Last year, my mom and dad gave each of our four kids a Christmas ornament, each a different character from A Charlie Brown Christmas. When all plugged in with each other, the ornaments go through spoken portions of A Charlie Brown Christmas Special.
Our little ornament story ends with likely the most famous part of the special: Linus Van Pelt’s speech under the spotlight on stage explaining the true meaning of Christmas as he holds his little security blanket. It includes several Scripture verses from the Book of Luke.
As a kid, you may have watched that same TV special (I also liked watching A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and The Great Pumpkin.) We had a Vince Guaraldi CD of music from the special that I listened to often.
It’s a sweet program that I have watched many times with my children as they’ve grown, not only because it’s funny and innocent, but also because it teaches a lesson of contentment, joy, and the Truth of the the meaning of the season.
The background of the scene where Linus’ monologue takes place is at a point where Charlie Brown is frustrated because he can’t seem to find out what Christmas time is really all about (hint: it’s not Santa Claus!)
“I guess you were right, Linus. I shouldn’t have picked this little tree,” said Charlie Brown. “Everything I do turns into a disaster. I guess I don’t really know what Christmas is all about. Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?”
Linus’s Speech
“Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about,” said Linus.
“Lights, please.”
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.
When he is finished with that last line, Linus turns to the audience: “That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”
The famous Christmas special ends with Charlie Brown walking outside to decorate the tree. He feels as though he has ruined the tree when he tries to decorate it and it sags to the ground.
“It’s not bad at all,” Linus says about the little tree. “Maybe it just needs a little love.”
The movie ends with the whole group decorating the tree, surprising Charlie Brown, and singing Hark the Herald Angels Sing.
I thought it would be good to be reminded of the lines from this portion of the program about the good news of the birth of Jesus.
So I created a printable pdf of the verses from Linus speech that you can hang up in your home.
These lines, which include the Biblical passage from Luke 2, make a great discussion point for your Sunday school or classroom lesson plans this Christmas season.
It’s a great idea to make copies and share them with the kids at church as you talk about Jesus’ birth.
Watch this Christmas special with your family this holiday season. Afterward, print out Linus’s speech and hang it up on your fridge or display it in a frame.
It’s a special reminder of why we celebrate Christmas: the baby born in the manger so long ago to redeem us.
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.
Luke 2:8-14, King James Version
Click the button below to download a PDF copy of Linus’s Speech. Then just print and display as desired.
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December Scripture Writing Plan
