April 24

                           Hope in Jesus

Matthew 12:20-21

He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering

candle.  Finally, He will cause justice to be victorious.  

And His Name will be the Hope of all the world.  (NLT)

     The Messiah did not arrive on earth with any kind of political agenda or military plan or did He draw a lot of attention to Himself as the King of Israel, which was unlike the Messiah that the Jewish leaders and people were looking for.  God sent His Son into the world to rescue mankind from the evil lies of the world—to save us from our sins and bring hope to the weak and downtrodden, not to save people who thought they were already saved.  Jesus came to fix that which is broken, to find those who were lost, and to rekindle a flame of hope in a world where its light is flickering out.  The Messiah did not come to rescue His people from the Romans and become Israel's King.  Instead, we received a Messiah who gave it all for mankind, a Savior who suffered and died for the sins of the world.  He was gracious, kind, and compassionate to the least of His people, Israel; those who were poor, diseased, handicapped and oppressed.  He healed the sick, raised the dead, cast out demons, and gave us the Way to eternal life.  Christ came and fulfilled the prophecy of God. 

     Christ Jesus came to battle the unseen evil forces, not the Roman government; to break the power of sin and its sting.  The Son of God came to implement His mercy and grace on the condemned who were lost in the darkness of this evil world and without hope of ever escaping.  King Jesus set in motion God’s plan for the redemption of mankind—a saving work that brings hope to the hopeless, peace to the anxious, and joy to the brokenhearted.  Jesus ushered in the Age of the Church, revealed God’s Truth, and shined His saving Light into a very dark world.   The Good News from Heaven is like a breath of fresh air or the arrival of spring after a long harsh winter.   With the gift of redeeming salvation from Christ comes a new lease on life, a lease that never runs out and a life that just keeps on getting better!

                                A Whisper of Hope

I AM your Savior, dear child...I came from Heaven to save all peoples from this wicked and dying world.  I came to walk you through this difficult life-journey—to give you hope and a future; to be with you always.  I came to bring Light and Life, for without Me there is no Light and no life.

1 Peter 1:6

So be truly glad!  There is wonderful joy ahead, even though

it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while.  (NLT)

              For the grace of God has appeared,

             bringing salvation to all men.

                         (Titus 2:11)