The Righteous Christmas Tree
Stories
Lectionary Tales for the Pulpit
Series V, Cycle C
Object:
The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: "The Lord is our righteousness." (vv. 14-16)
In 1965, Charles Schulz brought us the classic animated tale, A Charlie Brown Christmas. In the story, Charlie Brown became upset when no one had sent him a Christmas card. He bellowed, "Rats. Nobody sent me a Christmas card today. I almost wish there weren't a holiday season. I know nobody likes me. Why do we have to have a holiday season to emphasize it?"
Additionally, all of his friends seemed to have forgotten the true meaning of Christmas. All his sister, Sally, wanted for Christmas was toys. She made her point, "I want what's coming to me. All I want is my fair share."
Charlie Brown complained, "I just don't understand Christmas, I guess. I like getting presents and sending Christmas cards and decorating trees and all that, but I'm still not happy. I always end up feeling depressed." So Lucy suggested that he become director of the school Christmas pageant. Charlie Brown accepted, but it proved to be a frustrating struggle.
For the Christmas play, Charlie bought a tiny Christmas tree that looked like a sad little branch. When he took it to practice, his friends made fun of it. But Charlie Brown was convinced the little tree could be used, so he hung a Christmas bulb on the tree, and sure enough, the tree plopped over dead, and Charlie Brown ran out of the room, convinced he had killed it. Fed up with everybody, Charlie finally shouted in desperation, "Isn't there anyone out there who can tell me what Christmas is all about?"
At that point Linus delivered a heartfelt recitation of the Christmas story in Luke 2:8-14. He looked at the tree and proclaimed, "I didn't know it was such a bad little tree. It's not bad at all, really. Maybe all it needs is a little love." Then he wrapped his blanket around it. And sure enough, the tree stood back up and looked fairly good. The gang gathered around it and decorated it. With the transformation complete, the tree was gorgeous. Together they raised their voices in a recessional carol: "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing."
Charlie Brown's Christmas tree recalls Jeremiah's righteous branch. The human family tree looked pathetic. Ever since Adam and Eve fell into sin, there were no righteous branches in the family tree of humanity. There was no one who was completely right with God. Everyone was born totally crooked in sin and unable to live in the perfect way God requested.
But God promised to rescue the world from its sin through the sending of a Savior. That is the promise Jeremiah is reminded of in the scripture: "The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: 'The Lord is our righteousness.' "
During Advent we await the arrival of this righteous branch, who once again comes bringing us meaning in life and restores us to a right relationship with God.
A few years back the comic strip, Wizard of Id, reminded us of the purpose of the righteous branch of the Christmas tree: A jailer heard a cutting sound coming from a dungeon cell holding the Spook. The jailer inquires to the cause of the noise. The Spook replied, "Trimming the tree."
The jailer retorted, "Very funny."
Then the jailer looked inside the cell. The Spook had indeed trimmed the Christmas tree. Nothing was left but two sticks -- one vertical and the other horizontal. It was a cross. The jailer scolded, "Nice going ... You've ruined the symbol of Christmas."
It might seem strange to think of the cross in relationship to Christmas, but that symbol reminds us of the purpose of the birth of our righteous branch. Jesus didn't come for power or prestige. He sought the kingdom of righteousness in a just way for you and me. In that way, Jesus became the most beautiful branch the world has ever known and brought us happiness that gifts and cards cannot bring.
In 1965, Charles Schulz brought us the classic animated tale, A Charlie Brown Christmas. In the story, Charlie Brown became upset when no one had sent him a Christmas card. He bellowed, "Rats. Nobody sent me a Christmas card today. I almost wish there weren't a holiday season. I know nobody likes me. Why do we have to have a holiday season to emphasize it?"
Additionally, all of his friends seemed to have forgotten the true meaning of Christmas. All his sister, Sally, wanted for Christmas was toys. She made her point, "I want what's coming to me. All I want is my fair share."
Charlie Brown complained, "I just don't understand Christmas, I guess. I like getting presents and sending Christmas cards and decorating trees and all that, but I'm still not happy. I always end up feeling depressed." So Lucy suggested that he become director of the school Christmas pageant. Charlie Brown accepted, but it proved to be a frustrating struggle.
For the Christmas play, Charlie bought a tiny Christmas tree that looked like a sad little branch. When he took it to practice, his friends made fun of it. But Charlie Brown was convinced the little tree could be used, so he hung a Christmas bulb on the tree, and sure enough, the tree plopped over dead, and Charlie Brown ran out of the room, convinced he had killed it. Fed up with everybody, Charlie finally shouted in desperation, "Isn't there anyone out there who can tell me what Christmas is all about?"
At that point Linus delivered a heartfelt recitation of the Christmas story in Luke 2:8-14. He looked at the tree and proclaimed, "I didn't know it was such a bad little tree. It's not bad at all, really. Maybe all it needs is a little love." Then he wrapped his blanket around it. And sure enough, the tree stood back up and looked fairly good. The gang gathered around it and decorated it. With the transformation complete, the tree was gorgeous. Together they raised their voices in a recessional carol: "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing."
Charlie Brown's Christmas tree recalls Jeremiah's righteous branch. The human family tree looked pathetic. Ever since Adam and Eve fell into sin, there were no righteous branches in the family tree of humanity. There was no one who was completely right with God. Everyone was born totally crooked in sin and unable to live in the perfect way God requested.
But God promised to rescue the world from its sin through the sending of a Savior. That is the promise Jeremiah is reminded of in the scripture: "The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: 'The Lord is our righteousness.' "
During Advent we await the arrival of this righteous branch, who once again comes bringing us meaning in life and restores us to a right relationship with God.
A few years back the comic strip, Wizard of Id, reminded us of the purpose of the righteous branch of the Christmas tree: A jailer heard a cutting sound coming from a dungeon cell holding the Spook. The jailer inquires to the cause of the noise. The Spook replied, "Trimming the tree."
The jailer retorted, "Very funny."
Then the jailer looked inside the cell. The Spook had indeed trimmed the Christmas tree. Nothing was left but two sticks -- one vertical and the other horizontal. It was a cross. The jailer scolded, "Nice going ... You've ruined the symbol of Christmas."
It might seem strange to think of the cross in relationship to Christmas, but that symbol reminds us of the purpose of the birth of our righteous branch. Jesus didn't come for power or prestige. He sought the kingdom of righteousness in a just way for you and me. In that way, Jesus became the most beautiful branch the world has ever known and brought us happiness that gifts and cards cannot bring.
