,” the notes of which have already been playing gently in the background.
But the focus is no longer the tree. The focus has become bigger than the tree. The focus is Jesus.
With this new focus, the kids instead slide effortlessly into “Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Glory to the Newborn King,” and what we are now witnessing is essentially an impromptu worship service.
But before any of this happens, Linus parts with that blanket yet again, and lays it down for good at the base of that beautiful Christmas tree, just as we should strive to not just lay our blanket down just anywhere, but leave it forever behind us at the foot of that cross...”
Our world can be a scary place – a world in which it is very difficult for us to “fear not.” But in the midst of fear and insecurity, this simple cartoon image from 1965 continues to live on as an inspiration for us to find true peace and true security in the one place it has always been and can always be found.
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