It’s that time of the year again, and all of us at Hope Haven Rwanda want to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas!
In Rwanda this week, shouts of “Noheli Nziza” will be ringing around the neighborhood as people gather to celebrate. Enjoy this short video with a glimpse into a typical Rwandan Christmas celebration!
This is a super special week in our community because Hope Haven is delivering delicious, nutritious Christmas meals to our families too!
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward all” (Luke 2:14).
Emmanuel…
the answered prayer…
the Son is born…
God with us!
From His earliest moments in the manger to His triumphal entry, Jesus was misunderstood.
33 years after His miraculous birth, He was riding a donkey into Jerusalem, where He was welcomed as King. John 12:13 says that shouts filled the air:
“They were “shouting, “Hosanna!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Blessed is the king of Israel!”
Their cry was “Hosanna,” which literally means “Please deliver us!”
The Hebrew words ‘yasha’ (“deliver, save”) and ‘anna’ (“beg, beseech”) combine to form the word we recognize as “Hosanna.”
“Please deliver us!”
What were these crowds asking to be delivered from? What were they desperate for? They were desperate for a conquering King—an earthly king who would overthrow the oppressive Romans who walked the streets of Jerusalem like they owned the place. The Romans belittled, they cursed, they controlled, they oppressed and the residents were tired of it. Something had to change!
But, like so many times in our own lives, they were looking for a physical solution to a spiritual problem. Jesus wasn’t on this earth just for them—for that place, for that time—there was something MUCH bigger happening and most of them missed it.
And, sadly, if we are honest, we miss it too. So many people around us are looking for “their best life now,” instead of entering into the EPIC (Eternal Perspective in Christ) story that God offers us!
May this Christmas season be one filled with hope for you and your family!