The Great Rescue

We read from the OT book of Esther. ~470 years before Jesus was born, God’s people were in danger. Haman convinced King Xerxes, ruler of the Persian Empire, to destroy the Jews.

It happened while many Jews still lived in exile in Susa: far from the Promised Land and far from God’s house: the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem. At times it felt like God was far away too.

But feelings aren’t always reliable. As GEMS you have talked about God. In your Bible studies you’ve seen how:

· God is King

· God is our deliverer

· God is trustworthy

· God is always near

· God is with you wherever you go!

Queen Esther learned all this growing up in Uncle Mordecai’s house. Esther’s parents died while she was young, so Uncle Mordecai took her in. In her uncle’s house, Esther learned from the Bible that God is trustworthy. God is always near to Adam & Eve, Noah & his wife, Abraham & Sarah, Aaron, Miriam, and Moses, Hannah and her son Samuel, and K. David.

Queen Esther learned the spiritual discipline of fasting. Did you notice that, as Esther made plans to appeal to King Xerxes to prevent Haman killing the Jews, she asked Uncle Mordecai to fast with her. Why?

Maybe you have Muslim friends who fast during Ramadan. Esther’s fast is similar but different. Esther and Mordecai fasted day & night to talk to God about a specific problem.

You don’t often hear about Christians fasting. Perhaps Chr. should fast more often. Or perhaps you don’t hear about fasting b/c Jesus taught his disciples not to draw attention to their fasting. In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus said:

“When you go without eating, do not look gloomy like those who only pretend to be holy. They make their faces very sad. They want to show people they are fasting. What I’m about to tell you is true. They have received their complete reward.

“But when you go without eating, put olive oil on your head. Wash your face. Then others will not know that you are fasting. Only your Father, who can’t be seen, will know it. He will reward you. Your Father sees what is done secretly. Matthew 6:16–18 (NIrV)

Why fast? Isn’t it uncomfortable?

Fasting make you hungry. Instead of eating and satisfying your hunger, you talk to God and read God’s word in the Bible. Your hunger for food echoes your hunger for God. It helps you get focused. It’s powerful.

Esther, as a book of the Bible, is unique b/c God is not mentioned by name. Esther 1-10, God’s name doesn’t appear once. But when Esther and Mordecai fast, they show their dependence on God. Their fast is an appeal for God to intervene. Fasting shows that Esther and Mordecai are convinced that God is King, he’s the deliverer, he’s trustworthy, and God is always near, wherever they go.

Esther’s behaviour also points ahead to our Saviour Jesus Christ. There’s a reason she’s famous: she’s a heroic deliverer! Esther’s actions point ahead to Jesus the ultimate deliverer.

When Esther mentioned going to King Xerxes w/o permission, she said, “If I die, I die.” It’s dramatic and real. Esther risks death. She’s willing to lay down her life to save her people.

Do you know what Jesus said in the gospel of John?

No one has greater love

than the one who gives his life for his friends. John 15:13 (NIrV)

Esther was willing to die in her attempt to rescue her people.

The danger is real. Haman had permission from King Xerxes to destroy the Jews. Every Jew in the Persian Empire faced doom. B/c Mordecai learned Haman’s plot; Esther could intervene.

In the Bible, God reveals information to people about the danger we face too. Wrong-doing, sin, and disobeying God also leads to death. If you are completely good, 100% righteous and holy, you don’t have to fear any punishment for sins.

How are you doing at loving God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength?

How are you doing at loving your neighbour as yourself?

You can judge your own success, but me: even on good days, I don’t live up to God’s standards. My bad days are hopeless.

See: God is holy, righteous, and just. As king and judge of all creation, the Lord punishes sin. The punishment for sin is death: physical death and eternity cut off from God.

So, Jesus came into his own creation. God became human. Jesus could bear the punishment for sin b/c he is God and he could stand in your place b/c he is human.

You see the similarity to Esther. As a Jew, she spoke on behalf of her people. As Queen of Persia, she could ask King Xerxes to intervene.

If you’ve read the rest of Esther’s story, you’ll know that she did not die when she approached the king. She asked the king to attend her banquet 2X! At the second banquet, she asked King Xerxes: “At least let the Jews defend themselves.”

Esther convinced King Xerxes. And b/c of his plot, Xerxes had Haman, the enemy of the Jews, executed. Esther’s Uncle Mordecai was given Haman’s position as advisor to the king.

If you have read the gospels, you’ll know that Jesus was also successful in rescuing his people. The big difference: Jesus died for his people – for you. He was crucified. On the cross, God the Father put all the punishment for our sins on Jesus. Jesus died to rescue humankind from sin and death. That’s not all.

Three days later Jesus rose from the grave. It shows his victory over sin and death. All who trust in Jesus are raised to life with him. It’s an invitation for you to trust Jesus and join the life-long celebration of Jesus’ victorious rescue plan.

The celebration of Esther and Mordecai sounds awesome. When Haman was executed, King Xerxes gave all Haman’s money and houses and fields to Esther. Esther, Mordecai, and all the Jews in Susa and the Persian Empire celebrated. The feast of Purim remains a holiday among the Jews today.

Christians also celebrate Jesus’ victory. Good Friday and Easter are holidays for Christians around the world. It’s not just an annual celebration, but a weekly celebration. Each Sunday is a celebration of Jesus’ victory over sin and death. We get together regularly to celebrate how Jesus rescued us b/c:

· Jesus is King

· Jesus is our deliverer

· Jesus is trustworthy

· Jesus is always near

· Jesus is with you wherever you go!