As I type this today, there are a multiplicity of happenings around the world that understandably might seem to dampen if not destroy hope! The conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine being two big examples.
What gives you hope?
I am guessing that if you are reading this, you have at least some openness about Christian faith? Even so, to mention the ‘church calendar’ might seem a huge step into irrelevance when it comes to hope and life in 2025. Yet there are two dates coming up which Christians see as offering much hope.
The first is Ascension Day. If you want a reference to look at from the Bible, then Acts 1:1-11 is a key place to read.
Jesus’ followers were shattered when he was killed and then astounded that he came through death. We read at the end of the Gospel accounts and in Acts of Jesus spending time with them. Yet there comes the day that he is
‘taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud him from their sight’
Acts 1:9 New International Version
What exactly they saw, we don’t know. But Jesus was no longer physically with them. After all that following they had done over 3 years plus. How now to live? How now to have hope in following a Messiah no longer seemingly present with them?
Yet in Acts 1, we read of two promises.
Firstly, that they would receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5,8) – God with them still, in them, working through them. They would not be abandoned to carrying on the message of Jesus on their own. Such a promise relates to the second date in the church calendar coming up – Pentecost (Feast of Weeks). This Jewish festival celebrated the beginning of the wheat harvest (and was 50 days after another festival celebrating the start of the barley harvest). This particular Pentecost day would mark the next stage in the message of hope in Jesus spreading out. It can be read in Acts 2 that
‘about three thousand were added to their number that day’
Acts 2:41 New International Version
I mentioned two promises in Acts 1, not just one. We can also read in the text:
‘This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven’
Acts 1:11 New International Version
Jesus was not disappearing into a void but in heaven. Okay, we can’t locate heaven on Google maps or any star chart – another dimension perhaps? (if that does not sound too sci-fi like!) The New Testament over and over speaks of heaven as a reality, of Christ’s rule from there and that one day he will return. I guess for those first believers they expected it in their life times or not long after – probably they would not have expected around 1970 years and counting to occur.
Yet all Jesus followers are called to live in the hope of Christ’s return – for a ‘new heaven and new earth’ as it is put in Revelation 21:1.
Wishful thinking? Detached from life now?
Christians would say not so. The hope in the message of Christ is not about escape from reality. People being impacted by Christ from what happened in the past (think of his life, death and resurrection) and the future (His one day return and the end of time as we presently experience it). Yet importantly in this time between Christ’s first coming and his final one, the Holy Spirit is active in this world – maybe in more ways than we can ever imagine. In a very real way, the Holy Spirit is present in those who are Jesus followers.
Of course, whether those of us who say we are Christians are being really open to the Holy Spirit’s guidance and leading is another question. Are we showing the love, peace, hope and life change there is in Christ? Honesty dictates to reflect that there have been some terrible things done – supposedly in the name of Jesus. Sadly that is still the case. And none of us who are Christians can claim to be perfect in our following of Christ.
This being said, I believe that Ascension and Pentecost are days of hope. Not just for those who see themselves connected with Christianity but for all on this planet – whatever background or creed. In fact dare I even sign off here by saying the message of Christ’s kingdom has the potential for positively impacting the rest of non-human life on the Earth and even the planet itself! I write this aware of the complexities and challenges that there are.
Is all of the above somewhat unhinged or just a pipedream? Or is there hope, real hope to be found in Jesus?
Thanks for reading,
Andy, 23 May 2025
PS On 1st and 8th June in our Sunday services I will speak about these two ‘Days of Hope’