Hope Has a Name and it is JESUS

December 2021

You don’t have to look far these days to recognize the greater majority of us are seeking to establish who we are, why we are and where we are. There is an inside jigsaw of emotions that fight for supremacy in our thoughts. These emotions are fuelled by comparison, by modern pursuit of bigger and better things and options and the overabundance of social media and promotion of something new to achieve or accept.

In 1943, well renowned psychologist, Abraham Maslow, established 5 basic needs of the human person.

Beginning with physiological needs of health, food, water, warmth, rest and reproducibility – the basics.

Then safety needs of security and protection of this basic person. Next he showed that belonging and experiencing intimate relationships and friendship and acceptance was essential for the well-being of all humans. From that foundation all humans can reach out to explore the environment around them seeking a feeling of accomplishment and prestige and self-value. These combine to provide a springboard for us to seek to achieve our full potential of expression and creativity and valued contribution.

Some years of experience later, Maslow added a sixth level of Transcendence through philosophy or religion. He found that the fullest realization of a person’s potential was fulfilled by giving oneself to something beyond oneself. A quote from one of his books explains "Transcendence refers to the very highest and most inclusive or holistic levels of human consciousness, behaving and relating, as ends rather than means, to oneself, to significant others, to human beings in general, to other species, to nature, and to the cosmos".

Here we are at the month of December! In North America the frenzy of Black Friday and Cyber Monday turns our focus to acquiring the latest or the cheapest gadget or highly promoted essential at a price declared to be ‘rock bottom’ so we can have the best Christmas. But if we are honest with ourselves, we will admit that the expenditure adds to our already stressed well-being. Our desire to be loved by the recipient of that amazing gift is high on our list of desire but we know in a week or so they will have moved on to the next new thing.

The answer to that nag in our heart for a reason to hope for satisfaction of these six basic needs is to explore number six. Christmas gives us the hint. This special time each year that springs from the celebration of God coming to earth in the form of a baby. His name is Jesus. The Old Testament in the Bible contains more than 50 prophecies that Jesus would come to be the Messiah.

The actual date is disputed but the purpose of Christmas is not a birthday but a recognition of God’s great gift of hope. Jesus, the baby born to die at Calvary and as the Son of Man he satisfied the just demands of His Father by taking the punishment for all sin and providing a way of reconciliation between sinful humankind and their loving Heavenly Father. Jesus described himself as The Way; The Door; The Truth; The Life. He is the fullness of Hope. The word ‘hope’ in the Bible refers to the confident expectation of what God has promised and the strength lies in His faithfulness to fulfill every word of His Promise.

This December start with #6 – Transcendence through Jesus. Seek Him and be confident that He will supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19), He has appointed His angels to watch over you (Psalm 91): He is a friend who sticks closer than a brother and He will never leave you or forsake you (Matthew 28:20); He has taken you from the kingdom of darkness and despair and brought you into His kingdom of life through Christ Jesus (Colossians 1:13) and sent the Holy Spirit to live within you to teach you, lead you and guide you to be the best version of you that you can be (John 16:13).

HOPE has a Name and that name is JESUS!

David and Cherie Rodway