Leave it to Linus

“My trouble is Christmas, I just don’t understand it.” – Charlie Brown

Charlie Brown was a symbol of ineptitude and futility. He was a subpar pitcher; a horrible field goal kicker; a horrible salesman; and a mediocre trick-or-treater! His incompetence gave rise to perhaps his most famous saying: “UGGGHHHH!” Christmas, the hap-hap-happiest time of year, could even be screwed up by Charlie Brown.

In A Charlie Brown Christmas, Charlie Brown laments about his problem with the Christmas season: “My trouble is Christmas, I just don’t understand it.” Just as with Thanksgiving and the football debacle shows, the self-ascribed psychologist Dr. Lucy proves to be no help. Her idea of Christmas is attaining and trading real-estate. Charlie’s best non-human friend (and frankly more successful canine pal) has his own image of Christmas. Snoopy is out to win this year’s decoration and lighting contest with cash prizes. Sally, his loveable little sister, lays out in pen that she is out to get old Santa Clause to give her the presents she rightfully deserves!

Linus is always the voice of reason. In perhaps the most famous Christmas words since “God bless us, everyone!” Linus gives his Christmas speech, quoting Luke 2.8-14, reminding the Peanuts gang of the point of Christmas.

When I think of Christmas, I think John put it best in John 1.14: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” When all is said and done on that night in Bethlehem, God was dwelling among us! That is the point of Christmas.

As I read through the Gospels the point takes on more clarity. Taken just from the book of Mark, Jesus is: tempted (1.13); angry (3.5); deeply distressed (3.5); rejected by his family (3.21); being laughed at (5.40); spitting (7.33); disrespected and ignored (7.36); hungry (11.12); Mocked and insulted (15.20); forsaken (15.34)! The humanity of Jesus jumps off the page at you, and this list wasn’t even complete. I counted many more. That night in Bethlehem; God took on flesh and remained!

Christmas wasn’t just one night in Bethlehem; but 33 years in Israel, where God walked and experienced among us! It was God undergoing the frustrations and sufferings of humanity!

That is what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown! But every year it is good to be reminded by Linus of how we should not only live at this time of year; but every day! “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.” (Hebrews 4.15)

"YOU...

follow me!" Its an imperative command that Jesus gives to his disciples. He might not use the word "you" but we all know who he is talking about.

Mark 1.17: "Come, Follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."

So much has been written about these verses. Some would argue that it was a massive struggle for these guys to drop their nets and follow him. Others contend that it was a great honor to be called to follow a teacher.

Some point out that Jesus wanted these guys to follow him based on their specific skills; others think Jesus picked them explicitly because of their lack of skills.

I don't know about either of these contentions; however, I do know that Jesus called these guys to follow. But Why? Not "why these guys?" but "why follow?" So much learning today is passive, sit in a desk and listen up. So much of the learning then was passive, set in synagogue and listen up or copy this (until later in life when they would learn from a rabbi). Why does Jesus give these guys in-life training? A couple reasons:

(1) Discipleship is a journey. When you look at the book of Mark much of Jesus teaching comes on the way. Life isn't lived at a desk. Theory would only take these guys so far and definitely not through the trials that these guys would face later on. The only way to expect that these guys would come through the trials in life later would be for them to follow someone through their own. Theory just ain't gonna cut it. Mark continually mentions things on the way: his three passion statements in the book of Mark (8.27-9.1; 9.30; 10.32) come "on the way"; he asks the disciples who he is (8.27); he even healed people on the way (10.46). Disciples move and discipleship is a journey.

(2) Discipleship is a reordering of life. It is a placement of his ideals and vision above your own. Take up your cross is a command to relinquish your own desires and personal security to embrace that which is called of you.

(3) Discipleship has no end. A disciple can expect no better than his teacher. His demise will to be yours. And for many of the disciples it was. Discipleship is continuous expectation for the rest of your life...there is no terms and there are no release dates.