A New Hope
Written by Pastor Sean Brandow
A few years before I was born, in 1977 a cinematic masterpiece and actually an entire franchise was launched. The movie begins simply with some blue letters on a black background. They read “A long time ago in a galaxy far far away….” and the now familiar Star Wars theme thunders out while the story is set by the yellow letters scrolling off into space. There is a battle raging, growing tension. ”It is a period of civil war.” There is war between the empire and the rebels. And so begins the old familiar story of good versus evil.
Much like the blue letters at the beginning of Star Wars Episode IV A New Hope, the book of Hebrews begins. “Long ago, at many times and in many ways God spoke through the prophets…”
But Why did God speak and What did he say?
For centuries God has been actively communicating with us in the midst of our struggle. He has spoken in the middle of a whole assortment of circumstances and times and through a pretty vast variety of people and ways. When people were oppressed and frustrated and enslaved God spoke through Moses. When people were afraid and were facing seemingly monumental challenges God spoke through Joshua. When people were sad, confused, and aimless God spoke through David and others. When people rebelled and made foolish decisions God sought to warn them and woo them back through the life and words of a prophet named Hosea who was personally living in a nightmarish marriage relationship — showing love to a wife who refused to be faithful. He would speak through the grief of prophets like Jeremiah who saw the condition of the nation that he lived in longing to see them turn and find rest in God.
God speaks and has spoken. That alone is an incredible truth. But the Christmas season remembers and celebrates the phenomenal moment in time that a “NEW HOPE” is born. God steps down into our mess. Jesus the Son of God is born. According to the writer of Hebrews…God now speaks through the SON. “New Hope” for a broken, scared, embattled, enslaved, and rebellious world.
God told One of those Prophets named Isaiah, long ago — long before Jesus came — ”The Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold (look at it, see it for yourself) the virgin will conceive and bear a son, and will call his name Immanuel (Which means God with us)” (Isaiah 7:14).
But what is God speaking through Jesus?
First, That this world is broken and in need of saving. Any honest reflection can come to this conclusion.
Second, That God sees our brokenness, he loves us and is willing to step into our mess and act on our behalf.
Third, God has always wanted relationship with us, he has always spoken and revealed Himself, His character, goodness, power and plans. Jesus shows us this most clearly.