“So Joseph went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.” ( Luke 2:4-5).
Joseph and Mary took a trip south to Bethlehem. They were pledged in marriage but not yet fully married. Mary was pregnant and this was a big scandal.
But both remained faithful through the midst of intrigue and scorn sown in the community. This was the kind of society when Jesus entered the world. He could have chosen a time when everything was peaceful and harmonious. He is King, so why not?
But He was born in a manger, in the most humble circumstances, and grew up a carpenter’s son, simple and quiet. Again, He could have remained that way and waited till He was 30 years old and then announced to the world, “Ta-dah! Here I am, your King!”
Instead, He left His parents to fulfill His Father’s mission for him. Off He went to start His teaching and healing ministry until He became a threat even to church leaders.
He had to go through persecution, insults, injury and eventually death. Was it all worth it?
Nothing new today. You can’t count anymore the number of scandals worldwide in all sectors—family, school, community, government and even the church.
But because Jesus once entered our world, died and rose from the dead, He is very much alive today for a people scarred by scandals, disappointments, poverty and injustice.
Sadly, we forget that the King of Glory was once one of us, human and subject to the same problems we have today. Yet He chose to continue to do what His Father wanted him to do, to save us. This is Hope eternal. Even after His death, this Hope reigns in our world.
If you have a death in the family, grieve BUT remember the Hope that will comfort you in the end. So, wipe those tears away.
If you’re in debt and scrounging for sustenance every day, bear all these BUT keep in your heart that Hope has continued to provide for you in many ways to make you live until today.
If you feel rejected, hopeless and unloved, face the hurt BUT hang on to the Hope that will welcome you one day in Paradise no matter who you are. So accept Him as your Savior because He loves you unconditionally when other people won’t.
If you think you’re dirty, useless and sinful, stop! Know that there’s Hope that will always forgive you and let you start a clean slate anytime when other people hesitate to give you a chance.
We know that Jesus is our Hope even before His birth. The people of Israel were waiting for Him as their Messiah, their Savior and our hope today.
Our problems today were His, too. Our persecutions today were experienced by Him, too. Our isolation today He also went through.
But He didn’t stop there. He died, resurrected and promised to come again for us.
Coming again means hope. So let’s look beyond what we are experiencing now. Hang on, believe and come to Jesus. He was one of us and will always be the best person to understand and love us.
Psalm 73 has a beautiful verse that inspired this song by Don Moen:
“Who have I in heaven but You. There is nothing on earth I desire beside You. My heart and my strength many times they fail, but there is one truth that always will prevail. God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever, forever.”
Knowing that Jesus is our hope makes living worthwhile no matter what we are facing now.
If there’s no hope, why would we still be breathing today? Isn’t this a miracle in itself?
Hope spurs miracles that our eyes cannot see and our minds cannot comprehend. The secret is simply believing there is the Hope that once lived with us and will continue to be one of us.