By Faith Alone Podcast

What does it mean that Jesus ascended? I might seem as if Jesus went away from us. Far from it, the ascension means we have an advocate in heaven for us, one who is constantly interceding for us. And we are reminded through this message that Christ’s glorious body in heaven is a picture of longing that we have for our own glorious bodily resurrection.

In these chapters in the book of Job, God finally speaks. In a world that is full of talk, our response to God and his might should not be all about pushing our own way. With a mighty God we should realize our limitations and be silent. Christ is the one who reveals to us who God is in his mighty and power. He also shows us the way by silently submitting himself unto death. Praise God that we have this savior both mighty and humble!

Finally another friend, Elihu, who had been silent before, has a chance to speak. Our passage today teaches us to be careful in response to a holy God. We are called to holiness even in difficult times. God is a God of justice - he alone will make all things right. We are called to avail ourselves of the means of grace and wait on the justice of God. And we should endeavor to respond rightly to God.

Both Bildad and Job believe that God is mighty and awesome, but they have a very different attitude towards what that means. Bildad believes that because of God’s might, he is a God of enmity. Compared to God’s greatness, man is as worthless as a maggot. Yet Job sees this a bit differently. Job speaks even more about the greatness of God. And yet from the depths of the earth to the highest heaven, the creator God rules all things. At the same time, we are limited in our understanding of his ways.

There are many times in our lives when we have lost hope. We’ve been wronged. Our friends fight against us and are no help. Yet out of this arises a hidden hope that seems to come out of nowhere. Job expresses a profound faith in his redeemer, someone who will be his advocate. What we find in this message is that our hope is found in the living redeemer.

That early Sunday morning it was still dark. Mary and John and Peter witnessed the empty tomb. They didn’t understand it, but eventually they would know and believe. We, too, are called to witness the events of the resurrection, and go and tell the good news of the risen Christ.

Often we look for a king to fight our battles for us and win political victories. Yet what kind of King was Jesus? He wasn’t a military leader, but he was humble, and riding on a donkey. He is the King, and he calls us to be citizens of his kingdom, which is everlasting.

God certainly humbles his people, yet we don’t understand why. In the case of Job, his days were filled with trouble, and he seems to express nothing but despair. Yet even in this kind of humbling there is great hope. We are called to endure, just as Christ endured so that we might be saved.

What motivates us to continue each day? Even when we don’t understand God, we don’t know his ways, we should rest in the fact that we are known by God.

We have a God who is transcendent, who has an independent existence from the world. What Job needed, and what we need, is an advocate, someone who will come near and help us in our time of need.