jonathanfwoodall
  • welcome
  • about me
  • blog
  • sermons
  • welcome
  • about me
  • blog
  • sermons

Living Hope

12/6/2016

3 Comments

 
Picture
It is hard to believe that a baby being born might actually save the world.  I mean, where was Satan when the baby was vulnerable and helpless, when he squirmed in the arms of that pre-teen mom of his?  What happened to the evil kings and the lords that saw him as a threat?  Surely Hell noticed…I mean, if we have the boldness to still claim there is one.  Perhaps because I grew up knowing the story, I forget how bizarre it is…how hard it is to not believe, but to live out on a daily basis.  

There are so many other, more tangible things for me to hope for and thank God about…for example the fact that I live in the most powerful nation in the world, the beacon of freedom and liberty.  I have a job, a family, a group of friends, a house, a car, and I could keep listing.  And therein lies the rub of this story I’m living, in the midst of my comfort I am supposed to long for something greater, purer, and better than what I have.  

I am convinced the Bible wasn’t written to me.  I know this because it was written to people who lived a long time ago and their names, stories, and dreams are found in the pages I read.  And they, unlike me, often longed for a better life free of war, famine, hunger, and pain.  Sure those things exist in our contemporary world, but I have to search for them because they are not at my door (well, at least on in this moment).  

But, eventually, the things I like so much about this life I live and this story that is me will change…something will happen that is unexpected and perhaps even tragic.  That may be where you find yourself right now as I write this.  Often, and you can read it to be certain, but often the Bible doesn’t allow us long to wallow in the reality of our vulnerability and weakness before it shows us a vision of God’s Kingdom…the place we hope to call home.  This is the case in Isaiah 34, in which war is being described and then without hesitation we get this in chapter 35: 

1 Even the wilderness and desert will be glad in those days.
    The wasteland will rejoice and blossom with spring crocuses.
2 Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers
    and singing and joy!
The deserts will become as green as the mountains of Lebanon,
    as lovely as Mount Carmel or the plain of Sharon.
There the Lord will display his glory,
    the splendor of our God.
3 With this news, strengthen those who have tired hands,
    and encourage those who have weak knees.
4 Say to those with fearful hearts,
    “Be strong, and do not fear,
for your God is coming to destroy your enemies.
    He is coming to save you.”


I would advise you to read the whole chapter, because it is all good!  You see, there is a day coming when “the Lord will display his glory, the splendor of our God.”  This will reconstitute our existence and recreate our world.  It isn’t a government that was the signal of this change, it wasn’t a family, or a house, or car, or money…the signal of God’s Kingdom was a baby, wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.  Satan was bound by Him, evil was defeated by Him, kings and lords were limited by Him, and Hell only does what Jesus says to do!  For those who need it, there is always hope to be found in the Bible, especially in the darkest most dreary times.  Live hope today!  

3 Comments
Pat Pacella
12/6/2016 03:52:40 pm

This is most awesome. I loved it. Thank you again for your insight into scripture. God has so blessed you and through that blessing I am so blessed.

Reply
Jerry Ketcherside
12/12/2016 08:32:48 am

Mary -- a preteen (as in twelve years of age) mom? Please advise source.

-- Thanks

Reply
Jonathan Woodall
12/12/2016 10:40:00 am

While the Bible does not say how old Mary and Joseph were, there are several sources that point us to the typical ages of betrothed Jewish couples. The typical age for a girl was between 12-14 but sources do vary.
Keener, Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, 47
Everyday Life in Bible Times by the National Geographic Society, 305
Ferguson, Backgrounds of Early Christianity, 68
to get you going...

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    jonathan's jots

    I want to share thoughts, insights, and scriptures that lead us in the direction of Christ.  

    Archives

    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    October 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    November 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013

    Categories

    All
    Acceptance
    Action
    Acts
    Advent
    America
    Application
    Autumn
    Baptism
    Belief
    Betrayal
    Bible
    Blog Tour 2017
    Blog Tour 2018
    Brokenness
    Character Of God
    Christ And Culture
    Christian Art
    Christianity
    Christian Love
    Christian Marriage
    Christmas
    Church
    Civil Rights
    College Ministry
    Colossians
    Community
    Conflict
    Consequences Of Sin
    Covenant
    Creation
    Creativity
    Cross
    Current Events
    Darkness
    Dehumanizing
    Discipleship
    Do Not Fear
    Earth
    Emerging Adulthood
    Endurance
    Eschatology
    Esther
    Evangelism
    Evil
    Excuses
    Expectations
    Failure
    Faith
    Faithfulness
    Father
    Forgiveness
    Freedom
    Generations
    Genesis
    Gentiles
    Glory
    God
    God's Presence
    Good Friday
    Gospel
    Grace
    Healing
    Heaven
    Hebrews
    Holy Spirit
    Holy Week
    Honor
    Hope
    Hosea
    Hymns
    Identity
    Individualism
    Interpretation
    Intimacy
    Isaiah
    Israel
    Jeremiah
    Jesus
    Jesus Christ
    Job
    John
    Joshua
    Joy
    Judas
    Judgment
    Kingdom
    Leadership
    Legacy
    Lessons From Children
    Light
    Love
    Luke
    Mark
    Marriage And Family
    Matthew
    Maturity
    Media And College
    Memorial Day
    Ministry
    Mission
    MLK
    Money
    Music
    Narrative
    New Testament
    New Testament World
    Old Testament
    Parable
    Passion
    Paul
    Personalities
    Philippians
    Politics
    Post-Christian
    Poverty
    Prayer
    Promise
    Prophecy
    Proverbs
    Psalms
    Reconciliation
    Relationships
    Remembering
    Remembrance
    Revelation
    Rochester College
    Romans
    Sacred Space
    Salvation
    Satan
    Seeking
    Self Love
    Self-love
    Service
    Sexuality
    Sexual Practices
    Shame
    Silence
    Sin
    Songs
    Spiritual Formation
    Spiritual Formation
    Story
    Struggle
    Suffering
    Temple
    Theology
    Throne
    Tragedy
    Transformation
    Treasure
    Tribes
    Trust
    Vision
    Visual
    Voting
    Wisdom
    Word
    Work
    Works And Faith
    Worship
    Wrath
    Yahweh

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.