There is hope for the world

By Mike Davies

Inspirational Church, Okehampton

'UNTO us a child is born; unto us a son is given; and the Government shall be upon his shoulders.'

Looking at the world news it is evident that there are global problems relating to power, finance, and humanity as a whole.

The whole world is hungry for hope but what is the solution?

The child (Jesus) would be born in Bethlehem, a child from David's line was to be king, a king of the earth itself.

The world in which Jesus was born was one where the rich get richer at the expense of the poor.

In 2,000 years — not much has changed.

The Gospel accounts tell of a different kingdom with a different kind of king. Jesus came to establish God's justice and peace on the earth.

Christmas is about the coming of the world's true king, the one who would establish justice and judgment in the earth.

The story the gospels tell is about this child growing up and starting to put God's kingdom into operation.

Within the gospels, Jesus grows and sets to work, dealing with individuals and confronting the structures which had enslaved them. Jesus walked through Galilee feeding the hungry, healing the sick, rescuing people and restoring creation itself.

'The government shall be upon his shoulders': that is the good news of the gospel. But the way Jesus Christ brings his authority is through the healing and renewal of individual persons, calling them as he called his first followers to a task of working as his followers, helping establish his kingdom for real people in the real world.

With the story of the Christ-child in our hearts, and with Jesus giving us strength and direction, Christians are called to be kingdom-bringers in whatever sphere they can.

There is a hope for a world in crisis and his name is Jesus.