By Robert Lowery
What in the world does Charles Dickens, the 19th-century British author, have to do with the first-century prophet John? I made a connection just the other night after reading Dickens”s short story, A Christmas Carol. The rereading of this classic work intersected with a paper I had graded earlier that evening written by a student in my class on Revelation.
The theology of John and Dickens merged late that evening.
Most of us are familiar with the characters in the story published in 1843″โ Ebenezer Scrooge, Jacob Marley, and Bob Cratchit and his family, notably Tiny Tim”โif not from reading the short story, then at least from watching one of the many movie versions. Two of the best-known lines in literature are Scrooge”s retort to anyone brave enough to speak of the celebration of Christmas in his presence, “Bah! Humbug!”ย and Tiny Tim”s benediction, “God bless Us, Every One!”ย
But what does the London of Dickens”s day have to do with Asia Minor of John”s era? How do the messages of John and Dickens connect? And what do both stories have to do with us? In answering these questions, I need to set the stage for a statement made by Scrooge near the end of the tale.
Scrooge”s Story
You will recall that late on Christmas Eve, Scrooge is visited by three spirits, the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. In fact, the story was originally subtitled “Ghost Story of Christmas,”ย the accent on the ghostly”โnot the Christmas-y”โelements of the story. In the first edition”s preface, Dickens writes: “I have endeavored in this Ghostly little book to raise the Ghost of an Idea, which shall not put my readers out of humour with themselves, with each other, with the season, or with me.”ย
When the Ghost of Christmas Past makes his appearance, he tells a story of Scrooge”s past, a time when he spurned the love of a young woman and resolved to be a wealthy man no matter the cost.
The Ghost of Christmas Present confronts Scrooge with his own words”โwords that show an insensitivity to people”โand at the end of the visit Scrooge is “overcome with penitence and grief.”ย
The Ghost of Christmas Future is the most terrifying visitor of all that evening: “draped and hooded, coming, like a mist along the ground, towards him.”ย Together they visit a cemetery, where Scrooge sees his own corpse.
Because of those visits that night, we are told that Ebenezer Scrooge learned “how to keep Christmas well”ย and his life is transformed. One of the most powerful lines in the story is spoken to the last spirit whose trembling hand clings to the broken man, and Scrooge cries out with a promise:
I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach.
John”s Message
John also writes about the day the Spirit of Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Future visited him. It was a Lord”s Day, but not just any Lord”s Day. It was the day John was given a vision that should cause us to tremble and be transformed:
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father”โto him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him . . . (Revelation 1:5-7).
For modern-day Christians, the Spirit reminds us of Christmas Past: We have been liberated from our sins! There are many paradoxical images in Revelation, but one stands supreme: It is the image of a slaughtered Lamb slaying a mighty dragon (Revelation 5:6; 12:10ff.). The Lamb in the stable was slain but stands. Because of the Lamb we can acknowledge the decisiveness of the past. We have been redeemed.
For us today, the Spirit reminds us of Christmas Present: We have been liberated to live for the praise and glory of God as priests serving in the kingdom! Another paradox: It is the image of a resurrected Lamb who leads us to victory after victory to the final victory (Revelation 17:14). Because of the Lamb, we can accept the demands of the present. We have been redeemed to be in relationship with Jesus now and to represent him as priests and as members of the kingdom.
For us today, the Spirit reminds us of Christmas Future: We have been liberated to live for God in order to dwell with him forever and ever! And a final paradox: It is the image of a resurrected and returning Lamb who will shepherd us to our final dwelling (Revelation 7:17). Because of the Lamb, we can anticipate the delights of the future. We have been redeemed, and because we remain in relationship with him, we will someday be in perfect relationship with the Lamb.
Our Blessing
Dickens closes his story by writing that Ebenezer Scrooge “knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless Us, Every One!”ย
May we not shut out the message that the Spirit taught John.
May we know how to keep Christmas well.
May we be blessed as we read the revelation given to John that closes with its own benediction: “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God”s people. Amen”ย (Revelation 22:21).
Robert Lowery is professor of New Testament and dean at Lincoln (Illinois) Christian Seminary.
Author: Christian Standard
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