The Parable of Jubilee Hope
Albert Bogle
August 05, 2016
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The last few days have seen an increasing public interest in the work of the Vine Trust. This has come about because of a STV documentary, made by award winning director Alex McCall. In it he highlights the breathtaking journey of Jubilee Hope, a small medical ship which made its way from the Clyde to Lake Victoria; crewed by a handful of determined mariners, many of them retired sea dogs.
There has been further interest in the story due to the release of the charity single entitled Jubilee Hope, which Iain Jamieson and myself recorded in collaboration with Wet Wet Wet guitarist Graeme Duffin. The song seeks to celebrate the shear "audacity of the hopefulness" of everyone involved, making an impossible dream come true.
The documentary only tells in part the story of how the Vine Trust re-furbished a Royal Navy Fleet tender into a well-equipped medical ship. There is another spiritual and humanitarian aspect to all of this which could be overlooked: the shared aspiration to transform the lives and communities of those who live in fear and despair into communities of hope and reconciliation.
The story could be interpreted as a modern day parable about the Kingdom of God. I guess that is what the lyrics from the Jubilee Hope anthem are suggesting. They remind all of us about the idea of "no more crying days". Some theologians will argue that a parable should have only one important point to make - if so, perhaps that is it?
For me, this parable speaks about the Kingdom of God on many different levels. It is a story that finally points to the ultimate purpose of the gospel (as Paul points out in his epistle to the Ephesians): to bring about health, healing and reconciliation of all things and people in order to fulfil the purposes of God.
It's a parable of how an instrument made to serve the purpose of war has been turned into an instrument of health, healing and reconciliation and is a signpost to a day when war will be no more, when swords will be beaten into ploughshares. Jubilee Hope is a symbol inviting us to consider the ultimate Salvation Day, mentioned in the Book of Revelation, when God will wipe away all tears from their eyes and there will be no more crying.
Until that day arrives, I pray Jubilee Hope will inspire more people to become involved in life changing activities. This surely must be what Sanctuary First is about? We want to connect with those who have given up on church but not on the theology of redemption.
Sanctuary First must be a church without walls: a community that is open and welcoming, inviting everyone to get onboard. It is only when people get involved and begin to serve others, not counting the cost to themselves, that they become participants in the theology of redemption. There is an interesting passage in Paul's letter to the Philippians where he, in passing, refers to longing to enter into the fellowship of Christ's suffering (Philippians 3.10). We already know we cannot save ourselves through chalking up good works on the board of faith but our actions can and surely must be our generous response to God for the grace we have received at his hand.
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