Looking For Hope In A New Year Series

It’s normally not the Biblical story one associates with Christmas or the arrival of a New Year. But it is relevant. I’m thinking of the story that is normally associated with Easter in Luke 24. Jesus on the road to Emmaus. If you don’t remember the story, here are the highlights. Jesus has resurrected from the dead. Two disciples are traveling on the road to Emmaus visiting with each other, talking about everything that has transpired in Jerusalem. Suddenly Jesus appears. He asked, “What are you discussing as you are walking along?” At which point, in a discouraged and despondent tone they say, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who doesn’t know the things that happened?” What things? Jesus asked? To which they say, “About Jesus of Nazareth. He was a prophet, powerful in word and action and he was crucified.” We had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel but it didn’t happen. Jesus shares a few additional words at which point they arrive in Emmaus. They invited Jesus to spend the night with them. They are sitting at a table at which point Jesus takes a piece of bread, he gives thanks at which point, perhaps remembering the times in which he had celebrated communion with his disciples, they recognize him. Suddenly, as the text says, their eyes are opened and they realize that he is alive! The road to Emmaus was a road leading from despair to hope.

I wonder, where are you on that road this morning? As you look back on the events that have transpired in your personal life, in the life of the church, in the life of our country, in the world, where are you between despair and hope? How much hope do you have as we enter 2024?

After all look at what has transpired in the past year. The problems with immigration have grown worse. Inflation has gone through the ceiling. The conflicts between Israel and Hammas, and Ukraine and Russia continue. A former president has been indicted. There is conversation about attempting to impeach the current president. The political parties can’t seem to find a way to talk across the aisle. And the list goes on and on and on! It reminds me of the words of my mother who once said, “I feel bad for the world in which your children will grow up!”

Some of you might look at your own life and while asking, “Where am I on the road between despair and hope?” I’m still at the starting line. I haven’t even begun the journey. “ Some of you might think, “Well, I’m trying. I’m only 25% down the road toward hope, but I” m trying.” And still others of you might say, “I’m making great headway. I’m almost there.”

So where’ the hope to be found? In the passage of Scripture we’re considering this morning from Romans 15, I wonder if that question wasn’t a part of Paul’s thinking? When you think about Rome you might think about the power figure in Rome during Biblical times...Nero, who rose to the position of power at the age of 16. Yet, the persecution of Christians hadn’t yet begun when Paul wrote these words. Paul was writing these words from the city of Corinth where he himself had witnessed firsthand the downward spiral that much of humanity had taken. He would have witnessed the destructive practices of pagan religions, the idolatry, the sexual immorality, the hunger for power. He had witnessed the internal problems in the church of Corinth in which some of the Christians were turning against each other. And in writing to the Christians at Rome he was also perhaps concerned about the impact that the city of Rome could have on the Christians. He was perhaps concerned about the potential disagreements and conflicts that may have occurred between the Gentiles and Jewish Christians, which may explain why he emphasizes, in this text, the importance of acceptance, encouragement and more, could end up creating a hopeless situation. So, given the potential problems that he sees, and perhaps concerned that such problems could easily occur in the church at Rome, he may be asking “Where’s the hope for the future?”

Where’s the hope for you and me as we stand on the brink of 2024? Listen to Romans 15:13. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

As we enter 2024 where’s the hope to be found? Paul has something to say about the character who is the basis of hope, the consequences that accompany our hope, and the character who sustains our hope when all is in despair.