Linus and Redefining the Divine: How Christmas Rewrote Our Understanding of God

Linus was my favorite Peanuts character when I was a kid. I didn’t share his blanket attachment, but I loved his philosophical calmness — a rare trait in children’s characters, except for Pooh.

Linus’ most memorable moment comes in “A Charlie Brown Christmas”. The other kids were worried about the perfect tree, the perfect decorations, the perfect Christmas performance - frazzled and frustrated and exhausted. In a calendar full of holidays, why should this one stand out? In that chaotic moment, Linus steps into the spotlight and says…

“That night there were shepherds staying in the fields…Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth...[1]”

Linus cuts through the noise and points to the real significance of Christmas - the holiday marks a moment when heaven connected with humanity, and God touched earth.

The idea of God interacting with humans is not unique to Christianity. Greek, Nordic, Egyptian, Hindu, and Native American traditions all tell stories of divine encounter. And the Torah Jesus read and quoted included many examples of God interacting with humanity. Most of the time these divine encounters had a downside or a caveat. A visit from God was a time to run and hide in fear, or be disappointed because the blessing was not for everyone.

But the first Christmas introduced something new, a God who comes not to conquer, but to reconcile.

“Don’t Be Afraid”

The world Jesus entered held many concepts of the divine, often including stories of gods visiting earth. Greek, Roman, and Egyptian mythology in particular offered many tales the contemporaries of Jesus would have been familiar with. Sometimes the gods offered wisdom or assistance to humans. But just as often they came to punish, oppress, or wreak havoc. Their power was portrayed as vast, but often unpredictable or self-serving. And humans generally existed to serve and appease the gods.

Jesus displayed extraordinary power, controlling storms, multiplying food, transforming water into wine, and healing the sick[2]. But unlike the gods of other traditions, Jesus did not demand a throne. He did not ask to be served, but he served others[3]. He did not dominate, he led by example. Humans were not a resource to be exploited, but priceless creations to be loved.

“Let’s Go to Bethlehem”

Beyond the western world, Hinduism speaks of avatars - divine beings who take a human form for a specific purpose. For example, Krishna is said to have been a teacher, who spoke the Bhagavad Gita. Rama is described as a heroic king who came to restore righteousness. While these texts offer profound wisdom, the avatar narratives are usually not tied to a precise historical time and place. This ambiguity can make it difficult for some to believe.

Jesus brought profound and transformational wisdom. He shared ideas that were revolutionary in his time: women and children are important, the poor must be cared for, motives matter as much as actions[4]. And, Jesus was a documented historical figure who taught for about three years in a known place and time[5]. That historical anchor[6] makes Jesus uniquely accessible, something highlighted by those heavenly messengers Linus spoke about.

“This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in clothes and lying in a manger”...The shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.[7]”

When we celebrate Christmas, we all symbolically go to Bethlehem, and contemplate a moment in history that changed the world.

“For All People”

The Torah describes many moments when God speaks to humans - the call of Abraham, Jacob wrestling with a divine being, Moses on Sinai, the visions of Daniel, and others[8]. In these moments when God interacted with humanity, He offered guidance, wisdom, admonition, warnings, and hope. But in each case, the encounter was brief. And while the Torah prescribed a path to God, these divine encounters were generally for one person or group at a specific moment in history.

The arrival of Jesus continues a thread woven through the Torah - God visiting the earth to teach, to warn, and to help. But, Jesus took the concept of divine visitation exponentially further.

He represented more than just a momentary encounter with the divine, a brief moment of relief for a fortunate few. Jesus taught that everyone could be continually reconciled to God, fully at peace. He promised the Spirit of God would dwell with us and in us, transforming every part of our lives[9]. And this promise was not limited to one person and one group, but extended to all people for all time[10].

No “But’s”

Linus quotes Luke: “Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them…”

But, aren’t some people left out?

But, aren’t we supposed to be afraid?

But, if God has shown up, shouldn’t we run and hide?

Luke continues, “They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.”

The coming of Jesus brought the gift of good news from God, unqualified joy for all people. Jesus offered a new model for how humans relate to the divine. He came offering to all people at all times a way to be permanently reconciled with God, to have complete peace, to experience the fullness of life[11].

So it makes sense that Linus, a little boy clutching his blanket, still sucking his thumb, could stand on a stage and speak confidently and hopefully about an encounter with the God of the universe.

Because Christmas brought to Earth a truth never seen before. Every human, in every time, in every place can look to the heavens, not with fear, but with hope and unqualified joy.

That joy is what we feel this time of year when we are quiet enough to notice it, a message from God woven into a season.

---

Thanks for reading Unknown God!

Subscribe for free to receive new posts via email!

---

________________

FOOTNOTES

[1] Luke 2:8-14

[2] Mark 4:35–41 — Jesus calms the storm.

Matthew 14:13–21 — Jesus multiplies food for the 5,000.

John 2:1–11 — Water into wine.

Luke 4:40, Matthew 8:16–17 — Healing the sick.

[3] Mark 10:45 — “The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve.”

Matthew 11:29 — “I am gentle and lowly in heart.”

Philippians 2:5–8 — Jesus “did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage.”

[4] Children valued — Matthew 19:14.

Women’s dignity — John 4:7–26 (Woman at the well), Luke 8:1–3 (female disciples), John 11:1–44 (Martha and Mary’s theological dialogue).

Care for the poor — Luke 4:18–19, Matthew 25:35–40.

Motivations before actions — Matthew 5:21–30 (anger & lust), Matthew 6:1–6 (acts done in secret).

[5] Luke 3:1–2 — anchors Jesus’ ministry in datable history.

Acts 10:37–38 — early Christian summary of Jesus’ public ministry in a known region at a known time.

[6] “The revolution of Christianity rests on a figure who undeniably lived in history. Jesus is not a myth; He is the pivot on which the ancient world turned.”— Tom Holland

“I am a historian, I am not a believer. But I must confess as a historian that this penniless preacher from Nazareth is irrevocably the very center of history.” — H. G. Wells

[7] Luke 2:12-16 NIV

[8] Abraham

Genesis 12:1–4 — call of Abram.

Genesis 18 — God appears to Abraham at Mamre.

Genesis 32:22–32 — Jacob wrestles with the divine being.

Exodus 19–20, Exodus 33–34 — God on Sinai meeting with Moses.

Daniel 7, Daniel 8, Daniel 10 — divine visions

[9] John 14:16–17 — “another Advocate” who will be with you forever.

John 14:23 — “We will come to them and make our home with them.”

Romans 8:9–11 — Spirit dwelling within believers.

Ephesians 3:16–17 — Christ dwelling in hearts through faith.

[10] Acts 2:39 — “The promise is for you… and for all who are far off.”

Galatians 3:28–29 — no Jew/Greek, male/female, slave/free.

[11] John 10:10 — “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

John 14:27 — “My peace I give you.”