Hope has a name

I saw a Christmas movie this season, great music but it felt they added and changed the story under the line of creative license, I was annoyed.

Then I read this in a new translation I’m reading through that I’ve seen used a few times, coming out of Matthew 1: 18

Matthew 1:18-19

18 Here is the story of how the Chosen One was born: His mother, Bitter Tears (Mary), had been promised in marriage to He Gives Sons (Joseph). But before they came together in marriage, while still a virgin, she found out that she was carrying a baby in her womb from the Holy Spirit.

First Nations Version: An Indigenous Translation of the New Testament (Mt 1:18–19). (2021). IVP: An Imprint of InterVarsity Press.

Mary (ma’-ry) = Bitterness; rebellious; obstinate; (root = trouble; sorrow; disobedience; rebellion).

Smith, S., & Cornwall, J. (1998). In The exhaustive dictionary of Bible names (p. 167). Bridge-Logos.

Give birth to

Jesus (je’-zus) = Jehovah is salvation; Jehova, my salvation; Savior.

Joseph (jo’-zef) = May God add; he shall add; increasing; (root = to add).

Why is it that the Lord chose, Bitterness to give birth to Jehovah my salvation, mean while May God Add/increase, didn’t event have part in that increase.

Anna (an’-nah) = Grace.

Abigail #1 (ab’-e-gul) = Father of exultation; father of joy; cause of joy; the joy of my father; exultation; joy; gladness; my father is joy.

Eve (eev) = Life; life-giving; living; (root = to live; to prosper; to keep alive; to give life). Mother of all who have life.

Joanna (jo-an’-nah) = Jehovah has been gracious; Jehovah has shown favor; the LORD is grace; the LORD give graciously.11 

Ruth (rooth) = Beauty; something worth seeing;

Rachel (ra’-chel) = A ewe; a sheep;

Isaiah 7:14 (ESV): 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Immanuel, God with us. Holy God, All powerful God, Covenant Keep God, with us.

Isaiah 53:3-6

3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Is 53:3–6). (2016). Crossway Bibles.

by the Swedish preacher, Carl Boberg and translated by British minister/missionary, Stuart Hine

How Great Thou Art

… And when I think that God, His Son not sparing

Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in

That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing

He bled and died to take away my sin

… Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee

How great Thou art, how great Thou art

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee

How great Thou art, how great Thou art

Luke 2:34–35 (NLT)

34Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, and many others to rise. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. 

35As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.”

(2)

I was offended at the thought that Mary meant bitter,

That ‘s not who I imagined Mary to be.

I was offended that Joseph was not strong and decisive.

Not much different than the Pharisees offended that Jesus did not lead a revolt again the Roman occupiers,

He did not honor their efforts to stay ceremonially clean, but instead ate with tax collectors and sinners, healed on the Sabbath and lead people away from moralism, and into faith in Himself. for salvation.

Before encountering Christ, he considered himself blameless (Philippians 3:6). Years later, he'd describe himself as “the least of the apostles” (1 Corinthians 15:9). Some years after that, he'd call himself “the least of all the saints” (Ephesians 3:8) and “the worst of sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15)

1 Timothy 1:14–15 (ESV)

15The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.

(3)(Application)

Where are we Mary, bitter, rebellious, obstinate?

And the Lord is giving us an opportunity to surrender, believe God would fulfull what he has spoken?

Where are we Joseph?

We believe we are able to be fruitful, produce, bring increase, yet the Lord is asking you to humble yourself and support not what you are able to do, but what the Holy Spirit is doing through another.

Elizabeth spoke, filled with the Holy Spirit

Luke 1:42

“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

Her blessing was not because of her perfection, but God’s grace. the Father chose Mary, of the tribe of Judah, in the line of David, neither of which she could boast in.

Surely she was going to give birth to a son

Isaiah 9:6–7 (CSB)

6For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. 

7The dominion will be vast, and its prosperity will never end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from now on and forever. The zeal of the LORD of Armies will accomplish this.

In the same way, God works with and through a broken Israel, He works with and through a broken Gentile.

(4) This is the Mystery

the word Mystery is in the New Testament 21 times. Mostly used by Paul.

The Mystery is clear in Eph 3:6

Gentile (those other than Jews) are co-heirs with the Jews with Christ

Romans 11: don’t be ignorant of the Mystery,

Romans 16: to bring about the obedience of faith.

1 Cor 15: Mystery: we shall not all sleep but we shall all be changed, perishable for the imperishable.

Eph 1, 3,5,6

1:9 - to unite all things in him

3 - Gentiles are fellow heirs

5 - the image of the husband and wife is Christ and the church.

6 - proclaim the mystery of the Gospel.

Col 1, 2,4

1 - Christ in you (gentiles, ) the hope of glory

2 - God’s mystery is Christ

4 - pray we can declare the mystery of Christ

2 Thes 2 (lawlessness)

1 Tim 3 - elders must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience

Rev 1 - mystery of the 7 stars

Rev 10 - in the days of the 7th trumpet, the mystery of God would be fulfilled

Rev 17 - mystery of the woman, the beast.

They Mystery is Summarized in

Ephesians 3:6

6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

The more I lean into this mystery, the result amazes me. I have more peace, more love, more delight, more wonder and more humility.

I think back even a few years ago and think how I was so quick to recommend the habit I had started,, not knowing that in 6 months the Lord would lead me on to a new way of interacting with Him. Where the foundation of my life in Christ was not my routines, though I have some, but in my relationship with God the Father, through Jesus the Son, being led by the Holy Spirit.

My life is less about what I bring and more about that He holds me in his hands. And not just me, but everyone around me. He holds us in his hands. He holds the whole world in his hands. The older I get, I learn the Lord and his kingdom is not a mystery to figure out, but mystery to behold and as we behold him, we are transformed to look more like him.

(5) This Mystery beget hope for…

1 Peter 2:10 ESV

10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 11 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (1 Pe 2:10). (2016). Crossway Bibles.

We have hope, and that hope has a name. His name is Jesus.

He does miraculous things in and through our lives, not because of who we are, but because of who He is.

Phil 2:19

(WE have) Hope in Jesus to accomplish the work that is greater than us, that extends past us

1 Tim 1:1

Christ Jesus our hope in our calling

1 Thess 1:3

steadfastness of Hope producing thanksgiving to God from those that have invested in us.

2 Thess 2:16

Jesus is our hope, leading to comfort for hearts and the establishing of every good work and word.

Titus 2:13

Our blessed hope, the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ who gave himself for us to redeem us from all the lawlessness, and purifying for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

1 Peter 1:3

In Christ, we have a living hope through his resurrection,

1 Peter 1:13

(Because) our hope is set fully on the grace revealed at the revelation of Jesus.

(min 19)

The only thing that is attributed to Mary is she believed what the Angel said would come to pass.

Joseph was a good man deciding to put her away quietly.

Apart from that, It’s only assumption and traditions that cause us to lift up these people beyond us, to justify God’s use of them and not us.

Whether you were born a Mary, bitter, rebellious, yet the Lord called you and is equipping you,

or maybe you are Joseph, full of capability but God has called you to stand back and support the Work of God in another.

Maybe you are like Jesus, born to be a king, but in a season of submission.

Or maybe all three,

May we lean into the mystery,

Ephesians 5:8 ESV

8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light