Sun Jan 05 06:25:21 UTC 2025: ## Palestinian Pastor’s Christmas Sermon Offers Hope Amidst Ongoing Genocide
**BETHLEHEM** – Amidst the ongoing violence against Palestinians, a Christmas sermon by Reverend Munther Isaac, a Palestinian Christian pastor and theologian, has offered a message of hope and resilience. The sermon, delivered in Bethlehem, served as a powerful indictment of the architects of what the author describes as a Palestinian genocide, while simultaneously urging listeners not to abandon hope.
The author, deeply affected by the daily reports of violence and suffering, initially found the pastor’s message of hope unrealistic. However, Reverend Isaac’s powerful words, comparing the suffering of Palestinians to that of Christ, resonated deeply. He highlighted the enduring resilience of the Palestinian people, citing the work of doctors, medics, nurses, first responders, teachers, and musicians who continue to serve their communities despite the ongoing hardship.
The pastor’s sermon emphasized the importance of continued resistance, not through violence, but through unwavering hope for a future free from oppression. He decried the international community’s inaction, noting the complicity of those who applaud the perpetrators of violence while lecturing Palestinians on human rights. He stressed the need for accountability for the “war criminals” responsible for the atrocities and the importance of bearing witness to the ongoing suffering.
Reverend Isaac’s message ended with a powerful reminder that even amidst the devastation, hope remains. Drawing parallels to the eventual downfall of oppressive regimes in history, he asserted that the current violence will eventually end, urging listeners not to succumb to apathy or despair. His words, the author concludes, offered a glimmer of hope, a testament to the enduring spirit of the Palestinian people, and a renewed sense of purpose in the face of unimaginable suffering.
First Piper 