Joy to the WorldVoorbeeld

Hope in Him As we drove home from a Christmas party one evening, my family and I approached a small country church nestled between glittering snowbanks. From a distance, I could see its holiday display. Strings of white lights formed the capital letters: H-O-P-E. The sight of that word shining in the darkness reminded me that Jesus is, and always has been, the hope of humankind. Before Jesus was born, people hoped for the Messiah—the One who would shoulder their sin and intercede with God on their behalf (ISAIAH 53:12). They expected the Messiah to arrive through a virgin who would bear a son in Bethlehem and would name Him Immanuel, “God is with us” (7:14). The night Jesus was born, their hope was fulfilled (LUKE 2:1–14). Although we’re no longer waiting for Jesus in the form of an infant, He is still the source of our hope. We watch for His second coming (MATTHEW 24:30); we anticipate the heavenly home He is preparing for us (JOHN 14:2); and we dream of living with Him in His celestial city (1 THESSALONIANS 4:16). As Christians, we can look forward to the future because the baby in the manger was, and still is, “our Savior and Christ Jesus, who gives us hope” (1 TIMOTHY 1:1). JENNIFER BENSON SCHULDT The key word of Christmas is “Immanuel”—God with us!