Guest Preacher Brooks Simpson (Grace Community Church, North Liberty, IA) joins us with a message from Mark 11 on how Jesus is not the king we all want, but he is the king we need.
We often think about Jesus as a king, singing Christmas songs about the manger being his throne, etc. All of that is well and good and deserved. But Isaiah continues to refer to him as a servant of the Lord; the one who will obey Yahweh and carry out his mission in the world.
In the middle of another election cycle here in the US of A, we are drawn to the candidates, looking for someone who is going to give us a quick fix to the complex issues of the nation. Isaiah speaks of a moment in history 2800 years ago, and only the names have changed.
Jesus' last move on earth was to commission his disciples and then ascend back into heaven – which is where? Where did he go? Did he change forms and become spirit again? Did he ascend up through the clouds, the atmosphere, into outer space? No and no.
How do you interpret the world you see on the news and on social media? Would you say that it is all under the loving control of an all-powerful God? It sure seems like whoever is calling the shots is anything but "good" or "holy" or "right." If we go to the news media for answers to this question, there's a good chance we'll end up angry, anxious, and probably very judgmental. If we go to the Bible for answers, we'll find that things aren't always as they seem.
No matter what hardship you might face tomorrow, when you feel like God has moved – you’re right. But the resurrection proves he hasn’t moved away from you; he’s moved TO you!