Introduction:

For the last few weeks we have been preparing for Easter by looking at three back-to-back episodes recorded in the Gospel of John. We have considered Caiaphas’ confession that Jesus is our Substitute, Mary anointing Jesus for burial, and Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. And now, here we are Resurrection Sunday 2020. Of course, no one ever thought we would be celebrating Easter like this but the fact is still the same. “He is risen! He is risen indeed!”

Even though we are worshipping separately from of homes, I want to invite you to participate in our #Join the Easter Sunday Experience. For those who have not participated we are asking everyone to get a piece of paper or poster board and write “He is Risen.” You can make it a family activity by drawing or pasting pictures of an empty tomb, a cross, or Easter lilies on it. Or produce something on you computer. Place the drawing on your front door, take a picture with your family standing in front of your picture and send it to me. Brian@chirstcovenant.cc I will make sure we post it on Christ Covenant’s Facebook. The Easter Sunday Experience is a way we can worship together while being apart.

This morning is Resurrection Sunday. The resurrection of Christ brings clarity to the biblical doctrine of the resurrection. Believers throughout the ages, even before Christ, have clung to the reality of the resurrection. Jesus’ words to Martha have been a constant source of comfort and clarity for my life. Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” (Jn.11.25-26) Our eternal destiny hinges on how we answer Jesus’ question. Do you believe this?

Do you believe that Jesus is the resurrection and the life? Do you believe that Christ’s resurrection was the victorious event that triumphed over the power of death? Do you believe that death is swallowed up in Christ’s victory? Can you say, “O death, where is your victory? O death where is your string? Do you believe that because Christ rose victorious on that first Easter Sunday we can confidently say, “Thanks be to God that gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (ICor.12.55-57)

As I faced the passing of my mother and my father I knew that death was not going to claim victory because their hope was in the resurrected Christ. As I have ministered to many facing death throughout my ministry I could tell them the good news of the resurrected Christ and plead with them to place their hope in Christ and the power of the resurrection. I have personally discovered that the truth of the resurrection brings comfort to the grieving, confidence to the sick, and consolation to those experiencing life’s uncertainties.

This morning I want us to consider one of the oldest confessions concerning the truth of the resurrection. It comes from the book of Job, one of the oldest books if not the oldest book in the Bible. And it comes from the lips of Job himself. Even though it would be centuries until the victory of Christ’s resurrection would be unfolded on the pages of history, the Lord gave Job a stern confidence that his Redeemer lives and even after his skin is destroyed he would see God.

Here now the Word of God from the book of Job.19.23-27: “Oh, that my words were recorded, that they were written on a scroll, that they were inscribed with an iron tool on lead, or engraved in rock forever! I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see Him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!

Months of Misery

We are introduced to Job in the first chapter of his book. Job was a godly man and together with his wife enjoyed a great relationship with their 10 adult children. Job was very wealthy and admired by people throughout the region. (1.1-5) But through a series of devastating events Job lost all of his possessions by foreign invasions, all of his children were killed by a great windstorm, and Job developed a serious skin disease and debilitating illness that threatened his life. And if all that wasn’t bad enough Job’s wife walks out on him leaving him to suffer alone. (1.13-19, 2.7-10) Any one of these things has the potential to take us down a dark path and turn our backs on God. But the Bible tells us that through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God. (1.22)

Job’s misery dragged on for months. Brothers and sisters, I know that we are experiencing a time of misery and some have experienced it far worst than others. But we must seek the Lord to renew our strength and fortify our faith. We cannot allow extreme circumstances to drain our faith. We know the Bible tells us that after we have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish us. (IPt.5.10)

As you read the book of Job you will see that criticism from his so-called friends and the duration of his disease almost defeated Job’s stand of faith. Job is not a superhero with supernatural strength. He was an ordinary guy like you and me. Job sought the Lord during theses months of misery to renew his strength and fortify his faith. Throughout his time of trial Job makes strong declarations of faith like, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
And naked I shall return there.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away.
Blessed be the name of the Lord.” (1.21) Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?” (2.10) Though He slay me,
I will hope in Him. (13.15a) My advocate is on high. My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God. (16.19-22 NIV) But there is no stronger declaration of faith as is found in chapter 19 when Job declares, I know that my Redeemer lives!

I Know My Redeemer Lives

Job wants his words of faith written in a book. No! Having them written in a book is not good enough. Job wants his words of faith engraved on lead. No, No, No even better than that Job wants his words of faith memorialized by etching them into a stone monument. And what does Job want the world to know? He wants to tell the world for centuries to come that after months of misery he knows for certain that his Redeemer lives and at the last His Redeemer will take His stand on the earth.

Job wants the world to know that his faith rests in his Redeemer (Hebrew go’el).

The Bible identifies a redeemer as a close relative that comes to the rescue to protect his family from physical and economic harm. (Lev.25.25) While most of the time the redeemer is an individual (like Boaz with Ruth), the Lord declares through the Prophet Isaiah that He is our Redeemer. “Do not fear, . . . I will help you,” declares the Lord, “and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel. (Is.41.14) “Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: ‘I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God besides Me.” (Is.44.6)

Notice that Job has a personal relationship with his Redeemer. Job says, “My Redeemer,” not some abstract deity that is aloof and far off. No! He is my Redeemer! My Redeemer cares for me and knows me personally. He walks with me and talks with me and tells me that I am His own. Brother and sisters, our elder brother, Jesus Christ, is our Redeemer sent by the Father to care for us spiritually, physically, and to carry us through any calamity that comes upon us. Our Redeemer desires to have a personal relationship with us. He desires for you to say, I know that my Redeemer lives!

Job’s faith rests in his Redeemer that sovereignly rules and reigns above all the misery on earth. Job’s faith resides in his Redeemer who on the last day will take His stand above the earth putting all things in subjection under His feet. Job’s faith moves him beyond his present circumstances to see a future beyond the grave. Job knows that eventually his skin will be destroyed but he also knows that he will eventually receive a resurrected and glorified body. Job knows that he will see God with his own eyes. And God will not be an angry judge but a loving Redeemer. Job’s faith caused him to rise above his current misery of death and darkness to yearn for a resurrected body to enjoy eternal life and light with his blessed Redeemer.

Job’s confession of faith reminds me of God’s inspired words to the Apostle Paul saying, “Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2Cor.4.16-18)

And the Lord desires to work faith in your heart as He did for Job. The Lord desires for your faith to rest your Redeemer that sovereignly rules and reigns above all the misery on earth. Do you believe that? The Lord desires that your faith would reside in your Redeemer who on the last day will take His stand above the earth. Do you believe that? The Lord desires that your faith would move beyond the present circumstances to see a future beyond the miseries of this world. Do you believe Jesus is resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?

Closing Thoughts

Even though it would be centuries until Christ would rise victorious over the grave it seems that Job looked forward in faith to resurrection of Christ. It seems that Job understood that if Christ, our Redeemer, had not been raised then our faith is worthless. (2Cor.15.17a)

Job wanted his words recorded in a book and they were! Job’s words were recorded in the greatest book of all history – God’s Word – the Bible. And what did Job want the world to know? He wants us to know even though you might be experiencing months of misery never lose faith in the reality that Our Redeemer lives. This morning I want to call us as God’s people to have yearning hearts for the reality of the resurrection of Christ. I want to call us to have yearning hearts for the truth that even through our skin is destroyed yet we will see God!

This morning I want to challenge to embrace the truth of the resurrection. If you are grieving over the lost of a loved one today the truth of the resurrection can bring comfort because we do not grieve like the rest who have no hope but believe that Jesus died and rose again. (IThes.413-14) If you are sick today the truth of the resurrection can bring you confidence to say that even if your outer man is decaying one day you will see God. If you are anxious about life’s uncertainties the truth of the resurrection can bring consolation knowing that even though there is misery in this world our Redeemer lives!