True Hope: The Journey to Christ This Advent
Summary
Summary:
In this Advent season, we reflect on the birth of Christ, which brings hope into the world. The story of the wise men from the East, driven by hope to find the Christ child, contrasts with King Herod, whose hope is misplaced in his own power and dynasty. This narrative invites us to examine where we place our hope. True hope, as exemplified by the wise men, leads us to seek Jesus with diligence and joy, while false hope, as seen in Herod, leads to fear and destruction.
The wise men’s journey from the East, likely from Babylon or Persia, demonstrates a profound search for true hope. Their willingness to travel great distances, guided by a star, reflects humanity's innate longing for something greater. This search is not just about finding a king but discovering the true ruler of all nations. Their journey challenges us to consider what we are willing to sacrifice in our pursuit of hope.
Conversely, Herod's reaction to the news of Jesus' birth reveals the trouble with false hope. Herod's hope is rooted in maintaining his power and legacy, leading to paranoia and tyranny. This misplaced hope results in fear and violence, as seen in the massacre of the innocents. Herod's story warns us of the dangers of aligning our hopes with worldly power rather than divine promise.
The wise men’s offering of treasures—gold, frankincense, and myrrh—symbolizes the treasure of Christ's hope. Their gifts, given with great joy, reflect the true value of Jesus, who is priceless. This act of worship and generosity contrasts with Herod's hoarding and self-preservation. The wise men’s joy in giving highlights the transformative power of placing our hope in Christ.
As we navigate this Christmas season, we are called to interrogate our hopes and ensure they are centered on Jesus. True hope is not merely optimism but trust in the person of Jesus, whose promises are unshakeable. This hope, rooted in Christ, is indestructible and leads us to anticipate not only Christmas but the ultimate fulfillment of God's promises in the return of Jesus.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Search for True Hope: The wise men’s journey from the East exemplifies a profound search for true hope, driven by a star that leads them to Jesus. Their willingness to travel great distances reflects humanity's innate longing for something greater than themselves. This narrative challenges us to consider what we are willing to sacrifice in our pursuit of hope. [10:21]
2. The Trouble with False Hope: King Herod's reaction to Jesus' birth reveals the dangers of false hope, rooted in worldly power and self-preservation. Herod's fear and paranoia lead to violence and destruction, warning us of the consequences of aligning our hopes with temporal power rather than divine promise. [19:59]
3. The Treasure of Christ's Hope: The wise men’s offering of gold, frankincense, and myrrh symbolizes the treasure of Christ's hope. Their gifts, given with great joy, reflect the true value of Jesus, who is priceless. This act of worship and generosity highlights the transformative power of placing our hope in Christ. [29:02]
4. Hope Beyond Circumstances: True hope is not merely optimism but trust in the person of Jesus, whose promises are unshakeable. This hope, rooted in Christ, is indestructible and leads us to anticipate not only Christmas but the ultimate fulfillment of God's promises in the return of Jesus. [31:56]
5. Interrogating Our Hopes: As we navigate this Christmas season, we are called to examine our hopes and ensure they are centered on Jesus. By placing our hope in Christ, we find joy and purpose, even amidst life's challenges, and look forward to the day when all things will be made new. [35:42]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [03:16] - The Birth of Hope
- [04:22] - The Wise Men's Journey
- [05:46] - Charlie Brown's Christmas Dilemma
- [10:21] - The Search for True Hope
- [13:02] - The Wise Men's Background
- [15:21] - The Power of Hope
- [16:28] - The Star's Significance
- [18:37] - The Trouble with False Hope
- [19:59] - Herod's Fear and Paranoia
- [21:06] - Herod's Tyranny
- [22:09] - The Herodian Dynasty
- [23:16] - False Hope in Power
- [24:23] - The True Source of Hope
- [29:02] - The Treasure of Christ's Hope
- [31:56] - Hope Beyond Circumstances
- [33:20] - The Enduring Hope of Jesus
- [34:35] - Linus and the True Meaning of Christmas
- [35:42] - Interrogating Our Hopes
- [37:14] - The Hope of Christ's Return
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Matthew 2:1-12
Observation Questions:
1. What motivated the wise men to embark on their journey, and how did they find their way to Jesus? [10:21]
2. How did King Herod react to the news of Jesus' birth, and what actions did he take as a result? [19:59]
3. What gifts did the wise men present to Jesus, and what might these gifts symbolize? [29:02]
4. How did the wise men's journey and actions contrast with those of King Herod? [22:09]
Interpretation Questions:
1. What does the journey of the wise men reveal about the nature of true hope and the lengths people will go to find it? [13:02]
2. How does Herod's response to Jesus' birth illustrate the dangers of false hope rooted in worldly power? [21:06]
3. In what ways do the gifts of the wise men reflect the value and significance of Jesus? [29:02]
4. How does the sermon suggest that hope in Jesus differs from mere optimism? [31:56]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life: What are you willing to sacrifice in your pursuit of hope, and how does this align with the wise men's journey? [10:21]
2. Consider the areas in your life where you might be placing hope in worldly power or status. How can you realign your hope to be centered on Jesus? [24:23]
3. The wise men gave valuable gifts to Jesus. What are some ways you can offer your own "treasures" to Christ in your daily life? [29:02]
4. How can you ensure that your hope is not just optimism but a deep trust in Jesus, especially during challenging times? [31:56]
5. As you navigate this Christmas season, what steps can you take to keep Jesus at the center of your celebrations and daily life? [35:42]
6. Identify a specific area in your life where you feel hopeless. How can you invite Jesus into that situation to transform your perspective? [33:20]
7. How can you share the hope of Christ with someone who is struggling this season, and what practical steps can you take to support them? [37:14]
Devotional
Day 1: The Journey of Hope
The wise men’s journey from the East is a profound testament to humanity's search for true hope. Their willingness to travel great distances, guided by a star, reflects an innate longing for something greater than themselves. This narrative challenges us to consider what we are willing to sacrifice in our pursuit of hope. The wise men were not merely seeking a king but were on a quest to discover the true ruler of all nations. Their journey invites us to reflect on our own lives and the lengths we are willing to go to find true hope. [10:21]
Isaiah 60:1-3 (ESV): "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are actively seeking hope? How can you align this search with the pursuit of Jesus today?
Day 2: The Perils of Misplaced Hope
King Herod's reaction to the birth of Jesus reveals the dangers of placing hope in worldly power and self-preservation. Herod's fear and paranoia led to violence and destruction, serving as a stark warning of the consequences of aligning our hopes with temporal power rather than divine promise. His story is a cautionary tale about the destructive nature of false hope, which is rooted in maintaining control and legacy at any cost. This narrative encourages us to examine where we place our hope and the potential consequences of those choices. [19:59]
Jeremiah 17:5-6 (ESV): "Thus says the Lord: 'Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land.'"
Reflection: Consider a time when you placed your hope in something or someone other than God. What were the outcomes, and how can you redirect your hope towards God today?
Day 3: The Gift of True Hope
The wise men’s offering of gold, frankincense, and myrrh symbolizes the treasure of Christ's hope. Their gifts, given with great joy, reflect the true value of Jesus, who is priceless. This act of worship and generosity highlights the transformative power of placing our hope in Christ. Unlike Herod's hoarding and self-preservation, the wise men’s joy in giving underscores the profound impact of aligning our hopes with the divine. Their story invites us to consider the treasures we offer to Christ and the joy that comes from giving. [29:02]
2 Corinthians 9:7-8 (ESV): "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work."
Reflection: What is one way you can offer your time, talents, or resources to God this week? How can this act of giving bring you closer to experiencing the joy of Christ's hope?
Day 4: Hope Beyond Circumstances
True hope is not merely optimism but trust in the person of Jesus, whose promises are unshakeable. This hope, rooted in Christ, is indestructible and leads us to anticipate not only Christmas but the ultimate fulfillment of God's promises in the return of Jesus. It is a hope that transcends circumstances and offers a steadfast anchor for our souls. As we navigate life's challenges, we are reminded that our hope in Christ is secure and unchanging, inviting us to live with confidence and expectation. [31:56]
Hebrews 6:19-20 (ESV): "We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek."
Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to trust in Jesus' unshakeable promises today? How can this trust transform your perspective on your current circumstances?
Day 5: Centering Our Hopes on Christ
As we navigate this Christmas season, we are called to examine our hopes and ensure they are centered on Jesus. By placing our hope in Christ, we find joy and purpose, even amidst life's challenges, and look forward to the day when all things will be made new. This reflection invites us to interrogate our hopes and align them with the divine promise, leading to a life of fulfillment and anticipation of God's ultimate plan. [35:42]
Colossians 1:27 (ESV): "To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."
Reflection: What is one hope you have for the future that you need to center on Christ? How can you begin to align this hope with God's promises today?
Quotes
A thrill of hope. The weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. And today, we're going to look at how the birth of Christ births hope in the believer's life and in the world today. Now, hope is something that all of humanity participates in. I thought the Bible Project video did a great job of describing what biblical hope is, but here's the reality. Everybody hopes in something. Everybody hopes for something. The question is whether the hope that we're placing our hope in is a justified hope or hopeless, if it actually delivers the hope that we hope for and long for, or it delivers a false bill of goods in our lives, namely idolatry, and leads us down into a false hope. [00:01:00] (43 seconds)
Well, Jesus, we thank you that your hope has been born in the hearts of all those who have been born again. And for the believers in this room, Lord, we pray that you would fan that flame of hope and keep our eyes fixed on that hope, namely on you. Jesus, through this holiday season and always and to eternity. And Lord, if there are any here this morning who have a misplaced hope, would you expose that this morning, not so that you could be squelching our joy, but so that you could be fulfilling it in the right places and in the right person, namely yourself. Forgive us, God, for finding hope in all the wrong places. Ignite hope and cause hope to be born this morning. We ask this and pray it in Jesus' name. Amen. [00:04:43] (48 seconds)
Hope is worth it. And hope is the thing that will drive you forward, rightly in this world or wrongly. Hope is something that drives all of us. Hope is what caused Abraham to leave his home and go into a land that he didn't know about. Because he promised him, just like the stars, that one day so shall your offspring be. Hope drove him forward, even when he was childless, to believe that God's promises are true. And hope is what causes us. The seller homes pack up and move to the 1040 window in the hardest to reach places in the world where we might die to spread the gospel as a missionary for Jesus Christ. Why? Because the hope of glory and the hope of the name of Jesus Christ going to the ends of the earth is these hopes and the promises of God that have always driven the people of God forward and have always driven people far from God to God is the true hope and the true and living. God, amen? [00:16:54] (62 seconds)
Herod had placed all of his hope. He was building a dynasty that would never last. He was building a house. Namely, a house in the name for himself and not building up the house of God. And Jesus comes into this world and he challenges those power dynamics and all of those false hopes. And if you don't line up your hopes to Jesus, you're going to find yourself greatly troubled with the message of Jesus Christ. You know, we just came through a wild election season, didn't we, church? It was crazy. And you know, one of the craziest things, and I've been beating this drum and I don't want to beat a dead horse here. But after everything did simmer down, hallelujah, praise the Lord. And half the country just went bonkers because they didn't get what they wanted. But here's the other troubling thing for me as a pastor. Half the country just feels awesome, like a golden age is coming. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't. I don't know. Four years is not a lot of time. It's not a lot of time to get much done. But where is your ultimate hope? Jesus. Jesus, right? [00:23:16] (78 seconds)
Hope is the thing in everything. Everybody's life that causes us to wake up and put our foot in front of the next foot and take a step forward. And the moment that hope dies, our sense of motivation dies. Like Charlie Brown, we are incapacitated. We are stuck and wallowing in a sense of depression and hopelessness. Hope is the light that guides us forward in the light, in this life. You know, I love Disney World. I love going to Disney. We always have a little star that goes over the castle or whatever. And the song, when you wish upon a star, right? Every time you make a wish upon a star, you get your dream to come true. Not true. That's not true. Stars do not fulfill our wishes, nor, and we just celebrated my son's birthday, which is on Monday. He's turning 14, and we did the candle thing and make a wish. That's a fun tradition. Candles don't fulfill our wishes. Stars don't fulfill our wishes. But I think it's powerful that the reality that though we don't wish upon a star, that God himself charged the stars itself, namely a star, to shine hope in the right place. [00:15:24] (76 seconds)
Hope has a name, and his name is Jesus. And when you place your hope in Jesus Christ, it can't be taken away from you. You know, some of the oldest believers over the last 2,000 years are the Chaldeans, are those from Persia. And they've been a very persecuted group, some of them still living in that Middle East area, against all sorts of oppression. But I've got to believe that it forms a certain type of Christian who's been persecuted for hundreds and thousands of years to say, Jesus is my hope. My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness. You know, Charlie Brown discovered at the end of the movie why he was so hopeless. You remember, he told Linus at the outset, I don't get it, Linus. I don't understand why I'm so depressed. And Linus proves to be the hero at the end of the play. When the whole play is unraveling, he says, can anybody tell me what Christmas is all about? And finally, Linus comes up and says, I can tell you what Christmas is all about. And he quotes the gospel according to Luke. [00:33:17] (82 seconds)
Hope actually believes and trusts not in a particular outcome, but in a particular person despite the outcome. Let me say that again. Hope is not based upon our circumstances. Hope is based upon the person that we trust in and his character. Say it this way. Hope in our Bibles has a name, and his name is Jesus. Amen? Hope has a name, and his name is Jesus. Jesus. And when you place your hope in Jesus Christ, it can't be taken away from you. You know, some of the oldest believers over the last 2,000 years are the Chaldeans, are those from Persia. And they've been a very persecuted group, some of them still living in that Middle East area, against all sorts of oppression. But I've got to believe that it forms a certain type of Christian who's been persecuted for hundreds and thousands of years to say, Jesus is my hope. My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness. [00:32:47] (73 seconds)
May Jesus Christ be the hope and strength of your heart. May he be your consolation this Christmas season. May he be the hope of all the earth. Christian, we look forward not only to Christmas Day. We look forward to the return of Jesus Christ. We look forward to him making all things new. We look forward to our own bodily resurrection. We look forward to us being reunited to all those who are in Christ. Indestructible on that final day. We look forward and we hope for that final day. when every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. We hope for and look forward to that new city, that new heavenly Jerusalem. We look forward to that day when death and suffering will be done away with. Your hope rests in heaven, and your hope has a name. His name is Jesus Christ. Amen? [00:37:27] (59 seconds)
Noel, the birth of Christ, shines a light on the treasure of Christ's hope. Now, I love this story and where it lands with these individuals, because here we discover, for the first time, now we know from the songs and all the artwork now, we three kings and gold and frankincense and myrrh, but we discover they weren't traveling just to bow down and worship Jesus, but they brought some serious treasure along with them. Gold, frankincense, and myrrh. This would probably be priced into the tens of thousands, maybe 50 to 100,000 dollars. Now, the skeptic asked, well, where did Jesus and his mom and dad use that if they're born into poverty? I think they burned all through in Egypt, right, when they had to flee for their lives. And that was the means by which they were able to survive and then eventually get back to Bethlehem and into the region of Judah again, where Jesus grew up in Nazareth. But either way, what spectacular display of love and adoration for this child. [00:29:18] (69 seconds)
Hope is what caused Abraham to leave his home and go into a land that he didn't know about. Because he promised him, just like the stars, that one day so shall your offspring be. Hope drove him forward, even when he was childless, to believe that God's promises are true. And hope is what causes us. The seller homes pack up and move to the 1040 window in the hardest to reach places in the world where we might die to spread the gospel as a missionary for Jesus Christ. Why? Because the hope of glory and the hope of the name of Jesus Christ going to the ends of the earth is these hopes and the promises of God that have always driven the people of God forward and have always driven people far from God to God is the true hope and the true and living. God, amen? [00:17:05] (51 seconds)
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