"Hope: The Heart Of Christmas” Series

In Jesus Holy Name November 27, 2022

Text: Acts 27,28 Redeemer Lutheran

Advent I

“Hope: The Heart of Christmas”

The season of Advent begins today. It is the beginning of a new church year. It is a season of anticipation. A time to hope. But for many people “hope” is elusive. I’m reminded of the Scottish Proverb: “Were it not for hope, the heart would break”.

As we come to the conclusion of our sermon series through the book of Acts we find that Paul & his fellow prisoners, are on a ship sailing for Rome. There are 279 passengers on board. There is some delay. The winds needed for their sail boat are blowing in the wrong direction.

Luke writes: “before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the “northeaster” swept down from the island and the ship was caught by the storm and we were driven along. There was such violent battering the crew began to throw the ships cargo and tackle overboard. The storm raged for 14 days with neither sun nor stars appearing. “….we finally gave up all hope of being saved.” For 278 of the 279 passengers hope was elusive.

Paul was not worried. He had hope when others did not. His hope was based on the promise of Jesus. Remember when he was in prison in Jerusalem Jesus appeared to him and said: “Take courage, Paul, you have testified about me in Jerusalem so you must also testify in Rome.”

The passengers were overwhelmed with a loss of hope. 278 passengers believed death was imminent. The storm was so great they had given up hope of reaching Rome. Not Paul. His hope remained in the promise of Jesus regarding the future.

Finally, the ship reaches a sandy beach but the waves began to break apart the ship. Everyone swam to shore.” Luke writes “It was raining…… everyone was wet and cold and everyone was gathering wood to build a fire.” As Paul was gathering wood a viper fastened itself to Paul’s hand. He should have died. He did not. Arrested. Shipwrecked. Poison snake bite. Paul was not without hope.

Thanksgiving is three days behind us and Christmas is on the horizon. It should be a time of optimism and hope but people are pessimistic about the future. There is worry. Inflation is still on the rise. Gas and home heating prices are rising. There is worry regarding the use of tactical nuclear weapons, in Ukraine or in the Mid East. North Korea is firing missiles across the sea. There is constant chatter between governments, fear has engulfed our planet. We are told global warming will end human life on planet earth as we know it….unless we do something. People wonder….Will we lose the country we grew up in? Where is hope?

The loss of hope is a terrible thing. Maybe you lost hope when the company down sized and you were left without a job. How will I pay my mortgage? Maybe it was when the Doctor walked into the waiting room and said: “We did all we could”, there is no hope. Without hope, troubles bring discouragement. Without hope we are left with depression and despair. For the Carlson family “hope: has been a roller coaster.

“We can bear the doctor’s diagnosis of cancer with hope for a cure. We can endure the separation from a loved one with hope for a reunion. We can endure physical death of our loved one with the hope of eternal life and infinite joy in the presence of God forever. But when there is no hope ……..we are undone.” bible.org/article/two-unbearable-words-nature-Christian-hope

Every day we use that small, magical word….-hope. It’s tough to live or even make it through one day without hope.

I hope you feel better. I hope you have a healthy baby. I hope I get an A in that class. I hope she likes me. I hope to make a difference in the world. I hope the Doctor gives you a good report. I hope their marriage makes it. I hope I get that raise. I hope we have world peace by Christmas.

What is hope? Hope is a vision for better days that changes us in the present.

Hope tells us that something good is up ahead, just around the corner, in sight and it’s good.

Biblical hope not only desires something good for the future, it expects it to happen. It expects it to happen; it is confident that it will happen. Paul’s hope is a realistic expectation for future good based on the promises of God. Paul had hope in the promise of Jesus when others were overwhelmed with their circumstance.

(William Barclay in his commentary on writes in I Peter) “The man that has faith, never doubts even when he cannot see God …for He knows God is standing within the shadows keeping watch upon His own. It is not that God saves us from the troubles and the sorrow and the problems of life; it is that He enables us to encounter them, to bear them, and to conquer them…”