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