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December 22, 2012 by Jason Hood

Christmas Theology

“Heaven and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign.” So wrote the Xtina of Victorian Romantics, Christina Rossetti, in a poem that became the Christmas carol “In the Bleak Mid-Winter.”

But that’s not true, is it? Heaven and earth are in fact longing for him to come. When the gospel of God’s reign is announced in Isaiah and the Psalms, the whole world rejoices and its fabric trembles in anticipation of an liberation and an unsurpassed transformation. So heaven and earth aren’t fleeing his reign; only rebellious humans attempt to do so.

In fact the world is not just longing for him; it is longing for rebels who are being remade in the image of God, the image of his glorious Son. The world is groaning for the revelation not just of Messiah but of those who are also resurrected as he is, born-anew-sons-of-God by the Spirit like their elder brother Jesus (Rom 8:14-25).

This winter, this season when we celebrate Incarnation, we’re invited to remember also the resurrection and the reign, and to live patiently in hope, looking and longing with creation for this redemption (8:23-25).

Categories: Church History | General | Incarnation | Soteriology
Recent Comments
- Bill said...
  
  Thanks, Jason. You wrote, “But that’s not true, is it?” Rossetti wrote a devotional commentary on Revelation, and I would hesitate to call her on matters eschatological. Perhaps she was referring to Revelation 20:11 – “Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.” But I appreciate your point, though!
  
  Grace and peace,
  Bill
  
  12/22/12 2:13 PM | Comment Link
- Jason Hood said...
  
  Thanks so much Bill. I shall have to look up her comments on Revelation and repent in dust and ashes!
  
  12/23/12 7:32 AM | Comment Link
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About the SAET Blog

Welcome to the SAET blog. Herein you will find the theological/pastoral ramblings of the Rev. Matthew Mason, the good Doctor Jason Hood, and Pastor Gerald Hiestand. All three write under the premise that theology and the pastorate belong together, and that (at least some) pastors must once again function as writing theologians for the wider church, for the ecclesial renewal of theology and the theological renewal of the church.

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Gerald Hiestand
Gerald has served as the SAET board president since 2006. He has been in pastoral ministry since 1999, and serves currently as the Senior Associate Pastor of Calvary Memorial Church in Oak Park, IL. He is pursuing a PhD in Classical Studies from the University of Kent, Canterbury.

Jason Hood
Jason is a graduate of Rhodes College, Reformed Theological Seminary, Highland Theological College and the Univ. of Aberdeen. Jason works as Scholar-in-Residence and director of Christ College Residency Program at Christ UMC. He's trying to figure out the twitter thing, @jasonbhood, and sometimes writes for ChristianityToday.com.

Matthew Mason
Matthew earned an MTh at Oak Hill College, London. He is an Assistant Pastor at Church of the Resurrection, Washington D. C. (Anglican Province of Rwanda).

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