Hope to Hope

As we enter into the season of Advent excitement builds as the month races on. We look forward to the telling of the story...

In a distant place, long ago, people await a hero to give the oppressed hope, a leader to bring victory over the powers of darkness and tyranny. Born in humble circumstance and yet people will gather around this figure expectantly. The story will tell how those that looked towards this ‘leader’ are filled with anticipation. This his event has been told by many, over years through stories and visions. Throughout the galaxy, there have been hints and rumours and now this icon is taking their place, to fight the final fight, the deciding battle where good will triumph.

December the 19th sees the latest episode in the epic story that is Star Wars hit the silver screens. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t just a little excited and yes I have already bought tickets.

It is a strangely familiar story - I wonder where they may have borrowed it from? It is a story of hope over despair, of triumph over evil, of waiting and deliverance.

A few thousand years ago in a distant place, rumours of the coming of a great leader were whispered throughout the region, mentioned in scriptures and conversations. These were stories of someone who would change the course of history. A saviour that would conquer evil and bring hope to generations. A leader that thousands would follow, that would lead the way in the triumph of good over evil.

Foretold in prophecy such as Isaiah

, :

Isaiah 9:2 NIV

2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.

Isaiah 9:6–7 NIV

6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

The story of the advent, is one of waiting for something or some one to come-

We have the luxury of 2000 years of hindsight and history - we know the end of the story but the people then did not they had only one thing to point towards the future foretold in prophecy - Hope.

Psalm 147:11 NIV

11 the Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.

The practical start of advent.

The practical start of Advent is often taken to be the story of the announcement of a forthcoming baby boy, a baby born in miraculous circumstance.

No not that one - John

Luke 1:5–25 The Message

5 During the rule of Herod, King of Judea, there was a priest assigned service in the regiment of Abijah. His name was Zachariah. His wife was descended from the daughters of Aaron. Her name was Elizabeth. 6 Together they lived honorably before God, careful in keeping to the ways of the commandments and enjoying a clear conscience before God. 7 But they were childless because Elizabeth could never conceive, and now they were quite old. 8 It so happened that as Zachariah was carrying out his priestly duties before God, working the shift assigned to his regiment, 9 it came his one turn in life to enter the sanctuary of God and burn incense. 10 The congregation was gathered and praying outside the Temple at the hour of the incense offering. 11 Unannounced, an angel of God appeared just to the right of the altar of incense. 12 Zachariah was paralyzed in fear. 13 But the angel reassured him, “Don’t fear, Zachariah. Your prayer has been heard. Elizabeth, your wife, will bear a son by you. You are to name him John. 14 You’re going to leap like a gazelle for joy, and not only you—many will delight in his birth. 15 He’ll achieve great stature with God. “He’ll drink neither wine nor beer. He’ll be filled with the Holy Spirit from the moment he leaves his mother’s womb. 16 He will turn many sons and daughters of Israel back to their God. 17 He will herald God’s arrival in the style and strength of Elijah, soften the hearts of parents to children, and kindle devout understanding among hardened skeptics—he’ll get the people ready for God.” 18 Zachariah said to the angel, “Do you expect me to believe this? I’m an old man and my wife is an old woman.” 19 But the angel said, “I am Gabriel, the sentinel of God, sent especially to bring you this glad news. 20 But because you won’t believe me, you’ll be unable to say a word until the day of your son’s birth. Every word I’ve spoken to you will come true on time—God’s time.” 21 Meanwhile, the congregation waiting for Zachariah was getting restless, wondering what was keeping him so long in the sanctuary. 22 When he came out and couldn’t speak, they knew he had seen a vision. He continued speechless and had to use sign language with the people. 23 When the course of his priestly assignment was completed, he went back home. 24 It wasn’t long before his wife, Elizabeth, conceived. She went off by herself for five months, relishing her pregnancy. 25 “So, this is how God acts to remedy my unfortunate condition!” she said.

Luke 1

The story of John the Baptist mirrors the outline of the human story and foretells that of Jesus

The story of John is a story of dispair and dishonour of shame - tempered with hope.

How Elizabeth and Zachariah must have longed for a child, how disappointment must have reigned in the their lives at time as month after month, year after year of marriage brought no child. How they must have born the shame that others projected onto them for not being able to concieve.

‘do you see Zack and Betty, they can’t have children, they have clearly done something bad, sinned and him a priest as well’

And yet they were faithful to God.

Luke 1:6 NIV

6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.

Because of this God blessed them in their old age.

Luke 1:57–79 NIV

57 When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy. 59 On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, 60 but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.” 61 They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.” 62 Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. 63 He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.” 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. 65 All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things. 66 Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him. 67 His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: 68 “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them. 69 He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David 70 (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago), 71 salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us— 72 to show mercy to our ancestors and to remember his holy covenant, 73 the oath he swore to our father Abraham: 74 to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear 75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. 76 And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, 77 to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, 78 because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven 79 to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

Everyone around them, even themselves would have considered their barreness to be a bad thing - maybe this was not a bad time but a waiting time and advent - a waiting time for God’s amazing blessing, a child at a perfect time. Not a convenient time. Not a conventional time but a time determined by the great I am, a child who’s timing would bring hope to those around him.

I wonder how often we mistake our own personal advents as times of abandonment or dispair. We are going through a rough patch waiting for a change, a break, a miracle.

We get despondent with waiting, we may feel abandoned - even punished. but what if this is a waiting period - what if this is a time we a being called to be obedient. -What if this is our Advent time - the time before a God timed, God determined breakthrough that will not only restore us, bless us but will impact on those around us?

The Birth of John

Luke 1:57–79 NIV

57 When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy. 59 On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, 60 but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.” 61 They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.” 62 Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. 63 He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.” 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. 65 All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things. 66 Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him. 67 His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: 68 “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them. 69 He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David 70 (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago), 71 salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us— 72 to show mercy to our ancestors and to remember his holy covenant, 73 the oath he swore to our father Abraham: 74 to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear 75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. 76 And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, 77 to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, 78 because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven 79 to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

The birth of John certainly impacted on others.

The age of the couple

The complete turn around from Barren to Bless

The breaking of tradition - not calling him Zach.

This is what an encounter with Jesus does for us. it brings life, transformation and breaks the bonds of our past - this is hope.

John’s birth spoke of this hope, the prophesy of John’s life spoke of the hope for the nation - and John went on speaking repentance and hope.

The life of John.

Lukes gospel tells us of the life of John

Luke 1:80 NIV

80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.

and when he appeared in public

Luke 3:3 NIV

3 He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

This statement about John is a great image for how we as believers are to live.

We are to be strong in spirit.

I’ll get to this in a minute

We are to live in the wilderness.

I don’t mean camp out on Fiskerton Fen. We are called to live in the world.

John engaged with all people - rich and poor, righteous and righteous.

who ever he spoke to he professed repentance and hope in the place they were. he never spoke separation or isolation but how to live for God in the context they were in.

He was quizzed by both tax-collectors and soldiers about what they needed to do to be right with God.

Both of these positions required cooperation with the Roman Empire, and they were wondering if they had to quit their jobs.

John tells them no, but to do their jobs in a righteous manner. This is important for us today as so many are required to cooperate with employers, states, and corporations that are—in part—engaged in immoral actions.

We read:

Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?”

And he said to them, “Collect no more than is appointed you.”

Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?”

And he said to them, “Rob no one by violence or by false accusation, and be content with your wages” [].

Isn’t this great advice on how to live differently? every tax collector took a little on the side, every soldier used their muscle and influence to extract extra pay.

John teaches us that we are to live in the wilderness - amongst the world but we are to live differently. Empowered by the spirit and bringing hope to others - we do this by libing authentically aligning our lives and our beliefs oour actions and our words. - put out money where our mouth is.

We are to live authentically -

John had a bit to say on authentic living

The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language Chapter 3

When crowds of people came out for baptism because it was the popular thing to do, John exploded: “Brood of snakes! What do you think you’re doing slithering down here to the river? Do you think a little water on your snakeskins is going to deflect God’s judgment? It’s your life that must change, not your skin.

Challenge - wrong -

“But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of his marriage to Herodias, his brother’s wife, and all the other evil things he had done,” (, NIV)

As we

The New International Version Chapter 3

But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire

Us in the wilderness -

Thats an interesting thought - given the things that are going on around us in politics and society and that this was what eventually lead John to Prison and to lose his head

There is a cost, but we are called to be authentic whatever, And we are to speak of our hope.

Luke 3:15–18 NIV

15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. 16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” 18 And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them.

I said we would get to living strong in the spirit.

Zacharia - was filled with the spirt when he prophosied over John.

John declared the future events that

But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire

The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

We live in the age where we are filled with the spirt, where we are baptised by spirit and fire, - empowered, encouraged.

And we are called like John to bring hope. but do we?

The New International Version Chapter 3

And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them.

Do we declare good news to others - do we bring hope.

This is the easiest time of year to speak of Jesus the baby but the hardest to speak of Jesus our personal saviour and with all the rush and bustle it is often a time it is hard to demonstrably live differently, authentically and show the good news of Christ.

End

This advent I pray for us all two things.

Firstly that if you are in a time personal time of waiting for God to do something that you will be strengthened and encourages as you remain obedient to Him

Secondly. I pray that we can be bringers of hope and good news to the people around us. That by the way we live, act and speak we will tell of the wonderful hope that is in Jesus.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, we start this Advent season waiting for you. Like John help us to be the voice of truth, a voice declaring—hope against hope—that you would bring your promised Messiah, we desperately wait for you to fill our hearts with your glorious presence this Advent season. Please allow us to see the beauty and refining that comes when we cease our striving and choose to boldly trust that your promises will prove true.

-

I wonder how many looked at that baby and could see the possibilities and potential that was within him that would lead him to fulfil all that was written in scripture before he was born, not many, I guess. And yet as a man who travelled no more than a few hundred miles, who wrote no books and led no armies: His life changed the course of human history and has shaped the lives and cultures of millions across the globe.

When we look at the people and situations around us, I wonder how often we too miss the potential and the possibilities that are in those around us and in ourselves.

The concepts of love and possibilities are at the heart of Christmas whether your focus at this time of year is Jesus, family, presents or Star Wars, Maybe even all four of them.

This Christmas, I pray that you will know both the love of those around you and also the love that God has for you. That you will see the possibilities that are in you and the people you meet.

Have a Merry Christmas and you are welcome to join us at the Vine at any time as we celebrate Christmas the possibilities that Jesus brings.