Hope Alliance Bethlehem

When Peter and two other disciples witness the transfiguration of Jesus, they are overwhelmed and want the experience to continue.  But Peter's offer of building three tabernacles for Jesus, Moses and Elijah is quickly corrected by God.  Too often we cloud the gospel with spiritual experience, futurism and religion and in so doing miss the sufficiency of Jesus only.

When Peter declares that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God, he believes Jesus is the rightful king.  And he's exactly correct.  What he misses is just how Jesus is going to establish his kingdom - through sacrifice instead of through power.  And he is calling all who follow him to do likewise.

Jesus miraculously walking on water was an act of power, but even more so an act of love.  It demonstrates God's willingness to come from the security of the mountaintop into the storm to rescue humanity.  And Peter models for us the exact right response - to abandon our manmade protections and go to Jesus.

In the midst of racial strife and injustice in our country, we can find hope in a God who is impartially aware and moving to bring healing.  As the church, we should embody this as a way of life.

One of the earliest lessons Peter and the disciples learn from Jesus is how he prioritizes his time with the Father.  Even after a long and exhilarating day of ministry, Jesus retreats to meet with God showing the disciples (and us) the power of regular meetings with God to realign our identity, purpose and direction.

In Luke's gospel, Jesus' call of Peter is preceded by his miraculous catch of fish.  In this seeming intrusion of Jesus, we see Peter's process of embracing Jesus.  He defers which leads to worship.  And his worship enables him to follow Jesus.  Peter gave Jesus space to show himself and Jesus demonstrated his desire to grant him an abundant life.

To an exiled prophet and people, the vision of a valley of dry bones coming to life must have brought unthinkable hope.  And to those who have realized their brokenness and that of this world, the life that only Jesus can bring offers far greater hope, not just for the future, but also in the now.  In the footsteps of our king, we then move to proclaim and breath new life into this world.

The story of Esther reminds us that we all have a divine purpose and have been providentially placed by God.  So in this midst of a broken world, and now a community quarantined by pandemic, could it be that God has placed you in your spheres of influence for such a time as this?  You have a significant role to play!

Jeremiah's letter to the exiles was both good and bad news.  Seventy years of captivity, but even that could not rescind God's faithfulness.  His plan for them was a certain future and it brought with it resolute hope.  On the basis of this hope, the prophet tells the people to intentionally invest their lives, even while in exile.

The story of Joseph shows us two seemingly contradictory and yet equally true realities.  This world is broken and so there is pain and suffering.  But God is committed to restoring all things and therefore is working good in the midst of it.  As we face global pandemic, it causes us to ask real questions about God.  If we know him, it should also cause us to be looking for the good he might be working in the midst of it.