Manifesto of Hope

The Chinese New Year starts today.
The Year of the Dragon is seen by many Chinese as very hopeful, because the dragon, in Chinese mythology, is the creature that protects the vulnerable and needy. (How different from most European views of dragons!)
For those unable to help themselves, hope and rescue comes from a powerful creature who does for us what cannot be hoped for from 'normal' agents. In European thinking, such an agent was describes a 'deus ex machina', a god outside of normal human operation.
These days, some expect that politicians can be that figure - a Superman, able to sort out the mess. But we have mostly lost hope in politicians of all sorts, because our problems seem too deep for them.
When Jesus started his public ministry, he presented an amazing Manifesto of Hope, drawn from the prophet Isaiah. '“The Spirit of the LORD is upon me,
      for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.
   He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see,  that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the LORD’s favour has come.' (Luke 4.18-19)
I am reminded again that we are all in need of the help of Jesus. His life's work was to bring hope and change to those trapped by forces that are beyond their powers to deal with. Only this Saviour can rescue and redeem us. I need Him today as much as ever.
But so does everyone else that you or I meet today. May we have opportunity to point others to Jesus today.
Best wishes,
Richard