COMFORT ONE ANOTHER
Mark 16:1-8
Here we are, on the Lord’s Day, when many on this day 2000 years ago, were still trying to make sense or recover from sadness to what was done three days earlier. We know this is true because the people on the road to Emmaus revealed their grief and confusion to the un-be seen resurrected Jesus, “That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, "What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?" And they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?" And he said to them, "What things?" And they said to him, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened.” Luke 24:13-21
Blinded with grief and sorrow, these two were unable to comfort one another. All these two could think about is that terrible event that happened three days earlier. But like them, and many others during this weekend! They forgot……. Jesus had to be forsaken by the Nations and this world system. Jesus had to take the place of the guilty (you and me, rebellious sinners). Jesus had to be forsaken and abandoned by the Father, as He poured out the cup of wrath on His only begotten Son. See Jesus had to say “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Matt 27:46. He said these words so that “we never have to” when we come to the end of this earthly life. Jesus had to declare to the world with His last breath “It is finished” See the story of Jesus doesn’t end at the cross….it only begins for you and me.
This was the
hope of Job, that His redeemer would be resurrected and redeems his lowly
state. “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last
he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in
my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall
behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!” Job 19:25-27
David desired to see that day be fulfilled for him “I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken. Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad; moreover my flesh also will rest in hope. For you will not leave my soul in Hades, nor will you allow your Holy One (Jesus) to see (undergo) corruption” Psalm 16:8-11. David had great hope and believed in the promises of God even before Christ was physically born. David believed in a real resurrection and this brought rest and joy to his heart.
See the resurrection……. Testifies to character of a holy God in His entire splendor, in all His glory. Seals the promise of His divine providence for redemption. Cries to the world “that all things are under His sovereign control and power.” And as Jesus ascended into the glory, two men encouraged the saints with this promise. “And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."
Acts 1:9-11
The Hebrew writer said this is why the fellowship of the saints is essential. “let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Heb 10:23-25. These were, and are still encouraging, comforting words, as we await that Day drawing closer and closer with each breathe.
Why did they need this encouragement? One could ask the question! Why were the disciples and the women who went the tomb so downcast? Jesus said numerous times during His ministry, “From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.” Matt 16:21. In John’s gospel we read, “Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." Then the Jews said, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?" But He was speaking of the temple of His body. Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said.” John 2:19-22.
Luke
9:22 it says,
"The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and
chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day." And in
Mark 10:33-34, Jesus said,
"Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed
to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and
deliver Him to the Gentiles; and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit
on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.
How could the disciples and the people who followed be so downcast on a glorious Sunday like this?Shouldn’t they have anticipated this moment with excitement?
The Roman guard who was there at death of Jesus, knew
something supernatural about who He was. “And Jesus uttered a loud cry
and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top
to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way
he breathed his last, he said, "Truly this man was the Son of
God!" Mark 15:38-39
What the angel said to the women at the empty tomb, was to remind them of what Jesus previously said. (v6-v7) So don’t waste time! Go and comfort the others with this glorious truth and make sure you tell Peter.
Why is Peter singled out?
If you turn back a few pages in your Bible, you will see why. Mark 14:66-72. In Luke’s gospel on Peter’s third denial of having any relationship with Jesus, it says this, “But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are talking about." And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, "Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly.” Luke 22:60-62
Why was Peter weeping after this encounter with the angry mob?
His resurrection was necessary for the fulfillment of Scripture. Luke 24:45-46
His resurrection was necessary for the forgiveness of sins. 1 Cor 15:17
His resurrection was necessary for our justification. Rom 4:25
His resurrection was necessary for our hope. 1 Cor 15:19
His resurrection was necessary for the truth of the gospel. 1 Cor 15:14-15
For the believer this morning this resurrection is an emblem of the new birth. “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:4. For the believer this morning this resurrection gives us an eternal hope that removes all our fear. “Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Cor 15:49-57
Jesus had to be crucified to please the Father. Jesus had to be the sacrifice for our reconciliation. Jesus had to complete His mission that the Father gave Him. Jesus had to defeat sin and death in order for us to have victory over sin and death. Jesus had to fulfill what Scripture said Him, “Truly this was the Son of God.” Mark 15:39. Jesus said these words to comfort His weary disciples, "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” John 14:1-3. We are to comfort one another with these promises, especially as we face, and live, amoung an evil world system. So, hang in there something better is coming! Can you imagine what it is going to be like to be basking in His glory for all eternity?
Voddie Baucham
reminded me of something this week in relation to our future hope. “We
are not just saved from the penalty of sin, were not just saved from the power
of sin, but one day were glorified, and saved from the very presence of sin.”
So
go and comfort one another
with these words
Remember!
He showed the greatest act of love by loving us first; “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we
have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also
obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in
hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings,
knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character,
and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's
love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given
to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the
ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a
good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were
still sinners, Christ died for us. Since,
therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved
by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled
to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we
be saved by his life. More than that,
we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”
Romans 5:1-11
Jesus Christ has Risen from the grave and defeated death for us! Christ is Risen are the most comforting words for me and you as we live for His glory and our good.
Comments