Jesus in Christmas Movies by Bryan Craig
“I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.” John 17:26 ESV
As I write this, it’s only a few weeks from Christmas. I was sharing with some people my love for Christmas and Advent and all things pointing to Jesus. Someone said that if we are Christians, Christmas should be year-round. I get that. But in my opinion, there’s something special, supernatural that happens at Christmastime, as Jesus makes Himself known through His own origin story. I think it’s beautiful.
Someone sent me a reel from social media, where a man is making a case that the movie, “Home Alone” was a Christian movie. He points to the character, “Old Man Marley,” who Kevin fears and does not understand until he meets him in a church and has a powerful conversation with him about forgiveness. The man makes note that Marley had a bandage around his hand with blood stains on front and back. He claims Marley is a Christ figure placed directly in this secular holiday movie. I love it! I don’t know Director John Hughes’ faith story, but I see this faith insertion in the movie as a bold move. Mostly, I credit Jesus who makes Himself known at Christmas.
It got me thinking of some of my other favorite Christmas movies, where I see Jesus and the Gospel on display. Maybe you still have time to watch some of these this Christmas season.
“It’s a Wonderful Life”- I must start with this movie, my favorite movie of all time, Christmas or otherwise. George Bailey is just like a lot of us, dreaming of becoming rich and successful and conquering the world. However, he has a kind, generous heart and a love for his family that keeps him stuck in his small hometown in the struggling family business. The enemy tries to tell him his life is a failure and no one cares about him, until the greatest challenge in his life allows God to show him that his life has made a tremendous impact on the world. There is a great quote, “No man is a failure who has friends.” George realizes that the richness of life is found in giving our life away as we love others. That’s a Jesus message!
“A Christmas Carol”- The epic Charles Dickens’ story has always hit my heart. Ebenezer Scrooge has deep wounds from his childhood and lost love as a young man, so he decides to live his life for only himself. He is destined to die a bitter, old man. God, in His grace, sends him three spirits to open his eyes to the wounds of his past and how he had passed those wounds to those around him. He also sees his dark eternal future, without Christ and without love. He is transformed by this vision, and decides to spend the rest of his life being generous, joyful and giving his life away. Sounds like the fruit of an abiding life in Jesus!
“Miracle on 34th St.”- This is a classic Christmas movie you can find in Black and White, but the re-make by John Hughes is much better. On the surface, it’s a story about the existence of Santa Claus and about teaching your children to believe in Santa Claus or not. But there is a deeper message about Faith, believing in something you cannot see. John Hughes, the same director who made Home Alone, again brings Jesus and faith into his version of this film. There’s a great monologue by Kris Kringle, played by the amazing Richard Attenborough, “I'm not just a whimsical figure who wears a charming suit and affects a jolly demeanor. You know, I'm a symbol. I'm a symbol of the human ability to be able to suppress the selfish and hateful tendencies that rule the major part of our lives. If you can't believe, if you can't accept anything on faith, then you're doomed for a life dominated by doubt.” This is reminiscent of the scene after Jesus resurrected when he visits the disciples and speaks directly to Thomas, who had doubted. Jesus said, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29 Believing in Jesus will change your heart and your life, but it requires faith.
“The Bishop’s Wife”- Henry is a pastor who once served in a small parish and was a friend and shepherd to his people. He was loved by all. He moves to a bigger appointment at a much bigger church, and his life is suddenly filled with meeting after meeting, and there is pressure to do a building project and engage in endless fundraising. He is discouraged, weary and his family is suffering from his absence. Again, God, in His graciousness, sends Dudley, an angel to help him see that faith is not about performance and position and reputation, but it’s in the love of his wife and his children and his friends. He learns that what he really needs is to abide in Christ.
“Elf”- Okay, you may think this is a stretch, but isn’t the character, “Buddy the Elf” a great representation of a person living out the fruit of the Spirit. Christmas cheer is equated to love, joy, reconciliation, family relationships. Walter, Buddy’s real Dad, is like an Ebenezer Scrooge character, bitter, lonely, driven by success. He is brought to a “mistake” from his past, only to realize that this son he didn’t know he had would bring joy and love into his life. It takes a lot of love from Buddy to finally melt Walter’s heart and help him see his tainted perspective on life. For me, it shows the difference one man’s love can make in a family. And in my book, the only way to find that love is through Jesus.
“Family Man”- This is one of my family’s favorites. Jack Campbell was once in love, but hegave up his love to focus on a career. He reaches the pinnacle of success, only to discover he’s missing something. God sends a messenger who shows him what his life would be like if he had chosen love over success. He is stripped of all his worldly comforts and position, but yet, he discovers how much more powerful and satisfying life is when lived in simplicity and love.
There are many more examples. In nearly every Christmas movie, there is an element of a man or woman coming to the realization that what they really need in life is love. Jesus came to this dark, sinful world to bring Light and Hope and Love. He is the hero of every human story. When we surrender to His love and receive His grace, it truly does transform our life and our perspective. It is the theme of Christmas, but even more so, it is the theme of life.
The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:9-13 ESV