Advent: The gifts of Christmas: Hope

But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.- Isaiah 9:1‭-‬7 ESV

Rev. Dwight Yoo

Hope animates our lives. It helps us to persevere through trials and difficulties. It drives us to make goals. But losing hope can kill us. It can make us like walking dead. Not only that, but we must have hopes that are good. There are bad hopes. We can hope in things that can only disappoint. Like an abused woman who hopes their abuser doesn't leave them; there are harmful things to hope for.

The ultimate source of hope

Isiah gives these words of hope. However this will not come to pass for three hundred years. The prophecy was spoken in past tense to indicate the confidence that it would come to pass.

To those who hope for joy, Jesus comes to fill us with joy. The harvest is the last step of farming. After plowing, planting, guarding against pests, and waiting patiently, finally, time to taste the fruits of their labor. But more so than anything else we can hope in, whether careers, relationships, our spouse, sports teams, or any other goal or dream...

To those hoping for freedom, Jesus provides true freedom. Israel was under Assyrians and the Romans. There were times of freedom between the slavery and political oppression. But the freedom Jesus gives is freedom from sin. Humans enslave because there is something horribly wrong inside each of us. Jesus comes to conquer sin and death not by strength, but by God's power. The day of the Midianites was the story of Gideon. God calls for the smallest army of the most incompetent soldiers to battle thousands of Midianites.

To those who hope in peace, Jesus answers that as well. Not just the absence of war, but wholeness. Everything working as it should, with justice and properly restored. Can we hope that this world will work properly and be restored by human hands? Can we expect that we will deal with each other lovingly and justly? Does history tell us that we are moving away from war, oppression, neglect, slavery, and hatred? No, we repeat it time and again, different people and different contexts with the same problems.

Faith begets hope. Faith is trusting that what God promises will come to pass because God is trustworthy. Hope is the feeling of excitement and anticipation. Hope animates us. It drives us to make goals and push forward. It is what allows Christians to enter hopeless situations and being hope for more than what circumstances may dictate. God will move. People will be changed. The world will be restored.