Words of Hope

A Word Study on the Biblical Word "Hope"

Study #48 - The Messianic Hope (Part III)

As we continue our study of the Messianic Hope that existed among the Jewish people prior to the birth of the Lord Jesus we must acknowledge that not every Jew had a proper understanding of the true nature or purpose of the Messiah's coming.  Even among those who held to the hope of a personal Messiah sent from God, there were many who envisioned the Messiah in a political context rather than a spiritual one.  It was their "hope" that the Messiah would overthrow the dominion of Rome and exalt the nation of Israel as chief among the nations of the world.  Such were the Zealots who were ready to take up arms against Rome, and such were many of the common people who sought to make Jesus their king "by force".  But thankfully there were others who realized that the greatest bondage and enslavement the people faced was not the dominion of a foreign power, but the dominion of sin!  It was just such righteous believers who longed for a Messiah who would "save His people from their sins" that recognized the Lord Jesus as the LORD'S CHRIST (the Anointed One or Messiah).  Thus Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, exclaimed: "We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ ... and he brought him to Jesus" (John 1:41,42).  Likewise, even the Samaritan woman confessed: "I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ". To which words Jesus replied, "I that speak unto thee am he" (John 4:25,26).  With her new found faith in the Messiah, this woman quickly brought others to Jesus who also confessed Him as the Christ:  "Now we believe ... and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world" (John 4:42).  For many such persons their former hope in a coming Messiah became saving faith and trust in the Messiah who had indeed come!  The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, addresses such persons and includes himself among them as those "who first trusted in Christ" (Ephesians 1:12).  Here the word translated in the King James Version as "first trusted" is the Greek word "proelpizo" meaning "to hope before" and is a compound form of the verb elpizo (to hope) with the prefix pro (before).   Marvin Vincent, in his Word Studies in the New Testament explains the meaning:  "We refers to Jewish Christians, and the verb describes their messianic hope before (pro) the advent of Christ....In Christ should be 'in the Christ,' as the subject of messianic expectation ... It is equivalent to in the Messiah" (original emphasis by Vincent).  Likewise the Pulpit Commentary states that this is "applicable to the Jewish Christians, who, through the promises given to the fathers, had seen Christ's day afar off, and had thus hoped in him" (emphasis mine).  This true Messianic hope that led to saving faith in the Lord Jesus as the promised Christ was also expressed in other terms by those that longed for the coming of the Messiah.  In our study of the Old Testament synonyms for the word "hope" we found that the concept of "hope" was often associated and expressed by the words "waiting" (yahal) and "watching" (sabar).  And so in the New Testament there were those who expressed their Messianic "hope" by the Greek word prosdekomai which is variously translated as "waiting" or "looking".  This word literally meant "to receive to one's self, to embrace, or to welcome," and thus came to be used to express personal expectation or longing.  It expresses a hope that consists of an eager anticipation!  Three such persons may be found in the Gospel of Luke:

1.  Simeon - the just and devout man who was assured by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ.  He was described as one who was "waiting for the consolation of Israel" (Luke 2:25).  He recognized the baby Jesus as the promised Messiah.

2.  Anna - the widow prophetess who served God with fastings and prayers night and day.  She witnessed Simeon's declaration concerning the infant Jesus and "spake of him (Jesus) to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem" (Luke 2:38).

3.  Joseph of Arimathea - The "secret" disciple of Jesus who came forward to claim the Lord's body for burial in his own unused tomb.  He was described as a good man and just "who also himself waited for the kingdom of God" (Luke 23:51).  

In these three individuals we find at least three aspects of the true Messianic hope:  The Messiah's comfort, The Messiah's redemption, and the Messiah's kingdom.  All three expectations were fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ, for He came to redeem the sinner from the guilt, bondage and penalty of sin; to announce comfort  to those He has redeemed by the ransom payment of His own blood; and to reign as King in the hearts of those brought into His eternal Kingdom! 

Come, Thou long expected Jesus, Born to set Thy people free;

From our fears and sins release us, Let us find our rest in Thee.

Israel's strength and consolation, Hope of all the earth Thou art;

Dear desire of every nation, Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver, Born a child, and yet a king;

Born to reign in us forever, Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.

By Thine own eternal Spirit Rule in all our hearts alone;

By Thine all sufficient merit Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

                                                                   (Charles Wesley)