the spirit of christmas

Scrooge (Aka A Christmas Carol) Alastair Sim 1951 Photo Print (16 x 20)

Alistair Sim as Scrooge (1950)

There are purists who cringe when anyone brings up A Christmas Carol. It must be granted that some of its cinematic variations are hard to bear. A few are downright inane. But the book itself, and those film renditions most faithful to it, is a Christmas treasure.

Lessons from ‘A Christmas Carol’

Dickens’ novel is a tale of redemption. Redemption’s what we need! And if such a mean, shallow, heartless dolt as Ebenezer Scrooge can be redeemed and reformed, surely we can, too.

Jesus Christ has paid the price for our sins. He took on Himself the sins of all the world. Only the Son of God could do that.

A Christmas Carol isn’t a sermon. But it is a parable!

(And we’re going to watch it tomorrow.)

I know, I know–I’ve posted this song before. But it’s so beautiful. Its only connection to Christmas, really, is that it was part of the score in the 1951 movie version of “A Christmas Carol”–Scrooge, starring Alistair Sim. But in that the theme of that story, and that film, is redemption by the grace of God, that ties it in with Christmas.

So enjoy it. And meanwhile, a prayer.

Father in Heaven, make this Christmas season strong and mighty, to thaw frozen hearts and move us to love Our Lord Jesus Christ, our savior and our king. Give it power to shake and tear down the strongholds of this world, strongholds of pride and unbelief, arrogance and misbelief. Let the light of Christmas blaze forth, and blot out the lies and darkness of this age. O Father! Do as thou hast said. Make Christ’s enemies His footstool, and put the government upon His shoulder forever. In Jesus’ name, amen.