Title The Greatest Promise/Mark 14:42-49
Content - The greatest promise -
Mark 14:42 49
There is a saying, "There are people who walk on people who creep, people who jump on people who walk, and people who fly on people who jump". But I have another person above the person. That person is me and you. Because we are people with God.
Joseph, who was hated by his brothers at the age of 17 and sold as a slave to Potiphar's house in Egypt, was able to become the prime minister of Egypt because "the Lord was with Joseph" (Genesis 39:2). Even if all circumstances are unfavorable and difficult, if God is with us, we can experience the work that transcends human plans and abilities. In today's text, Jesus is speaking to the disciples who are not ready at all. "Get up. Let's go together!" Therefore, this word is a wonderful grace and blessing for us.
First, this road is the road of suffering that bears the cross. The Lord has called the unprepared disciples to go together on the path for the salvation of mankind. It is indescribably a great honor and blessing to call us, who live according to the flesh of the flesh and the lusts of the eyes, to participate in the great work for the kingdom of God and righteousness.
Our church, which has celebrated its 103rd anniversary, still lacks in fulfilling God's precious mission in this age, but the Lord has called us to the glorious work of building the kingdom of God.
Simon of Cyrene was forced to bear the cross, and his family became a family that played a pivotal role in the early church. The conditions are not sufficient, but the Lord wants us to participate in the path of the glorious mission, says the Lord. "Get up, let's go together!"
Second, this way is the way of the resurrection of glory. The cross does not end with the cross. The Lord who bore the cross welcomed a new morning of resurrection. We all live with the hope of the glory of the Lord's resurrection. The writer of Hebrews says: "Let us look to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2)."
The Lord, who went on the way of the cross while looking at the joy ahead, the resurrection of glory, called us to go together on this path of hope of glory.
Third, this work is done by the Holy Spirit. The way the Lord asks us to go together is the way of the cross that we cannot go unless we take up the cross. However, the path is not the only path of anguish that we have to go through on our own. The Holy Spirit, our eternal Counselor, is always with us. is the way of life That is why there are incredible blessings for those who accompany us on the road the Lord is going with.
Fourth, we need two elements in our faith on this path.
One is that we acknowledge the Lord. Where is the God you believe in now? Whenever I need it, if I pray earnestly, he comes to me at that time, and when my prayers run out, he leaves me again, and I am alone like an orphan. Jesus is always with us in spirit. Therefore, we can live boldly and enjoy peace in any situation.
The other is to believe that God is on our side. As Lincoln confessed, "My only concern is whether I am on the side of God. As long as we stand toward God, God is always on our side." We must confess that He is the Lord who does not easily forsake us or leave us, but is always with us, enlightening us, helping us to repent, and being on our side.
"Get up. Let's go together!"
This statement is not just a suggestion. It's a great promise. Today is Palm Sunday and the 103rd anniversary of the Lord's great promise to our church. We still lack everything, but we can go if God is with us. The way of the cross, the way of the resurrection of glory, and the way of the mission with the Holy Spirit, we do not say to ourselves, "Get up. Let's go together!" you do Don't wander alone as a loner, but let's all rise up toward our mission as the central church in Korea and go with the Lord. Amen.