Advent 2009: Hope
In light of our current situations; the wars between nations, the instability of our economy, the brokenness of our relationships, the continued battle with the sinfulness of our hearts, our failure to live according to God’s perfect standards; we are all longing for something to bring us peace and relief. Our only hope is for someone to save us, someone to rescue us! Out of God’s great mercy and love for us, Jesus, His Son, was sent to earth. Born of the virgin Mary, he shared our genes, our instincts, entered our world, spoke our language, had friends and conversations, worked as a carpenter, laughed and cried. But he did something that we could never do. He completely fulfilled the law of God by living a perfect life free of sin. Through the life of Jesus, we can have the hope and assurance of eternal life. Jesus Christ is the only true hope for a fallen world. Jesus Christ is the only true hope for our desperate souls.
I AM: The Vine
Jesus continues to engage the disciples in another parable about the nature of our relationship with God. Here Jesus claims to be the true vine by which all believers are united to him and produce fruit through him. Jesus uses this parable to unpack the intricate relationship between the Father, the Son, and the church. This brings a deeper level of clarity to Jesus’ central importance in the Father’s plan for the redemption of man.
I AM: The Way, the Truth and the Life
As the crucifixion of Jesus quickly approaches, Jesus gathers the disciples together to leave them with some final words and ease their worries about the coming events. Here we find Jesus making one of his most controversial statements, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Ultimately claiming that all of life is about Jesus: loving him, letting him reveal truth to areas of darkness in our lives, leading us to repentance, and letting him bring us restoration, healing, and life, so that we can continue to love, worship, and know him more deeply. And it is through faith in Jesus alone that any of this possible.