But Jesus knew what they were planning. So he left that area, and many people followed him. He healed all the sick among them, but he warned them not to reveal who he was. This fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah concerning him:
“Look at my Servant, whom I have chosen.
He is my Beloved, who pleases me.
I will put my Spirit upon him,
and he will proclaim justice to the nations.
He will not fight or shout
or raise his voice in public.
He will not crush the weakest reed
or put out a flickering candle.
Finally he will cause justice to be victorious.
And his name will be the hope
of all the world.”
Matthew 12: 15-21 (NLT)
Children often write a Christmas Wish List. I suspect some adults do too!
When I was a child a Littlewoods catalogue or an Argos catalogue were an invaluable aid to my Christmas Wish List. From there you could picture the things you hoped to unwrap on Christmas Day. Sadly, for me, the reality of Christmas Day never quite matched the Wish List.
Perhaps for adults, ‘write’ is the wrong word – if you’ll excuse the pun. For adults there’s probably no long list, just a scrambled assortment of thoughts and ideas. They are imagined, or hoped for, or expected.
On this Advent Sunday it is important to make the distinction between hope and wish. While a wish is a passive desire for something to happen, often without a sense of control or realistic expectation, hope encompasses a more profound and dynamic element. Hope involves not only the desire for a positive outcome but also a belief in the possibility of achieving it.
In the middle of Matthew’s 12th chapter the Pharisees call a meeting to plot how to do away with Jesus. He disappears, and yet continues to work his miracles and preach God’s coming Kingdom to the people. He warned those people not to reveal this to the authorities, stirring memories of Isaiah 42. This passage from Isaiah portrays hope as a divine promise that brings justice and healing to the world: “And his name will be the hope of all the world.”
More than ever before we need to believe in this hope, for this is our Advent Hope, the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in humility and compassion. May our lives reflect this grace and love.
Heavenly Father, in this season of Advent, we lift our hearts to You in hope. We thank You for the promise of Your light in our lives, guiding us through the darkness and leading us to Your eternal love.
Heavenly Father, as we reflect on the birth of Your Son, Jesus Christ, remind us of the hope He brings to the world — a hope that rises above all fears and uncertainties.
We pray that Your hope will fill our homes, our communities, and our world, transforming lives and encouraging a spirit of unity and love.
In Your holy name, we pray. Amen.
Neil Chappell
Yorumlar