As we approach the end of the first week and the beginning of the second week of 2017, in the spirit of my New Year’s Resolution post A Different Kind of New Year’s Resolution: Instead of Packing Away the Advent Wreath for Another Year, Reflect on Its Lessons During All of 2017, let’s consider the first blue candle of the Advent Wreath.
In many Christian traditions that use the Advent Wreath, the first blue candle represents hope. In modern English, the word hope has become a wishy-washy word of desire and uncertainty. It implies the desire of a specific result but uncertainty as to whether it will occur. In the English Bible, the word “hope” is used both as a verb and a noun. Used as a verb the word “hope” means to trust in someone or something or to expectantly wait for a beneficial result. The Hebrew word that is translated most often as “hope” in the King James Version is yachal ( יָחַל). This word and its variations occur 40 times in the Old Testament and are translated 27 times as “hope.” In the other 13 occasions, the words are translated as variations of “wait” and “trust.” In the Old Testament time “hope” carried the connotation of resting securely in the certain knowledge that an event will occur.
In the King James New Testament, the word “hope” is used as a noun or a verb. Most of these occurrences were derived from the Greek noun elpis (ἐλπίς) or its verb relative elpizo (ἐλπίζω). In total, elpis and elpizo or their variants occur 84 times in the Greek New Testament. Of the 11 times that “hope” appears as a verb in the KJV, all of them were variations of elpizo. Of the 20 times elpizo is not translated “hope” it is translated with a variation of the verb “trust.” Thus, we see in the NT the same message as we saw in the OT. Whether it is used as a noun or a verb, “hope” carries the connotation of assured expectation of fulfillment.
In Scripture, according to the Hebrew and Greek words translated by the word “hope” and according to the biblical usage, hope is an indication of certainty. “Hope” in Scripture means “a strong and confident expectation.” This use of the word “hope” is generally archaic today.
“Hope” as a noun refers to the activity of hoping, or to the object hoped for—the content of one’s hope. By its very nature, hope stresses two things: (a) a time yet to come, and (b) something not yet seen. It deals with things we can’t see or haven’t received or both.
For centuries the world looked forward with a steadfast hope for the coming Messiah. The following passages speak of that unwavering trust without using the terms “hope” or “trust.”
But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law..” (Galatians 4:4, KJV).
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14, KJV)
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. (Micah 5:2, KJV)
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for He shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. (Matthew 1:21-23),
When it was time for Mary and Joseph to present Jesus at the Temple in Jerusalem to be presented to the Lord, they were met by an elderly man, who was kept alive by the hope of the coming of the Messiah.
And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. (Luke 2:25 -32, KJV)
Jesus during his ministry raised up a small band of disciples who were convinced that He was the Messiah, the anointed one. They were dismayed and heartbroken when He was arrested and crucified. Even though He had told them that He would have to suffer and die, they didn’t understand this part of His message. Even when He appeared to them after the resurrection, they were still looking for an earthly kingdom. They didn’t know what to do or believe when He ascended into heaven right in front of their eyes. Angels which had announced His first coming reassured His disciples that He would be coming again. The disciples and the rest of the world had to settle back into the sure hope of His second coming.
When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. (Acts 1: 6-11, KJV)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, (I Peter 1:3-4, KJV)
In this Christmas season, are you reflecting the light of Christ’s salvation to a world trapped in darkness? Are you spreading the gospel of hope of God’s salvation?
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