Hope at Home: He Is Promised
Christmas is approaching quickly, and in a world that often feels heavy, uncertain, and divided, we all need a fresh reminder of hope. Not the fragile kind of hope that depends on circumstances, positive thinking, or wishful optimism. Not the sort of hope that fades when the news cycle turns negative or when life becomes overwhelming.
Biblical hope is far stronger. Hope is the confident expectation that God will keep His promises. It is rooted in His unchanging character—His goodness, His faithfulness, His presence. Because God is faithful, we can trust Him. Because He is good, we can expect His goodness. Because He keeps His Word, we can believe Him even when our situation seems to say otherwise.
Hope is not an idea. Hope is not an emotion. Hope is not based on people, possessions, or politics. Hope is a Person—Jesus Christ, our Saviour, Redeemer, Healer, and soon-coming King. And the good news of Christmas is that this Hope came to make His home among us—and within us. This season, we want to experience Hope at Home.
Hope at Home: He Is Promised
Many people overlook the genealogy in Matthew 1, but it is actually essential to the Christmas story. Matthew writes to a Jewish audience who knew the ancient promises of a coming Messiah, yet many doubted that Jesus could truly be the One. So Matthew opens his Gospel by tracing Jesus’ family line—because the genealogy is not simply a list of names; it is a declaration of God’s faithfulness across generations.
This genealogy shows us how God kept His promise from the very beginning.
1. A Promise Made and a Promise Kept
The genealogy begins with Abraham—the man to whom God said, “Through you all nations will be blessed.” Jesus is the ultimate fulfilment of that blessing.
Isaac appears—the miracle child who foreshadowed the ultimate Son who would willingly give His life. Jacob appears—carrying the covenant God had spoken to Abraham. Judah appears—even though his story is messy, God promised that the royal line would come from his tribe, pointing to Jesus, the Lion of Judah.
Perez appears—his name meaning “breakthrough,” reminding us that God’s grace runs through the cracks of imperfect families and impossible situations. Boaz appears—the kinsman redeemer, pointing forward to Christ our Redeemer. Ruth appears—the foreigner welcomed into the people of God, reminding us that the family of God includes every nation, tribe, and tongue.
Then the genealogy reaches David—the shepherd boy turned king. God promised David that his throne would endure forever, and Jesus, the Son of David, fulfils that promise. Isaiah prophesied: “Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot… and the Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him.” That shoot, that branch, is Christ.
But from David onward, the story darkens. Solomon turns from God. The kingdom fractures. Some kings bring reform, others lead the nation into idolatry. Eventually judgment falls, and the people are taken into exile in Babylon—a moment that must have felt like the promise had died.
Yet the genealogy reminds us: even when people are unfaithful, God is faithful. Even when life takes a dark turn, the promise is still alive.
From exile the line continues through Zerubbabel—the rebuilder, who hints at the Greater Rebuilder who would come. Then comes 400 years of silence between the Old and New Testament. No prophets. No visible movement. No obvious signs of hope.
But God had not forgotten.
Then Matthew introduces Joseph—a righteous man from David’s line—and Mary, the young woman chosen to carry the fulfilment of all prophecy. The silence ends. The promise arrives. Jesus Christ steps into the world—a promise made and a promise kept.
2. A Promise Fulfilled
Matthew 1:18–25 tells us the supernatural and prophetic fulfilment of God’s promise.
The promise was fulfilled supernaturally
Mary conceived through the power of the Holy Spirit. The incarnation—God becoming human in Jesus—is the greatest reminder that God is not restricted by the natural. His promises are not limited by our understanding or our abilities. God moves in miraculous ways.
The promise was fulfilled obediently
Joseph, though confused and unsure, chose obedience. When the angel said, “Do not be afraid… name Him Jesus,”Joseph simply obeyed. God uses willing hearts to bring His promises to pass.
The promise was fulfilled legally, prophetically, and publicly
Jesus had to come through the royal line of David, and legally this happened through Joseph naming Him. In Jewish law, the father’s naming of the child established identity and inheritance. When Joseph said, “His name is Jesus,” prophecy was fulfilled, Heaven rejoiced, and Hell trembled. The One who would crush the serpent’s head had been named. Centuries of waiting had become reality.
Every covenant, every prophecy, every shadow in the Old Testament pointed to Him.
The promise was fulfilled in Christ.
3. The Promise Still Stands
The wonder of Christmas is not just that Jesus was promised or that Jesus was born—but that Jesus is still the same today.
Hebrews 13:8: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.”
If He saved then, He saves now.
If He healed then, He heals now.
If He fulfilled promises then, He fulfils promises now.
God has not stopped being faithful.
God has not stopped working.
God has not stopped keeping His Word.
Philippians 1:6 reminds us: “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.”
And the New Testament is full of promises God still speaks over His people today:
He promises the Holy Spirit.
He promises salvation and forgiveness.
He promises peace, rest, strength, guidance, and provision.
He promises to be with us always.
He promises eternal life.
He promises to return.
He promises to make all things new.
The promise still stands—and there is more to come.
Just as God carried His promise through Abraham, David, exile, silence, and centuries of waiting, He carries His promises over your life. What He has spoken, He will fulfil. What He has begun, He will complete. What He has declared, He will bring to pass.
This is why we celebrate Christmas:
The Promise Maker is the Promise Keeper.
Hope has come.
Hope is here.
Hope is at home.
Application Questions
- Where in your life are you most aware of your need for hope today?
- Which part of Jesus’ genealogy encourages you that God works through imperfect people and situations?
- What promise from Scripture do you need to hold on to this Christmas?
- How is God inviting you to respond in obedience, like Joseph?
- In what practical ways can you create “Hope at Home” for others this season?