The story of hope

Want to hear a crazy idea?

The hope of all mankind, all of creation, rests on God become human and humanity becoming humble.

It started with the most unlikely of plot twists. Creator becoming a part of creation. God becoming a part of the world he created. The one who was in the beginning, the one through whom all things were made, entered the world as a helpless baby named Jesus

And if that’s not crazy enough for you, this Jesus would live a life that would result in his execution. Executed for what? For radically loving people, even the people no one else wanted around.

But the story doesn’t end there. As Christ hangs on the cross and breathes his last, we are about to encounter another plot twist. On the third day, this dead man is resurrected. The one who had been killed at the hands of an angry mob and jealous leaders is raised from the dead.

In the days that follow, he spends as much time as possible with his disciples. He reminds them of what he has taught them and prepares them for the next turn in the story. He’s leaving. And they’re left behind to continue the work.

Wait! Isn’t he the Savior? Isn’t it the Messiah’s job to fix everything? Yes. And no. Through his life, death, burial, and resurrection, Christ ushered in a new Kingdom, a new way of life. And while some of the last words he spoke were, “it is finished,” we are not. Not yet.

We must look back to the one who was born in the lowliest of circumstances and a most scandalous situation. The Creator of the universe took the ultimate risk to enter the world as a humble, helpless baby, born out of wedlock.

If we can learn anything from Jesus, it’s that we need to learn everything from him. How to think. How to treat others. How to look at ourselves. How to live.

Within each of us is the story of hope. Through the Holy Spirit, every follower of Jesus is empowered with the ability to share the hope that can only be found in the Kingdom of God. But we will only realize that power when we humble ourselves and boldly obey Jesus’ command, “Follow me.” It is in that following that we will find the hope for all humanity, and in the process, help lead others to it as well.

 

shine!
Jason

Look at me!?

Think about it. What if you were chosen to announce God’s grand entrance into the world? How would you react?

I know how I would react. Hey, everyone! Look at me! While I might not admit it, I would want everyone to know how important I am because I am announcing the arrival of someone important. I would want to be famous by association.

However, that was not John the Baptist’s attitude (which is probably why I would never be chosen for this task, but he was). Consider what the apostle John writes…

Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.” (John 1:19-20)

While most of us would never claim to be the Messiah, there are probably a lot of us who like to think we are. John the Baptist on the other hand, was quick to deny his importance. As he continued to answer the questions of the Jewish leaders, he turned to Scripture to emphasize his place in the story…

John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’” (John 1:23)

John humbly accepted and admitted his role. He was not God, but simply a servant. His task was to prepare the way for the One who was coming. He was not the Messiah, but he was called to be a voice announcing the Messiah’s arrival.

As the Jewish leaders continued to question John the Baptist, he continued to respond to them with humility…

“I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” (John 1:26-27)

Oh, that I would have an attitude like John the Baptist. In a world where athletes hope to the make the ESPN Top 10, celebrities seek fame and fortune, and many people pursue popularity and prominence, we find a man with one of the most important jobs in the history of the world – announcing the coming of the Messiah – and yet with one of the most humble attitudes we can imagine.

What can sometimes get lost in the story of Jesus’ birth is the humility of the man who proclaimed the coming of the Savior of the world. Christmas is about the Word becoming flesh, but it should also be a time for us to consider our own pride and self-importance. We all can learn from John the Baptist and his humility.

 

shine!
Jason