19th December 2024
The cross of hope
“…‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!”
Revelation 21:4-5 (NIV)
On the evening of 15th April 2019, the people of Paris stood in horror, watching their beloved Cathedral Notre Dame engulfed in flames. Many of us, as we watched those awful pictures relayed around the world on our TV screens, in our hearts stood with the citizens of France on that fateful evening. Some 400 firefighters tackled the blaze, struggling to get it under control and then, with no alternatives left, some of them entered the building not knowing if they would come out alive. It has been said they came within 15 to 30 minutes of losing the whole cathedral that night but thankfully no one was killed.
The papers the following day ran with the iconic but horrific image of the collapsing spire and flames reaching up into the sky. And yet another image, even more striking, emerged taken from inside the cathedral. It showed the charred remains of the fallen roof and debris and gave some feeling of the horror of that night. But amongst the devastation at the back stood the golden brass cross upon the remains of the altar, thankfully preserved. It shone out in the gloom as a symbol of defiance and a beacon of hope.
Last week that hope was finally realised and after 5 years of painstaking reconstruction, a restored Notre Dame rose from the ashes. The pictures released show a bright clean restored building, a beautiful sacred space. The hope symbolised by that cross has now become a reality.
For Christians around the world, that same cross of Jesus Christ is the hope by which we live our lives. Even though many of us live alongside others in darkness and fear, that hope – like the cross in Notre Dame – shines out in our lives, a witness to our salvation in Jesus, and it points forward to a time of future restoration and renewal for all peoples.
At this time of year, Christianity celebrates Advent, a season of waiting and coming. The focus is certainly around the coming of Jesus 2000 years ago, but it also points forward to the return of Jesus Christ. That time too will be an event of breathtaking transformation and restoration, when the old order of darkness, suffering, and fear will be replaced by a new creation: a time of peace and joy. This is the reality of that future hope through the cross of Jesus Christ.
Prayer
Father, we live in a world that is increasingly marred by war, injustice, and suffering. It seems to all of us at times it is becoming a dark place and yet we know it will not always be so. The life, death and resurrection of your son Jesus Christ brings us hope. We thank you that he will come again to restore and make all things new. Jesus come quickly. In his name we pray. Amen.
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Study by: John Gent About the author: |
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Local congregation:
Nottingham Grace Communion
Lucy Brown Hall
Attenborough Lane
Beeston
Nottingham
NG9 6AB
Meeting time:
Sunday 11.30 am
Local congregational contact:
Richard WhiteEmail: nottingham@gracecom.church
Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church