Today is our final day on this week’s theme of Immanuel—God with us in newness. As we close this week, we’re going to throw back to something old—“A Charlie Brown Christmas,” the animated classic that first aired in December of 1965.

On the 50th anniversary of A Charlie Brown Christmas, USA Today ran article on the history of the show. They printed the actual recalled conversation between Charles Schulz, the Peanuts creator, Lee Mendelson, the executive producer, and Bill Melendez, the animation director, from when they were planning the production. Schulz brought up the idea of Linus reciting the passage from Luke regarding Jesus’ birth, saying, “If we’re going to do a Christmas special, we’ve got to do it the right way and talk about what Christmas is all about.”

Mendelson recalled, “Bill and I looked at each other, then I said, ‘There’s never been any animation that I know of from the Bible. It’s kind of risky.’” Schulz responded, “Well, if we don’t do it, who will?”

The other risk they took in doing an animated Christmas special for primetime was deciding to use a jazz soundtrack, which is of course now a classic in its own right. They produced “A Charlie Brown Christmas” in just a few months, way back before computer animation.

The concept of reciting an exact Scripture recitation on primetime would likely never be produced and released today. But yet, here it is, 50-plus years later, playing year after year as a classic that no one dares mess with.

And the scene when the kids’ mocking laughter subsides and Linus strolls out to the middle of the stage and starts declaring God’s Word as the answer to what is Christmas all about has an odd, yet mystical anointing. It’s so misplaced, but so amazing all at the same time—and millions get to see and hear it every year.

One of my favorite details is as Linus gets into his recitation, he drops his beloved blanket to lift his hands. Linus dropping his blanket rarely happened in any Charlie Brown special, so the metaphor was quite strong.

I want to bring us back from reminiscing the old to our theme this week of the new … think about Charles Schulz’s response to his co-creators when they questioned presenting the Gospel of Christmas: “Well, if we don’t do it, who will?” The reality today is we’re all waiting for someone to do something about the mess we’re in. And we have far too high of expectations on everyone. So … what if we decide to put some Jesus right in the middle of our moments this Christmas the way Schulz did? After all, if you and I don’t do it, who will?

Next week, we’ll be diving in to the Christmas passages in Luke to look at some unique perspectives on some of the characters in the Christmas story, but listen now as I close to the exact passage Linus read:

(Luke 2:8-14 KJV)

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.

Let’s pray: “Father, this ancient story of Christ’s birth never gets old. Because new was born. We could use some good tidings of great joy and to be told to fear not. We could use some peace on earth and good will. Help me to be Your mouth, hands, and feet to bring those things of You into my world. Because if I don’t do it, who will? As above, so below.”