HOPE TRIUMPHS

JESUS, THE HOPE OF THE WORLD

In our broken world of hatred, rejection and death, there is a great need of God’s love, writes Reverend Tony Zekveld of Hope Centre Brampton. Image credit: ARINA KRASNIKOVA on Pexels.

By REVEREND TONY ZEKVELD

People cherish love and acceptance. And in our broken world of hatred, rejection and death, there is a great need of God’s love. God provides for that need. That’s what Christmas is all about.

God’s plan for saving and restoring our broken world, with all its diverse colours and nationalities, centres on the coming of His Son, Jesus Christ. He fulfilled His plan using Caesar Augustus, emperor of the Roman Empire, to issue a decree (an order) for a census to be taken for all the world.

In this census, through an emperor, God carries out His plan for the world. The focus then narrows from the world to the little town of Bethlehem, to one couple, Joseph and Mary. They travelled to Bethlehem for the census since Joseph was from the house and lineage of David. Joseph had to register there.

Just at that time, Mary brought forth her firstborn Son. God worked it out so that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem as He had promised hundreds of years before. And God used a census of the emperor to accomplish His sovereign plan for the world!

The lens or the spotlight then shifts from Bethlehem to the One who was born in Bethlehem, Jesus, God’s Son, who was conceived without the use of a man and born of the virgin Mary. Jesus, God’s Son, took on our flesh for the world’s salvation. He was like us in every way except without sin.

The Bible tells us that He was born in a manger. Why? Because there was no room for them in the inn. So He was born in a cattle trough. There was no crib for Him. He was not dressed in nice fancy baby clothes, but wrapped in strips of linen.

Everything about Jesus’ birth speaks of poverty and rejection. He, the Son of God, left the glory He had in heaven from all eternity, to come into our broken world. In His love, God sent Him into our broken world. In His love, Jesus suffered, was despised and rejected by God and man, ultimately on the cross, offering Himself as the sacrifice, to pay the full price of sin, in the place of man, the sinner.

That’s how much God loved the world. All who trust and believe in Jesus for their salvation, God loves and forever accepts as His adopted and beloved children. In a world of hate and rejection, God has provided a Savior! The love and acceptance we cherish is found in Jesus.

If you want to talk more, feel free to phone or text Reverend Tony Zekveld (“call me Pastor Tony”) at Hope Centre at 416-740-0543. His email is hopecentre@primus.ca  and website: www.hopecentrebrampton.com.