Linus' Blanket

by Jose Barajas

My grandson from birth, loves to hold on to "tags" on a blanket, or his shirts, that we even bought him a blanket of tags. It is his security to know that when he is holding that, he is comfortable and also his security. "A Charlie Brown Christmas" is filled with so many messages of humility and basic messages of what the true meaning of Christmas is and should be. One of the most unnoticed things is that of Linus dropping his blanket after he goes to the center of the stage to recite Luke Two, Eight thru Fourteen. Right at the point of verse Ten where it says, "FEAR NOT," he drops the blanket. Now if you know anything about Charlie Brown and have watched any of his specials or cartoons, you know that Linus is known for carrying that blanket around everywhere he goes and in everything he does. Regardless that everyone else makes fun of him, or tries to take it away from him, or convince him, he doesn't need it, he never let's it go. Because it is his security, his comfort, his way of being able to do anything, because his blanket is protection. In the same way my grandson holds his "taggies", so does Linus hold that blanket.

Jesus when He calls His first disciples, ,Peter, Andrew, John and James, who would become His inner circle, and most referenced disciples of all others, says in Mark One,

"Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” And IMMEDIATELY THEY LEFT THEIR NETS and followed him. And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. And immediately he called them, and THEY LEFT THEIR FATHER Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him." (ESV)(Emphasis Added)

Fear grips us all in one way or another, regardless of what we may say, something scares us. Now some have more boldness and can climb mountains, or build skyscrapers, fly planes, bungee jump, ride bulls, participate in extreme things, but regardless, some form of fear grips us all. The bible records the words, "Fear Not" or a form of not fearing, being anxious, worrying, depending on translation, Three Hundred and Sixty Five times! Give or take a few. That could be a daily reminder for us to follow simple, yet very powerful words, FEAR NOT! The beauty of these words, is that most of the times it is used in the Bible, it is followed with "For I AM with you!" Now does that make us become bold like Linus and drop our blanket? I know for me personally, after Thirty plus years of accepting Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I fail constantly in following these simple words, and many times find myself, FEARING, find myself holding my own "Blanket" "Taggies" or worse sin that I think is comforting me, instead of trusting in God fully. 

The first instance of these words are given to Abram in Genesis Fifteen, 

After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” (ESV)

Some of the most famous verses in the bible that say Fear Not are, Joshua One Nine, Second Kings Six Sixteen, Second Chronicles Twenty Fifteen, Psalm Three Six, Psalm Twenty Three Four, Psalm Twenty Seven One, Psalm Fifty Six Three, Psalm Ninety One, Five, Psalm One Hundred and Eighteen Six, Isiah Twelve Two,  Isiah Forty One Ten, Matthew One Twenty, Matthew Ten Twenty Eight, Matthew Fourteen Seven, Luke One Thirty, Luke Two Ten, John Sixteen Thirty Three, Hebrews Thirteen Six, Philippians Four Six, First Peter Five Seven, Revelation One Seventeen. 

With anything and everything we do, like I mentioned, fear can keep us from doing things, especially the things of God. We can look at Jonah, the rich young ruler, Peter when he denied Christ, or even ourselves, because we look at the circumstance, the ridicule, the pain, the cost, or just flat our laziness or not believing. There are also men who were bold for God, but if you look at their stories in the Bible, doubted, feared, failed but because of God using them, they went boldly where no man or woman had gone before, to do what God had called them to do. Read Hebrews Eleven, but verse Thirty Nine always reminds me that regardless of what may happen to us on Earth physically, God's promise will still hold true, because His promise isn't just for this life, but for eternity.

And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.(ESV)

Many people say, "God doesn't care, God isn't real, how could I lose my job, my house, get this disease, struggle, have this pain," forgetting that God did what we celebrate at Christmas and Easter, though it should be for everyday. Read what Linus quotes from Luke Two, Ten,

"And the angel said to them, “FEAR NOT, for behold, I bring you GOOD NEWS of GREAT JOY that will be FOR ALL THE PEOPLE. For UNTO YOU is born this day in the city of David A SAVIOR, who is Christ the Lord. (ESV)(Emphasis Added)

A Savior born for all, unto us! How can a baby be a Savior? Why did Mary say in Luke One before Jesus was born,

"And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and MY SPIRIT REJOICES IN GOD MY SAVIOR, for He has LOOKED on the HUMBLE ESTATE OF HIS SERVANT. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His Name. And His mercy is FOR THOSE WHO FEAR HIM  from generation to generation. (ESV)(Emphasis Added)

F The fear Mary refers to is a reverence for God which is not a scared way of living towards God, but we should fear that our life is but a breath, and that we will not always be here, and that when we go thru life, with God all things are possible, when we trust God. Do you believe He is the Savior? Like I mentioned, we fail and we doubt, and we don't always trust, but the most important thing to remember, not just for a season, or for a day, but for eternity, is that God gave us the most precious, loving, FREE Gift available to all men and women, A Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Born a Baby to die a sinner's death, for all who would repent and Fear Not, for Immanuel, God is with us. Drop what you are holding onto, that is a false sense of security, from worldly promises that fail, from people who will always let you down, that leaves you dry, empty and sad, and HOLD ONTO Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith. Romans Five Six thru Nine, although verse Eight, which is my favorite verse, reminds me what Christmas, Easter and what the Good News is truly all about, says, 

""For while we were still weak, at the RIGHT TIME Christ DIED FOR THE UNGODLY. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God SHOWS HIS LOVE FOR US in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been JUSTIFIED by His blood, much more shall we BE SAVED BY HIM from the wrath of God." (ESV)(Emphasis Added)

Paul says, God shows, meaning that His death, though thousands of years ago, is still available, constant, and not for just a day or a season. While we don't deserve grace, grace is given, and that is the beauty of simplicity, of God's good news! Let go and let God!" Jose Barajas