Advent Week 1: Hope
As we approach the Advent season, the first theme of the traditional Advent calendar is hope. Biblical hope is different from the way we use the word in our modern contexts. We hope it doesn’t rain and our event gets moved inside. We hope a certain candidate wins an election. We hope this suffering passes.
But biblical hope is not like that. It’s sure. It’s steady. It’s unshakable. Matthew 12:21 is quoting from the book of Isaiah where the promised Messiah––the Suffering Servant––is being prophesied.
This Servant is the “beloved” of God, with the full Spirit upon him, who will not stop his work until victory is accomplished. This chosen, loved, Spirit-anointed Servant is the One in whom the whole Bible calls the world to hope in. Indeed, our believing in Jesus is a fulfillment of the prophecy of Matthew 12:21: the Gentiles will hope in him. That’s us! God has kept his promise to us in Jesus.
As we approach Advent we look back to what this Servant––Jesus––accomplished in his life, death, and resurrection on our behalf. We imagine what it would have been like for the saints of old to look forward to his coming to bring about perfect forgiveness, mercy, and justice for sin. We look forward now, like they did, to the day when Jesus returns to make all things new, wipe every tear from the eyes of those who trust him, and bring us to dwell with him in his presence forever.
We don’t look forward with uncertainty. Sure, our circumstances and our faith go up and down. But for those who have trusted in Jesus, in the deepest places of our hearts we know we have a sure and steady hope. That’s because our hope lives in us––Christ in us, the hope of glory.
And so this Advent season, remind yourself of your sure and steady hope in the midst of whatever circumstances would tempt you to become hopeless or unsteady. Remind yourself that we’re fighting a battle Jesus has already won. Remind yourself that this hope has been purchased once-for-all and will last for all of eternity. Remind yourself of Jesus and let him settle your soul as you cast your cares upon him. He is faithful. He is safe to hope in.
