FAITH WAITS FOR GOD’S PROMISES TO COME TO PASS

Habakkuk 1:1-11 taught us to believe that even when we can't see it, God is always working good. We believe he is up to something but his help never seems to come fast enough. God can do good, so why isn't he doing it now? This takes us into the tension of Habakkuk's second complaint. The prophet can’t fathom that God would use a nation as evil as the Chaldeans to bring forth justice and has a very limited sight of God’s work. God tells him that he is indeed working to bring justice, it’s just not as quickly as Habakkuk would like. It seems slow, but it will surely come, so he - and us - must wait for it, by faith. Faith not only believes when it cannot see, but it waits for God's promises to come to pass. 

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GOD IS GOOD

We begin our mini-series in the Book of Habakkuk. A book designed to encourage us when all we see is bad and it's hard to believe God is up to anything good. The book begins with the first of 2 cycles of Habakkuk’s complaint and God’s response. The prophet complains that God is not doing anything while injustice pervades the land of Judah. He sits idly by, and his law brings no benefit. God responds that he is doing something, though it’s hard to believe. He is sovereignly governing the nations, and will use the most evil among them to bring about his justice. 

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THE KING WHO WAS CRUCIFIED FOR SIN NOW LIVES

As Mark places the finishing touches upon his written portrait of Jesus, what does he want us to see? That Jesus is the Crucified and Risen King who goes before us to build his Kingdom. The King who was crucified for sin now lives and calls sinners to receive him. He’s welcoming former rebels into the Kingdom that he's building through what he's just accomplished on the cross. And we, to whom the answer to the question, "Who is Jesus?" has come, are sent out to "Go, tell" our neighbors the answer we've received (16:7). 

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ALL GOD REQUIRES IS THAT YOU BELIEVE

How do we respond to what Jesus did upon the cross? What must we do in order for everything he accomplished there to become ours? On Sunday, Senior Pastor, Eric Turbedsky from our sister church, Sovereign Grace Church of Orange, reminded us of the astonishing answer: nothing! Galatians 2:15-21 teaches us that Jesus has done everything we needed to do in order to be saved. In utter grace, he gives everything to those who don't deserve anything for nothing in return! We simply receive all he’s done by faith and faith alone.

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IN MY PLACE CONDEMNED HE STOOD

The night has passed and morning has come. Now, in the clear light of day, on that first Good Friday, we behold the awful sinfulness of man set side by side with the amazing love of the Savior. Jesus has already stood condemned before the Jewish Council, and now they bring him to stand trial before the Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate, in order for his execution to be achieved. At every turn, Jesus is shown to be innocent. So why did he stand trial? Why will he be sentenced to die? Because, Jesus stands trial for us, and as us. Listen to this past Sunday’s sermon and be amazed by the love of Jesus for you.

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ANSWERING THE BIGGEST QUESTION OF THE ENTIRE BOOK

In this text, Jesus is on trial...and so is everyone else. All the characters in the story are bearing witness to the reader, responding to the attorney’s question - as it were - “Now, in your own words, could you tell us just who this Jesus is?”

As we come to the end of the Gospel of Mark, this central question - the big question of the entire Book - is being answered. The Sanhedrin offers their answer. Peter offers his answer driven by fear. But Jesus answers truly and faithfully - for love of those He came to save. What’s your answer?

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HE REMAINS FAITHFUL EVEN WHEN WE ARE FAITHLESS

"The hour has come," (Mark 14:41). Judas the betrayer is at hand, and the Son of Man is seized by sinful hands. Every moment that follows is one that leads unalterably toward the cross. The cross which is simultaneously the greatest expression of God's faithfulness to his people and promises and the awful height of man's utter unfaithfulness to God. Every human character in this scene falls woefully short. Each person is either a horrific traitor, a coward, a false accuser or just bent on unjust violence. But Jesus? He remains in complete control. And He remains faithful.

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JESUS IN THE GARDEN, COMMITTING TO OBEY THE FATHER

Jesus and his disciples came to the Garden of Gethsemane, taking one step closer to the cross. He enters into the Garden and endures a terrible torment. Asking if at all possible the cup he was about to drink would be removed from him. This close to the cross, Christ gazes into its horrors more clearly than ever before. Looking to the bottom of the cup of God's wrath and agonizing over the reality that he'd have to drink it down to its very dregs. He, "the beloved Son," in whom God has never been anything but "well-pleased," would experience his Father's holy displeasure toward sin. This wrestling in prayer concludes with the Son's complete expression of obedience to the Father's plan, "Yet not what I will, but what you will" (14:36). Yet, way before this text is applied to us as a reason to obey even when it's hard, and to honor God's will like Jesus, the point is that Jesus is in the Garden obeying because we'd disobeyed God.

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A MEAL THAT GROUNDS BELIEF IN REALITY

In Mk 14:12-26, Jesus gives his friends a meal that will teach them, remind them, and reassure them of what he's dying for. On that day when the Passover lambs were being sacrificed all throughout Jerusalem (14:12), the true Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world was preparing to offer his body and spill his blood to atone for his people's sin. Jesus took the Passover, said it was about him, and gave his people a meal so that we could remember his death and all it accomplished until we entered into the full experience of its blessings: face to face and raising a glass with the Son of God in his Kingdom fully come (14:25).

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GREEDY FOR JESUS OR MONEY?

The unnamed woman in Mark 14 who in other places is said to be Mary, the sister of Lazarus (Jn 12:3), prepares Jesus' body to be buried by anointing it with perfume. Her act of honoring Jesus through this costly sacrifice points forward to the worth of his coming sacrifice. While Mary's action shows that she has no greater treasure than Christ, this is not so with Judas. He looks "for worldly treasure, and forsakes the King of kings," as he conspires with Jesus' opponents to turn him over to them in exchange for money (and 30 pieces of silver at that! Not even half the price of the perfume). Mark intends for this to strike our hearts: what are you captivated by? Money and the things of this world? Or Jesus? Listen to Sunday’s sermon to learn more.

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