The Nutcracker: Puppets, Promises and Peace

Isaiah 40:1-5; John 14:25-29 

When we left the story of The Nutcracker last week, Clara and the other children were standing outside the parlor waiting for the door to be unlocked so that they could enter and join the party. Standing at the door and peeking through a keyhole, Clara could hear the sounds of music and see the glow of Christmas lights, but her glimpse was limited. The same is true of us at Advent. We look back and see the Christmas story as it unfolded in Bethlehem, but we’ve heard the promise that something greater is yet to come. This morning we follow Clara and the other children as they enter the parlor and find that while the Christmas party is underway, things aren’t perfect. When they enter the parlor, the children are greeted with music, dancing, bright lights, and, best of all, presents under the tree. Then, suddenly, in the midst of it all, a mysterious man wrapped in a cloak appears in the story. He is Clara’s godfather, Herr Drosselmeir, and, more importantly for the children, he is a toymaker and storyteller. With some of the toys he has made, Drosselmeir sets up a puppet show, telling an exciting tale of a prince and his battle to defeat a wicked mouse. When the puppet show comes to an end, Drosselmeir gives the children the toys he has made, one of which is a nutcracker with large eyes and a huge gaping mouth. Not the toy I would wish for, but Clara is drawn to it. But then her younger brother Fritz gets involved and the toy is broken. The holiday atmosphere is ruined for Clara until Drosselmeir repairs the nutcracker. She happily goes off to bed, but then an odd kind of dream sequence begins. Clara is back in the parlor as the grandfather clock strikes midnight. Dozens of mice begin streaming into the room, and the Christmas tree grows to an enormous height. A life-sized, ugly-looking mouse appears on the scene in a great puff of smoke. The nutcracker grows to become life-sized, and toy wooden soldiers come to life. That’s where we are going to end the story for this morning; we’ll return to more of it next Sunday. What lessons are in this part of the story for us on the second week of Advent which focuses on peace?

Drosselmeir’s appearance in the story is sudden and mysterious. The door, we are told, is flung open. A chill enters the room, and everyone turns to look. The music stops playing, dancers stop dancing, and the laughter and small talk are silenced. Children run to their parents for comfort and safety. For just a moment, fear enters the room. Why does Drosselmeir show up late after the party has started? Why does the author stress that he’s wrapped in a cloak so that his identity isn’t immediately known? Why does he enter with such drama? There are no answers to these questions in the tale: the mysterious remains a mystery. But the element of danger is quicky dispelled; he is Clara’s godfather and he’s come bearing toys. 

The first lesson we learn from Drosselmeir has to do with first impressions and fear. It doesn’t take much for fear to enter our lives. An unexpected phone call from a parent or a child causes our heart to start racing. A family event is scheduled but someone who is expected doesn’t show up on time or at all. The doctor’s office calls and says the doctor needs a meeting to discuss test results. At least these fears have a reason attached to them. But I think the worst fears are the ones that are irrational and mysterious. I don’t know about you, but for me those fears come more often in the nighttime. In our dreams small fears are magnified. In our dreams we experience fears that have no relation to reality. In reality, Drosselmeir brings momentary fear when he enters the room, but that fear is quickly dispelled when his identity is revealed. The music, dancing, and laughter return and the party resumes. In her dream, Clara sees toy mice invading the parlor, toy soldiers coming to life, and a life-sized mouse king and nutcracker. A great battle is about to begin. Her dream, which we immediately recognize as fictional, seems real to her until she wakes the next day. The fears that attack us at night seem real in the moment, but usually disappear in the morning.

The Israelites in the sixth century before Christ faced very real fears. They were a defeated people, an exiled people, and their very future existence appeared to be in jeopardy. But speaking through the prophet Isaiah, God offered words of reassurance: “Comfort, comfort, my people, says your God. In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord. The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together.” These words reveal deep truths about God. First, there is the location. “In the wilderness,” is where they will find God. In a place of desolation and fear, there is God. God’s presence in the wilderness is no accident; God is present where God is needed the most. When our lives are going well, when everything seems right, our need for God is not as great as when we are afraid. When we are in the wilderness, we need God’s comfort and peace. Secondly, the voice crying out offers a command: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord.” When fear strikes at us, it’s easy to lose give into fear. We may be predisposed to a fight or flight response to danger, but we can condition ourselves to turn to God by preparing our hearts and minds to think of God as a first response, rather than a last resort, to whatever we face. Thirdly, these words from Isaiah remind us of the relationship we have with God. In the story of The Nutcracker, the tension eases as soon as Drosselmeir is revealed as Clara’s godfather. In the story of Israel’s history, everything changes when God says “Comfort, comfort, my people.” The God who speaks words of comfort is their God, our God, your God. 

Last week I typed out a draft of this sermon at home. As I was sitting in my living room, the rug under my feet finally got to me. It hadn’t been vacuumed in a while and with two dogs it could use it daily. If I were focused on house cleaning, which I’m not. Anyway, I couldn’t take it any longer and went to the closet and got out the vacuum sweeper. Which led to a whole other issue. One of my dogs could not care less, but the other one is deathly afraid of the vacuum. It’s easier if I prepare in advance and before even going to the closet where the sweeper is kept either take her outside or put her in her room. Saves her fear and me frustration. I wonder if that isn’t how God views us our fears. God knows we don’t need to be afraid. God knows we can be comforted and experience God’s peace. God knows that if we prepare ourselves by learning to rely on him in good times and in bad, we will fear less as our faith is strengthened. First impressions disappear when we remember God is in the room with us and God offers us the gift of his peace. Then we realize that our first impressions need not control our reality.  

In our story, once Drosselmeir’s identity is revealed, we turn to the puppet show, a show full of adventure, the hint of danger, and a wonderfully happy ending. A small marionette prince and princess walk across the stage (applause), interrupted by a mouse king (boo, hiss) blocking their way. The prince and the mouse king draw swords in a dance of good vs. evil. The mouse king is defeated and the princess (okay, the story is a little sexist) is saved. Good prevails. The puppet show sets the stage for Clara’s later dream, so it only makes sense that it gives us a glimpse of the rest of the story. The second lesson from Drosselmeir is taken from the puppet show, which reminds us that peace triumphs in the end.   

During Advent, we read scriptures that point to Jesus being the long-promised Messiah. As far as the Old Testament prophecies pointing to the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus, we in the church know how the story ends. We recognize the baby in the manger as the God who came to dwell with us. As for other prophecies in the Bible, about the end of this age and the second coming of Christ, we have only the puppet show version and haven’t yet experienced the fullness of the story. Scripture doesn’t tell us everything we want to know, but it does tell us what we need to know. It tells us that God’s kingdom has begun in our world and that we have a part to play. It tells us that the kingdom is one of hope, love, joy, and peace. 

The church is a sign, or should be, of the kingdom of God. It’s the parlor version of the kingdom, with bright lights, music, dancing, and laughter. But, as in our story, things aren’t perfect. A fight breaks out over a toy. There’s anger and brokenness. But Drosselmeir hasn’t left. He’s there to repair the broken toy and restore it for Clara. As we will discover over the next two weeks, he will continue to be a part of the story until the very end. He’s part of the story from the beginning to the end. God is like that. A God who was means that we have a history together that goes all the way back to creation, reminding us that God is our God. A God who is means assures us we are not abandoned or alone, and we need not be afraid. A God, who is to come, means that God’s promises for our future can be trusted. We have not been alone … we are not alone now … and we will never be alone. God freed us from sin. God frees us from sin. God will free us from all sin. God loved us and gave his Son for us. God loves us now. God’s love for us is eternal. God offered comfort and peace to his people, Israel, at the darkest time in their history. God offered us peace through the coming of the Prince of Peace. God offers us peace in these words of Jesus recorded in John 14:25-29: “I (Jesus) have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I am coming to you.’ And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur you may believe.” This Advent, is God’s peace real in your life?     

(This sermon series was inspired by the book The Gift of The Nutcracker, written by UMC Pastor Matt Rawle,)