The Wonder of Christmas - Hope

Part of the Wonder of Christmas is how God chose to give much needed hope to His people. For years and years before Jesus ever fulfilled the hundreds of prophecies that pointed to His initial arrival, God knew His people need hope. The arrival of that hope happened in a manger. The Messiah’s arrival came exactly as it had been promised. Hope incarnate burst onto the scene as “God with us!” - Immanuel!

Hope’s foundation

While biblical scholars are not united on the exact number of Old Testament prophecies of the coming Messiah, most agree that there are over 300 of them. Each one was a promise of hope about what God would someday do for His people who needed a Saviour. The prophecy referenced in the video is found in Isaiah 7:14

Isaiah 7:14 NKJV

14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

Some 700 years later, this promised prophecy of hope from the heart of God came true as the virgin Mary gave birth to her firstborn son. Think about that! 700 years! If we were to look back at what happened 700 years ago from 2023, most of us could not list the important events of the time. About 700 years ago:

Robert the Bruce defeated England.

The volcano Mount Tarawera erupted on what we know as New Zealand. It was so large that it caused “The Great Famine” that impacted the world for 25 years.

The Black Plague had its first outbreak in Europe.

Pope Clement V moved the Vatican from Rome to France for around 70 years.

Now many of these things you may never have heard of. This was a long long time ago. It would be another 200 years before the Bible would ever be translated into English. Sometimes we long to see God take action, when we have know clue about His view of time!

So, in God’s perfect timeframe, Mary and Joseph named their son Jesus because they had been told by an angle who was sent from God the Father that He was to save people from their sins. He was our Saviour who could rescue us from our sins which separated us from holy God.

Jesus was born to give us hope of enjoying true life while destroying our enemy, the devil. Genesis 3 depicts the initial moment in time when the works of the devil personified in the form of the serpent. Adam and Eve became disobedient. From that instant forward, all people needed a Saviour. From that minute forward, we needed hope.

When hope arrived as baby Jesus, life in His name became a present possibility. Years later, Jesus spoke of this hope in John 10:10 , which says,

John 10:10 NKJV

10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Jesus let us know that there are two different agendas on a collision course regarding our lives. One is the thief's agenda: the enemy, the devil, Satan; his agenda is to steal (steal our peace, joy, and hope), to kill and destroy our lives. This makes people’s lives miserable. Everyone can see the impact, but few are willing to identify the true cause of misery in our world.

In sharp contract, Jesus communicated that His agenda was to leave His place in glory, and came on a rescue mission. It was a mission of deep and abiding love. Jesus’ agenda and mission was, and is, to give all people the opportunity to have and experience abundant life! This abundant life is such that people who became His followers could taste it, see it, smell it, and enjoy it forever! This was the gift that was alluded to in the video that we can receive, open and experience, even after Christmas has past, and enjoy throughout eternity.

Yes, Jesus came to give us abundant life in Him. However, He also came to do something about our enemy, who continues to try and steal, kill, and destroy our lives.

The disciple John reminds us,

“The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.”

1 John 3:8 NKJV

8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

How clear is that?! You don’t have to wonder, “Now, what’s it saying? What does that mean?”

This verse is not difficult to comprehend. “The purpose of the Son of God on earth was to destroy the works of the devil”; that’s quite clear.

The devil, whom Peter describes is:

1 Peter 5:8 NKJV

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

“Your enemy who prowls around like (or pretending to be) a roaring lion looking for someone to devour,” is the same one Jesus was talking about who is out only to steal, kill, and destroy your life and the lives of everyone you know.

That is why, in this special time of year - just after celebrating Christmas and peering into a New Year, we celebrate! Jesus came to defeat our enemy who was trying to destroy lives. We have hope because the One who could save us from the destruction of our enemy finally arrived on the scene to rescue, SAVE us!

Hundreds of prophecies led to a birth that would result in a battle of destruction. Again, the reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

I have said it many times, the resurrection is proof that Jesus did it! He accomplished what He came to earth to accomplish.

This did not finish the work Jesus has to do, however. Just like when we do work, one piece of work follows another.

Hope’s Long Wait

If you haven’t recently thought about Jesus in His upcoming role, read Revelation 19. This is another promise that was made about a second coming that Jesus will fulfill in time. Jesus is coming again not to deal with sin; He did that first time He came with all the hope of Old Testament prophecies fulfilled. However, when Jesus next steps into the events of this world it will be to call His church out to their home in heaven – Salvation from this world and its influences. Seven years later Jesus comes back to the earth a second time; He will do so bringing an end to those who refuse to follow Him and salvation for all those who are His.

This waiting has been the signature mark of the people of God throughout the ages. It’s what we remind ourselves of when we take the Lord’s Supper and read in

1 Corinthians 11:26 NKJV

26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.

We are still waiting for that day.

Broadman’s Commentary notes that “Over 500 hope-filled times the Scriptures speak of the return of Jesus. That Jesus will return is said more frequently in the New Testament than anything else about Him. Since God fulfilled the over 300 prophecies of hope regarding His initial advent as stated in the Old Testament, this gives us great hope and confidence that He will do the same to fulfill the over 500 references of His second advent in the days to come.” However, for now, we continue to wait with hope.

The early Christian Church was encouraged by the glorious hope of the return of Jesus. When disciples met one another on the street, their word of greeting was “Maranatha!” which means, “Our Lord, Come!”

This hope kept the early Church on guard against sin, sustained them in their sorrows, and undergird them in the conflict with an evil world.

The last words we have from the lips of Jesus that are recorded in the last page of the Bible show this.

Jesus said, “Surely, I am coming soon.” Revelation 22:20

The Apostle John’s responds was, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.” Revelation 22:20-21

Our Saviour, Jesus, is not powerless without a plan. He is a:

warrior King who came to destroy the works of the devil

to rescue us from sin,

death,

Satan,

and hell;

and He is coming again.

Therefore, we have a glorious hope as we move on from the Christmas season and begin 2023.

Review: Jesus came to give us life and to give it abundantly. He came to destroy the works of the devil. Jesus came not only to forgive us but also to free us and to fill our lives with abundant life found in Him and Him alone!

Hope’s nourishment

Jesus came not only to forgive you from your sin and pull you out of sin but also, He came to give you a freedom that leads to fulfillment. That’s a deep love from the Heart of God intended for you. This is a gift of hope that leads to and through eternity. It begins from being forgiven, living in freedom, and experiencing fulfillment.

Hebrews 9.28 says

Hebrews 9:28 ESV

28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

A question we need to ask and answer is: “What are we supposed to do while we are eagerly waiting for Him to arrive again?”

Someone once wrote these 3 suggestions:

1. Enjoy quiet moments alone with God each day.

2. Develop a continual awareness of God’s presence.

3. Have yielding obedience to the Spirit.

Living those three things while waiting for Jesus to return will help lead a person to experience the abundant life Jesus offers since He destroyed the devil's works at the cross.

Those three things will help you not only remember that you are forgiven from sin but also invite you to experience your freedom from sin and the fulfillment that is yours in Christ as you wait for His return with living hope!

Conclusion:

Hope! While we long to see God take action, when we have no clue about His view of time!

Hope has been a part of what God has brought to mankind since the fall. The Law brought regulations, but Jesus brought hope. Because He came to thwart all that Satan wants to do to mess up peoples lives, Jesus offers abundant life in Him.

Have you had enough of Satan messing up your life?

2. Are you daily doing the things that help you see and enjoy the abundant life available to you?

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