Hope Help And Healing

Hope, Help and Healing

Many a classic story features a moment when all feels lost and the protagonist loses hope. Lord of the Rings, Jurassic Park, Star Wars…

Star Wars – The Death Star is getting ready to fire on the rebel base. Luke Skywalker and his fellow x wing pilots appear to be the last line of defense - but as they fly down the narrow chanels of the service of the Death Star one by one they are being taken out. Now there are only three of them left. Wedge’s Xwing is damaged and he has to retreat. Then Darth Vader’s Tie Fighter kills Biggs. Luke is alone, and it looks hopeless – BUT THEN....

Meanwhile John the Baptist – after what appeared to be an incredibly successful start drawing thousands to baptism in the river Jordan and proclaiming “After me comes one who is mightier than I, I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of sandal, I have baptised you with water, he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit”

After all that – he is arrested by King Herod – he knows he going to die – but perhaps even worse it has all been in vain.

‘Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?’ (Matt 11:3)

Have you ever been in place where Hope seems lost? Many in our country are in that place right now. For whatever reason. A relationship that has gone horribly wrong. A health scare. A redundancy. A missed promotion and a sense that you have been left on the shelf and it has all been for nothing. What is the purpose of it all anyway?

And in every good story – at just the right moment Hope returns.

Luke is about to die just as his friend Biggs and all the other rebel pilots have died. All their resistance to the Empire will be for nothing - and just at that moment – the Millenium Falcon arrives - Han Solo fires the shot that disables Darth Vader’s ship – buying Luke Skywalker just enough time to destroy the death star.

And in every good story – at just the right moment Hope returns.

John the Baptist is lying in Herod’s prison despairing that everything he did has been for nothing. “”When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?’ (Matt 11:2-3)

And that just that moment:

"Jesus answered them, ‘Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. 6And blessed is anyone who takes no offence at me.’” (Matt 11:3-4)

And in every good story – at just the right moment Hope returns.

The Christmas message - Hope Help and healing - Jesus brings us a message that it has not all been in vain.

The baby born in a manger, God become present in human form to reveal his plan for us, the message of rescue and redemption – it brings HOPE

A recent survey – commissioned by a Church Organisation but carried out by the thoroughly impartial and professional polling organisation YouGov found [1]

a. 69%of churchgoers agree they feel hopeful about their future compared to 46% of nonchurchgoers

b. 75% of churchgoers agree their life feels meaningful compared to 49% of nonchurchgoers

c. Churchgoers less likely to feel anxious or depressed – 43% non churchgoers, compared with 31% churchgoers

Hope, Help and Healing!

“ Jesus answered them, ‘Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them” (Matt 11:4)

The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad,

the desert shall rejoice and blossom….

Strengthen the weak hands,

and make firm the feeble knees.

Say to those who are of a fearful heart,

‘Be strong, do not fear!

Here is your God….

He will come and save you.’

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,

and the ears of the deaf unstopped;

then the lame shall leap like a deer,

and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.

For waters shall break forth in the wilderness,

and streams in the desert;

the burning sand shall become a pool,

and the thirsty ground springs of water;” (Isaiah 35:1-7 excerpts)

We see this happening in physical terms – but it is more than that. I remember well when this was first pointed out to me when I was studying Mark’s Gospel at University.