Real Hope: A Time for Hope Sample

Because Sin And Death Have Been Defeated

THE GOSPELS

Whenever I read the Old Testament in one quick go, I feel desperate for God to do something. I feel overwhelmed by humankind – that we can’t fix ourselves. Then I turn to the Gospels and I’m amazed by Jesus again – the way He shows us what God is truly like. 

When Jesus began His ministry, the crowds came from everywhere. Jesus taught them, healed them and spoke to the ones who didn’t belong. He gave them hope and forgiveness. And many believed… they were drawn to Jesus, and His offer of grace. But not everyone believed. Jesus was crucified. He gave Himself up. And as He did, the crowd sneered at Him. But Jesus looked at them and said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’ (Luke 23:34)

Then Jesus died. The sun disappeared. The people wept… all their hopes were buried in the tomb, with the body of Jesus. Everything seemed over and hopeless. Except, of course, it wasn’t. Somehow, the worst kind of suffering was part of God’s plan. He absorbed the curse into Himself. That’s how much He loved the world.

Every time I read the last chapters of the Gospels, I realise that we come with nothing; our hands are empty. Yet, we can receive forgiveness because Jesus died for us and rose from the dead. It’s incredible! As we put our trust in Jesus, we are forgiven. When we get to the end and stand in front of God, there’ll be nothing that we’ve said, done, imagined or screamed that Jesus won’t stand there and say, ‘I paid for that. Look at my hands.’ It’s a time to hope, today, because Jesus died and sin and death have been defeated forever.