Resources Esther 4:14 - For such a time as this (Easter message) Let me tell you the story of Esther ... Takes place at the time of the Persian Empire, written around 470BC. The Jews had been in captivity for quite sometime, away from home, away from Jerusalem. Some had returned earlier during the reign of Cyrus, but many had not. The temple had been rebuilt - not to the same splendour, but opposition continued from a number of sources. Ezra & Nehemiah had not yet returned to Jerusalem and so the walls had not been built and religious reform had not really taken hold. The purpose of the book of Esther is to record the institution of the annual festival of Purim which was to celebrate and to remind the people to keep alive the memory of the great deliverance of the Jewish people during the reign of Xerxes. The story takes place amongst the exiles in the City of Susa where Xerxes’ palace was. Xerxes throws a huge party for all the high ranking people and leaders of Persia and Media. For 180 days his vast wealth, splendour, glory and majesty are all on display. At the end of this time a 7 day banquet was thrown. - For all people from the least to the greatest. On the 7th day - Xerxes is described as being in ‘high spirits’ from wine and he wants the Queen to be brought out to be shown to the people. The Queen refuses to come and so as not to lose face, the King consults his wise men, who advise him to get rid of the Queen and find someone better. A few years down the line, many women were brought to the palace, so Xerxes could choose a new Queen. Among them was Esther. A Jewish girl, who was looked after and adopted by her uncle - Mordecai. After 12 months of beauty treatment, Esther was brought to the King. Of all the people he had seen, Esther was the most beautiful and became Queen. She hadn’t disclosed her nationality or family background. Not long after this, Mordecai discovers a plot to assassinate the King. He let’s Esther know who in turn told Xerxes. The plot was thwarted and two of his officials were hanged. Again, a few years later a man named Haman came to prominence. He was informed that the Jew Mordecai refused to kneel down before the King or pay him honour. Enraged by this, Haman started to plan, not only how to get rid of Mordecai, but also how to annihilate all the Jews throughout the whole of the Mede-Persian empire. A lot was drawn out and the date set for the destruction of the people. Xerxes the King was persuaded that these people must not be tolerated - they are different from us, went the argument, their customs and practices are different, they do not obey your laws, it is not in your interest to let them live... And so, the edict went out, sealed with the signet ring of the King. Dispatches were sent to all the provinces by couriers - On the 13th day of the 12th month, the order is to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews - young and old, women and little children and to plunder all their goods. The King and Haman sat down to drink; but the city of Susa was bewildered. And so we come to chapter four which we read earlier. Mordecai was in mourning - he wailed loudly and bitterly, he put on sack cloth and ashes - as did many of the Jews across all the provinces of the empire. When Esther found out what was happening - she was at a loss what to do. The messages came to her from Mordecai to go to the King to change the edict. But Esther countered the suggestion - I’ve not been summoned to he king for 30 days. If I go uninvited, I may well lose my life. And so come back the words to Esther ( 4 : 14 ) ‘For such a time as this.’ Her response - ‘I will go to the king ... and if I perish, I perish.’ You will have to read the rest of the story yourselves to find out the detail of what happened. Suffice it to say, that Esther went to the King - a further decree was made and a great deliverance was brought to the Jews and many of their enemies were killed and defeated. At the celebration of this feast - Purim ( meaning ‘the lot’ ) their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning in to a day of celebration. ‘For such a time as this.’ We have many pictures in the Old Testament about the deliverance of God’s people - brought about by God’s Sovereign will and purpose - but always using people who were listening to Him and walking with Him. People who were willing and obedient. And we celebrate this Easter time another deliverance. Not a deliverance from a physical enemy as such, but deliverance from sin. It was a victory that was brought about by one man. This man was nothing to look at. No beauty in him. He was of a lowly background and never rose to Royal or governmental prominence. He did no violence. There was no deceit in his mouth. He was despised by many and rejected. He was despised and we didn’t esteem him. He was oppressed and afflicted ... And yet he carried our infirmities and sorrows upon himself. He was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. He bore the sin of many. He made intercession for those who had done wrong. The punishment that he received - brought peace. The wounds that he received - brought healing. And what was he guilty of? Guilty of loving you. Guilty of saying yes to His Father and being obedient to death on a cross. For the love of you and me - he died on a tree. And at that moment in time - it seemed as though heaven had lost and hell had won the victory - but not so. This was God’s Sovereign plan and deliverance for His people. Jesus, the Son of God, took our punishment upon himself, and gave up his life. You have heard the story - Three days later he was risen up from the grave - to walk and talk with his people, to eat with them, to appear to them in their two’s and small groups and to a mass crowd. He’s alive, He’s alive was the cry ... Death could not hold him, he arose from the grave. You have heard the story - but do you know the man? You see - ‘For such a time as this’ - God stepped out of heaven, was made flesh and born to Mary and Joseph; lived a perfect life, without sin, without blemish and gave up his life on the cross because he loved you and me. The cross is empty, so is the grave. Jesus now lives with His Father in heaven, ruling on high, preparing a place for his people. ‘For such a time as this’ - What about you and I? Have you ever wondered - why was I born at this time, in this age? May be it is ‘For such a time as this’ Are you a follower of Jesus - well how far is it you are following him? ( enlarge generally ) Could you say ‘If I perish I perish’ or is it weather permitting, or cold permitting, or tiredness permitting or don’t want to get to involved? If it was down to you and your obedience to God ... would the mourning have been turned into dancing and celebration and the sorrow to joy? You see, what does the cross, the death and resurrection really mean to you? Is it really making a difference in your life ... and how is it making a difference, or do you just pay lip service to it - oh yes, it’s real to you and you are saved ... but you’re not really following Jesus. What about you ... the ones who haven’t put their trust in Jesus, who haven’t come to him and said, yes, you died on the cross for my sins, you took my punishment, I am sorry for the wrong in my life, I will trust in you Jesus as my Saviour, the one who died in my place. What about you ... what will you do .... ? Why are you here? Is it ‘For such a time as this?’ You can know Jesus - You can turn to him even now as we sit here. He wants you to - but he wants you also to be prepared to count that cost - as Esther did ... ‘If I perish, I perish, but I’m going to see the King.’ Strangely enough, if we choose to say yes to Jesus, we will lose our life as we give it over to Him. Failure to do this however, will mean that we will lose not only our life, but our soul. What will you do with Jesus this Easter time? - enlarge The one whose love is the most incredible I’ve ever known. Back to top of page

Orrell Park Baptist Church

Home · About OPBC · Christianity Explained · Visitors Orrell Park Community · Church Activities · Coming Up · Resources