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Matthew, referencing one of many messianic prophecies found in the book of Isaiah, writes in chapter twelve verse twenty-one (NLT) of his gospel:

“And his name (that is in the name of Jesus the Messiah) will be the hope of all the world.”

            Most of the people in Isaiah’s world, and I would suspect most of Israel right up to the coming of Jesus, were anticipating a Messiah; a Messiah for them, not for the whole world.  But beginning with Christmas and then through the adult ministry of Jesus we are taught time after time, that the hope that is found in Jesus really is for the whole world.  And not just to the whole world politically or from a geographical perspective, but to every aspect of society throughout the entire planet.

            Think for a moment about that first Christmas marking the arrival of the long anticipated Messiah. To whom was the birth announcement made?  To shepherds, those considered to be on the lowest rung of the social status ladder.  Who did God choose to parent the Christ child? Same answer, ordinary people barely above the poverty level.  To whom else was his birth revealed?  To the Magi, travellers from well outside the geographical boundaries of Israel and Judah.

And as Jesus eventually picked his disciples, what sort of persons made the list? Fishermen and tax collectors.  And where was the earthly ministry of Jesus focussed? Certainly, a good part was in his immediate area, but the number of times we read about ministry in Samaria in the New Testament is really quite remarkable.                                       

And what was the last instruction this Messiah gave to his followers? “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”                         

            Today, Sunday November 30th is the first Sunday of Advent. And the theme for this first Sunday of Advent is HOPE. Let’s remember that the bringer of hope our Messiah, our King Jesus is not just the hope for all the world, but the ONLY hope for the world. Doesn’t that make the Great Commission more urgent?

There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12 NLT)                                                Pastor Dave