Daily Readings (April 10-16)
Mon. Job 38:1–7 During the Creation
Tue. Job 38:8–18 Understand My Creation?
Wed. Job 42:1–6 I Repent
Thu. Job 42:10–17 Restored Twofold
Fri. Mark 16:1–8 He Is Not Here
Sat. Mark 16:9–14 Jesus Appears to His Disciples
Sun. Mark 16:15–20 Proclaim the Good News
Crucified and Risen
April 16, 2006
Lesson: Job 42:1-12; Mark 16:1-8
Key Verse: Mark 16:6
Introduction
The Psalmist had declared that his heart was glad, his glory rejoiced, and
his soul rested in hope (Ps. 16:9). The joy of the Christian’s assurance rests
in the Christ who took upon Himself our transgression, and therefore the eternal
punishment we deserved. Through Christ we have the gracious and assured hope of
the resurrection. Just as the Father did not leave the Son’s soul in the
grave, so will He not leave His children’s soul in the grave, those for whom
His Son died on Calvary’s Cross. ". . . for our life and soul is bound up
in Christ, specially in respect of that wherein he standeth in our room, such as
his suffering, rising, reigning, as our surety and attorney" (David
Dickson, Psalms).
Humility and Repentance (42:1-6)
Job speaks to his Lord, saying, "I know that thou canst do everything,
and that no thought can be withheld from thee." Faith is a gift of God
which reveals its conviction is the truth that it is God alone who can deliver
us from death to life. The Lord carries out His covenant promises, and there is
no authority in earth or heaven that circumvent His counsel or purpose. The
gates of hell will not prevail. His resurrection assured that promise. Humbly
Job comes before the Lord. He now knows that true judgment and counsel comes
from the Lord. He humility matches that of David. "Lord, my heart is not
haughty, nor mine eyes lofty; neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or
in things too high for me" (Ps. 131:1). True faith knows humility before
God, "O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. . . . For there is not a
word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether. . . . Such
knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it"
(Ps. 139:1-6).
In true humility and faith Job draws near to His Creator with repentance.
Repentance comes to the foreground when the Christian acknowledges his position
before his Creator and Redeemer. Job speaks to God with a new understanding and
knowledge. He entreats, begs God to hear him and speak to him, and so teach him,
declare the truth of which he has just tasted. Job had first heard with the ear,
now he has seen God with eyes of faith. To have ears to hear and eyes to see
bring the child of God into a glorious fellowship with God. For now the Spirit
of God is writing His Word upon the heart.
Job has had his ears and eyes opened by the Spirit, "Wherefore I abhor
myself, and repent in dust and ashes." Dust and ashes reveals the deep
sorrow and grief that Job felt. "In this new light he can no longer deceive
himself concerning God and concerning himself; the delusion of the conflict now
yields to the vision of the truth, and only penitential sorrow for his sin
toward God remains to him" (Keil & Delitzsch).
Discussion: Why are humility and repentance a natural part of the Christian’s
life?
God Loved Job (42:7-12)
Repentance follows the hearing of God’s Word, which has been received
through faith. Repentance is expressed, and reconciliation is achieved by the
grace of God. The Lord has freed the captive (42:10). And Job was blessed
twofold. Job’s brothers and sisters and friends came to eat with him in his
house. It is written that they "bemoaned him and comforted him over all the
evil that the Lord had brought upon him: and every man also gave him a piece of
money." God loved Job. Now that the time of affliction was over, God’s
love was shown through his family and friends. Comfort came from their hearts
and hands. Once they were afraid to look upon him, now they embraced him. Shall
we also show love to those who have passed through time of affliction or
persecution? Shall we be like the older brother, or like the father who prepared
a banquet for the one who was lost and is found? "So the Lord blessed the
latter end of Job more than his beginning." Blessings come to the Christian
as he or she learns the lesson of faith and obedience, and wisdom abides in
Christ alone. A commentary of Job may be, "Blessed is the man that maketh
the Lord his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to
lies" (Ps. 40:4). The new song is, "Praise ye the Lord. Blessed is the
man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments"
(Ps. 112:1).
Discussion: Why did Job receive such blessings from the Lord?
The Empty Tomb (16:1-8)
It pleased the Holy Spirit to write a historical account of the resurrection
of Christ the Son. The sun was rising on the first day of the week. Mary
Magdalen, and Mary, the mother of James, and Salome, came to the sepulchre,
bringing sweet spices for the anointing of the body of Jesus. They wondered who
would roll away the stone from the entrance of the tomb. As they came close to
the tomb, they saw that the great stone was already moved. The women entered the
tomb and saw a young man, clothed in a long white garment, sitting at the right
side, and they were afraid. The fear left their hearts when this messenger of
the Lord spoke to them, saying, "ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was
crucified: he is risen; he is not here," and he showed them the empty place
where he was laid. He commanded them to tell Jesus’ disciples, with a special
consideration of Peter, that Jesus had already gone into Galilee: "there
shall ye see him, as he said unto you." Quickly the women left the tomb,
trembling and amazed, afraid to say anything to any man. However, the Lord calms
the heart of His children by giving them an understanding of His power and
grace. Fear came to the women because of the wonder that filled their hearts. We
must be careful of how we witness to the glory of our majestic Lord, for we
speak of the divine things of heaven as we are taught them in God’s Divine
Scriptures.
The tomb was empty. It was empty so that our hearts and lives might be full.
We have a risen Savior who speaks to us today through His living Word. His words
are full of life as He teaches us, "These things have I spoken unto you,
that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full" (John
15:11). In our new birth Christ has come to us and received us to Himself. In
that day when we are called to our new resurrected life, He will embrace us with
the love which we only taste today. Two disciples had been walking with the
resurrected Christ on the road to Emmaus, when He had opened the Scriptures to
them. When He had left them, their response was, "Did not our heart burn
within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the
Scriptures?" When the Scriptures are opened to us by the Holy Spirit, then
our will hearts burn with the presence of our Savior and Lord. Our witness is
shallow if we only tell others about how we feel about the risen Lord. It is
when we proclaim the Gospel of Christ, His death and resurrection, according to
the Word of God, that its truth becomes efficacious in the lives of those whom
the Father loves.
Discussion: What does the resurrection of Christ mean to the preaching of His
Gospel?
