“In his name the nations will put their hope.” Matthew

Hope - what is it?

According to the Oxford English Dictionary Hope is “a belief that something you want will happen”. So as it’s our Carol Service today lets think for a few moments what it is we want and whether or not we believe it can happen. The reading we had from Matthew’s gospel was a quotation by Matthew from the Old Testament prophet Isaiah. Isaiah was prompted by God’s Spirit to write these words which came to be fulfilled in Jesus. Jesus is God’s servant - the one God loves and in whom God delights. His Spirit was on Jesus and he proclaimed justice to the nations. He did this by sending his servant Paul to preach to the gentiles in Greece and Rome. Jesus never raised his voice in anger or quarrelled with his adversaries. Jesus never turned away needy people. He never said there are hundreds of needy people and if I help one I’ll have to help them all. He never snuffed out a smouldering wick- someone who was barely clinging onto life. Jesus will lead justice to victory. The Justice of God - where widows and orphans are prioritised by God and where those who receive all good things whilst on this earth will receive bad things in the next life. Where then is hope? What do we want? Will it happen?

Who Can Have it?

In the beginning of Johns gospel we read “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

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

Jesus came to his own - the nation of Israel - yet they did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, childrend born not of natural descent nor of human deicision or a husbands will but born of God. So if we want eternal life we need to believe in the name of Jesus. God’s servant in whom God delights. Belief in his name is open to everyone - to all who believe. No-one is excluded. That means you today can enjoy eternal life if you will but believe in Jesus Christ.

Why do we need it?

Jesus told a story about a Rich man and Lazarus - a beggar. The Rich man we are told used to ignore Lazarus who lay at his door begging. Eventually they both died. Lazarus goes to heaven and is comforted by Abraham. The Rich man goes to hell and is in torment. He sees Lazarus in Heaven and asks if Lazaruas can come and wet his finger and cool his lips which are burning up. Abraham explains that while on earth the rich man received his good things and Lazarus bad things but now he is comforted and you are in agony and that there is a great chasm between them and no-one can cross from one to the other. The Rich man asks then if Lazarus can go to his five brothers to warn them of hell. Which is where we pick it up:

29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ 30 “ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’ ”

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

Perhaps you’re not convinced that by believing in the name of Jesus you will have eternal life. But are you like the Rich mans five brothers? Are you not convinced even if someone has raised from the dead?

Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all! 50 You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.” 51 He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, 52 and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one.

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

Jesus died on the cross, he was buried by Joseph of Arimathea and by Nicodemus and three days later he rose from the dead and was seen by 500 brothers at one time. He ascended into heaven and was received because of the blood he shed on the cross - he is our great high priest - our great intercessor with the Father - making us right with God and promising eternity with God and the Lord Jesus. Are you convinced? Will you put your trust in Jesus even today? Today is the day of salvation. Bow the knee and give your life to him who will protect you and hide you in his everlasting hands.

Hope - a belief that something you want will happen. I want to spend eternity with God in heaven. I believe that because I believe in Jesus my sins have been forgiven - they have been taken as far as the east is from the west. Speaking to Martha Jesus said , “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

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

I believe this, do you believe this? That is why I have hope. Will you join me and enjoy Hope today by believeing in Jesus?

In his name the nations will put their hope. We today represent the nations which can also mean the gentiles i.e. all those non Jewish people. Today there are around 2.5 billion Christians in the world of almost 8 billion.

In the book of Revelation we read

9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”

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

The prophecy of Isaiah has come true!

Amen