The Way to Jesus

John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness,

proclaiming a baptism of repentance

for the forgiveness of sins.

from Mark 1:1-8

Hope is a powerful force.

The hope of a coming Messiah led John the Baptizer from the wilderness, to the river, and calling for repentance.

The hope of justice in 1952 inspired Private Sarah K. Evans on her way home from her first military assignment, to refuse to move to the back of the bus.

The hope of Sojourner Truth and Harriet Tubman encouraged, a black teenager, Claudette Colvin, in 1955 to refuse to surrender her bus seat to a white person resulting in being handcuffed and arrested.

The Hope in the Civil Rights Movement prompted Rosa Parks to refuse giving up her seat in the "colored" section of the bus when the "white" section was filled.

Hope a better life drives migrants from Venezuela.

The hope of a future prophetic voice led me to baptized Phoebe Kim, my Pastor's daughter.

Hope is a powerful force based on Scripture.

Hebrews 11:1, 8-22, for example, describes Abraham’s faith in trusting God's goodness and ability to deliver on the promises God had made.

Hope is the way to Jesus when we feel the darkness of life hiding the way to Jesus.

Blind Bartimaeus discovered the light of Jesus when he cried out for healing, “Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me.”

When we look at the violent, chaotic world around and within us and wonder about a way to Jesus, with the hope of Bartimaeus, we can call out “Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us”

Think about it: In this season of holiday preparation, how do you slow down and look for a way to Jesus?