Hope Comes Alive

Hope.

Hope is an odd concept in our culture today.

For some people, it means everything literally! It is why they can get out of bed, why they can move through the motions of a life that has beaten them down, why they can keep going when they don't want to.

For others, Hope is for the foolish. It's for those who can't handle life, the truth, reality, or the "Real" world.

Many who had Hope have lost it. Seemingly it vanished from between their fingers while they were looking elsewhere. COVID-19, Politics, Social Injustice, and many other topics have arrested our attention and killed our Hope over the last two years.

Or have they?

If you are a Christian, your Hope is based on someone wholly not of this world. In fact, by our belief system, He only invaded this world to save His creation (us) from ourselves. This is what's so exciting and unique about the Christmas story as we celebrate it. When Jesus came to this earth, born as a baby to a virgin named Mary, He fundamentally altered our eternities.

How He appeared is unique but also WHO He appeared to is fascinating.

Logic would dictate that the birth of the Messiah would be a VIP-only invitation – the kind of thing political leaders like Caesar or Herod or religious leaders such as the High Priest and Pharisees would be invited to.

Look at this, though...

Luke 2:8-9 NIV
"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified."

Many historians/scholars believe that in Palestine 2000 yrs ago, Shepherds were…

- Probably very poor (with few material belongings);
- Likely uneducated (most laborers were illiterate then);
- Possibly uncultured (meaning they were excluded from cultural events);
- Conceivably uncouth (meaning they were characters);

So to announce the birth of the creator turned savior of the world, Angels of the Lord appear to... Shepherds.

Let's read the rest.

Luke 2:10-14 NIV
"10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."

The angel said, "Good news that will cause great joy for all people."

In other words, Hope.

IN a season where our culture celebrates a man in a red suit and white beard, we as Christians must remember that we have Hope because of something more. Our Hope rests not in presents, in physical health, in political peace, in social justice, but in God's hands. Our Hope comes in the form of the birth of Jesus Christ. In the resurrection of our savior.

In a grave that is STILL empty more than 2,000 years later!

That is where we find our Hope. That is why we sing, that is why we worship, that is why we can smile.

And not just to the greatest among us. But to ALL The People! The outcasts, the people who don't feel like they fit in, those who are not as educated, and those outside the usual circle. To the poor and the rich, the people who fit and those who don't. All people can celebrate Hope this season because our king still reigns from heaven on His throne.

Take a look at this quick video where I talk about in simple terms where our Hope is.