This post is Day 19 in a series of studies about “Hope”. I strongly suggest you begin with the introduction to this study, please click here to read it.

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Hope – Day 19

Herod had misunderstood Jesus, and the reason He came to earth. Sadly there are still people today who do not fully understand the reason Jesus came and all He did while visiting earth. Jesus never performed signs to entertain the crowds. That was not His reason for being alive here.

Luke 23:8

When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see Him. From what he had heard about Him, he hoped to see Him perform a sign of some sort.

The Thought

Herod had completely misunderstood the personality of Jesus, and the reason He had come to earth. Sadly there are still many people today who don’t fully understand the reason Jesus came and all He did while visiting earth. Jesus never performed signs to entertain the crowds. That was not His reason for being alive here.

Many of the people who went to see Him were interested in miracles, and it is noted that in His home town of Nazareth, Jesus couldn’t do many miracles because of their lack of faith (Mark 6:5-6). Herod was no different to those people. He had hope, but for the wrong reasons, and he didn’t have any faith at all!

Sadly there are many people like that today. They go to church when they want God to do something for them. They will tell Him, and others that they haven’t been a bad person, and try to bargain with The Lord to get His response. Jesus didn’t respond to Herod (Luke 23:9), and He doesn’t respond to those people either.

Action

Think today about what you hope Jesus will do for you and those you care for. Are your hopes based on what you have read about Him or heard that He has done for others? Or are they based on a real faith in who Jesus is and why He died for each one of us?

Often we do not receive because we do not ask, or we ask for the wrong reasons, or without faith.

Pray that this year will be a year of increase in your faith and hope in The Living Lord Jesus. Pray the same for those you care for.

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