Mark 14.1-11

Title: What do you seek?

Text: Mark 14.1-11

Introduction: Note where we are in the story:

1st: The next three weeks will focus on Preparation. Jesus is being ‘prepared’ for what lies ahead of him. His preparation for burial – that is, he is going to die. Next, The meal we call the Last Supper, another reminder of his death – and a call to remember his death until he returns. And then comes the betrayal. We’re so close to the end because all that is left are the mock trials, the crucifixion, and His resurrection. Easter is upon us.  

2^nd: Our story, the first story in what I’ve entitled Preparation, is bookended with a typical Markan Sandwich: Two separate stories with a common theme that bookend another story that is related to them. Here, the bookends deal with the desire of the Religious Leadership to arrest and kill Jesus (v1) and a disciple who is tired of how things are going and is ready to hand him over to his enemies for the right price (v11). The middle story – our focus, is the story of how a woman comes and anoints Jesus’ body for burial.

Note how all three stories relate to his impending death. (1) The religious leadership wants him dead; (2) Jesus says this woman’s actions are to anoint his body for burial (v8); (3) Judas is ready to make that happen by betraying him into their hands.

Based on this information, I’ve outlined my message into three movements or scenes:

1. An Evil Plot
2. An Extravagant Gift
3. An Embittered Betrayal

I. Scene 1: An Evil Plot (1-2)

exp.: The 1^st item on Mark’s agenda is to give us a time reference. Mark doesn’t do this too often in his book; rd 14.1; 2 days before the Passover.

Have you ever wondered why Easter is different each year? Like, why isn’t it the 3^rd Sunday in April or whatever? – Well, from what I understand, Easter is set to coincide with the Jewish Passover. Be watching for that in the News this year, as we move closer to Easter.

Dating: Passover is at the 1^st full moon after the Vernal Equinox (around March 21^st) – which marks Spring. This year, March’s full moon is on the 17^th of March, too soon. The next full moon after that date is April 16^th – Saturday. So, Easter is April 17^th, a Sunday.

V 1 tells us it was two days before Passover (Exodus 12) and the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

This is important because the crowds have swelled in Jerusalem way beyond their normal numbers. 2^nd, some of our theology is informed by this event. Paul helps us here by telling us that Jesus is our Passover Lamb. So, the timing here is important. Mark wants us to know what time it is. It is time for the Passover Lamb to be sacrificed and to pay the penalty for the sins of the people.

V1 continues to tell us that the religious leaders were seeking… “Were seeking” is an imperfect verb – which indicates a repeated action in the past; Mark has told us of three such incidents in the past (3.6; 11.18; 12.12); their goal was twofold:

1. to ‘arrest’ him by stealth
2. to ‘kill’ him. Lit.: in deceit to arrest and kill him. The word deceit means to bait or to lure.

The reason they chose not to do this at this particular time is given in v2 (rd v2): because they didn’t want to upset the crowds of people gathered for the Passover; they feared the people who loved Jesus and saw him as a man of God.

t.s.: So, be clear here: this is their goal and has been for some time; however, they’re not going to do this dastardly deed at this time. Nonetheless, life is continuing as normal. There is so much going on and these guys are busy during this time of Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. There are services to be conducted. People, people, people are everywhere. And though these guys are making plans and think they’ll act on their own accord when the timing is right, God has other plans.

Transition: You might see this next part of the story as a “meanwhile, back at the ranch” kind of scenario. Let’s pick up there in v 3… I call this section…

II. Scene 2: A Extravagant Gift (3-9)

exp.: Meanwhile; rd v 3; at the house of Simon the Leper; the truth is, we don’t know who Simon is. There is a lot of speculation, but no one today really knows. Some say he is Mary, Martha, and Lazarus’ father. Others say he was a leper whom Jesus healed. Folks like to imagine him being the 10th leper who returned to say thank you to Jesus. The truth is…we just don’t know. I’m guessing that Mark’s readers know who he was. But for us, it doesn’t really matter.

So, Jesus is at this man’s house when in walks a woman. The other Gospels which tell this story, tell us that she was a woman of ill repute. A prostitute, maybe? We don’t really know her sinful behavior. My guess is that, like with who Simon is, we don’t really need to know.

I think this is wonderful. Let’s talk about us for a moment. I think it’s easier to talk about me because I know myself. But this morning, I’d rather talk about you. You’re a Sinner. I’m a sinner. My guess is that you’re a sinner like her. Maybe your sin is different than her sin, but it is still embarrassing just the same.

Ill.: Your Daily Joe, a cartoon that appears daily in the Baptist Press, this week posted a cartoon of a grandfather looking at Romans 1 with his grandson. His grandson was wearing a Mississippi State shirt and looks to be college age. The grandfather has a hand on his grandson’s shoulder and they’re both standing over an open Bible as if they were reading this together. The Grandfather says to the grandson: Wickedness, depravity, fools, impurities. Son, these do not apply only to the worst people, but to the best.

Maybe that’s why Mark doesn’t tell us what her sin is because it really doesn’t matter…because we’re all sinners in need of forgiveness!

So, Jesus is reclining at the dinner table (3) when she comes up to him and breaks an alabaster flask of perfume – a very costly perfume (5). As this is taking place, Jesus looks at her. And he sees something totally different than these guys see, who are in the same room, and observing the same action.

You know the funny thing is that we oftentimes only see the physical. Too often we’re pinned into a scenario that overtakes us in the physical realm. Physically, this should be upsetting:

• She is a woman. That’s a big no-no.
• She is a ‘sinful’ woman. Jesus, a man of God shouldn’t be consorting with such people.

Ill.: One morning, while on my way to class at UMHB – an 8 am class – I was singing a song I had been working on about being a servant and a witness to a lost world. I loved the chorus and was working on getting it right. Oh, how I wanted to sing a song that moved people to want to be more like Christ to those in need. When all of the sudden, this woman jumped out in front of my vehicle. I slammed on the brakes to keep from hitting her. She begged me to help her. Her face was bleeding and bruised. Someone had beaten her severely. Her clothes were nice but tattered from the fray.

I let her in and drove away. As we talked, I found out her pimp had beat her up. I’d love to tell the whole story to you this morning, but for now, let me just say I was so afraid. Not of her pimp! But, I was afraid of the Christians who knew me that they might see me driving around so early in the morning with a prostitute in my car!

You’re probably not thinking bad of me, because I’m telling you the story. But, would most of you not judge me if you had seen me? First, have you ever noticed that “women of the night” dress differently than most of the women who go to church here? She was young, probably about my age (early 20’s).  

Yes, I wanted to help her – and I did. Lisa and I were dirt poor, and we didn’t have money. But I tell you this story not because I’m proud, but because I look back on that time and wish I wouldn’t have been so worried about the Christians I might have been seen by – But instead, I would have had all of my attention on her and her needs. I wish I could be telling this story about a young woman who gave her life to Christ.  

App.: you see, you and I, we just can’t get past the physical aspects of our lives rd v4-5.

• The flask she has is a very expensive heirloom. It would be something that took years to make – probably passed down from family and would have possibly been her dowry…that is, if she were to marry.
• Its value would have been in the range of what a normal person makes in a year: a year’s wages. Let that sink in! Identify how much you make in a year. Apply that figure to this flask!
• It’s broken and spilled out on Christ.

These guys are thinking: What a waste! A year’s wages! BTW: That’s what prodigal means – to lavishly waste something of great value.

And they scold her! You see that in v 5;

Earlier, I said it is funny…I say funny… I don’t mean ‘ha-ha’ funny, but rather ironic. You and I would probably do the same because you and I are trapped in cultural and social dimensions that we filter our experiences through. But not Jesus!

Man, to be able to see what’s going on in the spiritual realm; to not get trapped in the physical all the time. Rd v 6; And then Jesus gets to the heart of the matter; rd v 7; wow! They don’t know this, but the reader has a little insight from v. 1-2 and v 10-11; Jesus has but a couple of days left. Then, he’ll be gone. Rd v 8; burial! This must be so confusing for those listening in. And then, Jesus lets us in on a little more… rd v 9; whenever the Gospel is proclaimed!

ill.: the word Gospel means good news. Good news. Everything we’ve been reading about is good news. The deceit of the religious leaders: good news. The frustration of disciples at the extravagant waste of this sinful woman: good news. Burial means death: also, good news.

app.: That’s the advantage of seeing into the spiritual realm! It changes everything! We buried Diana Pfeiffer yesterday. Oh, that we could see with spiritual eyes!

t.s.: Well, we know from other gospels that Judas is the one who was most upset. And, from our story, his frustration spills over into life and he acts. Unable to see that God is at work here, he takes matters into his own hands. And, I call this…

III. Scene 3: An Embittered Betrayal (10-11)

exp.: rd v 10; lit.: give over; The context tells us that frustration takes over from the waste of this extravagant gift. Judas has had enough. What we learn in the other Gospels is that he’s chairman of the finance committee! He carries the money bag. For three years he has walked with Jesus and there is no sign that Jesus intends to be the Messiah that Judas has been expecting. So, for a small sum (isn’t it odd that it all comes down to finances again), Judas agrees to betray his friend.

Transition: So the stage is set. Jesus is being set up. In this story, a sinister group of religious leaders delays plans to capture and kill Jesus. They don’t want to act on their desire to arrest and kill Jesus in front of the people.

You see, they think they’re laying out plans to do away with Jesus. I sincerely believe they think they’re doing God’s will. Little do they understand, that they really are pawns being moved by the mighty hand of God. And though they think they’ll wait – God has other plans.

Then, there is this Sinful Woman who makes her way onto the scene of a dinner party. Man, oh man, she is out of place. Women aren’t supposed to be mixing it up with men. She, however, thinks she is showing a display of her gratitude for Jesus. In her heart of hearts, that is what she is up to…but Jesus lets us in on what God is doing. She’s anointing his body for burial. She is exercising her will but accomplishing God’s will. 

Judas thinks he is … well, I don’t really know what is going on in the head of Judas! He’s obviously frustrated at how things have turned out. He’s followed Christ for three years with the hopes that this really is the Messiah of God. So, he takes matters into his own hands – so he thinks. Maybe he is forcing the hand of Jesus, trying to press him to defend himself and forcefully take over Jerusalem. Maybe Jesus will then become king and things can happen the way Judas thinks they’re supposed to go. Or, maybe he has flipped sides. If you think about it, he is accomplishing the will of God, too – unbeknownst to him.

Conclusion: You see, in all of this, God is working out his plan…his perfect plan. And he’s using all of these people in his play…His Story.

As I look at this story with all of these people acting on their own accord, thinking they’re doing something according to their own plans, I realize that in all of their ‘doing’ they really have no idea what God is up to or that God is even up to something.

Application: I’d like to close with some questions for reflection:

1. Do you know that God is up to something in your life? I have no idea what some of you are enduring right now. But can I encourage you to not see your life through the physical realm (like these guys did), but instead, to trust that God is at work in the Spiritual Realm just out of sight. My guess is that God is up to something absolutely incredible in your life that will bring Glory and Honor to himself through your circumstances. I think of Henry Blackabee’s Words: Don’t just do something, stand there!
   1. Why? Because you don’t want to work against God. 1^st of all, you’ll fail! 2^nd, I’m sure you want to be on the right side.
   1. Consider others – their lives. Is God bringing them into your life for you to serve them, to share with them?
2. Do you worry too much about what others think or about what others do – and not enough about what God thinks or what God is doing?
   1. The Chief Priests and Scribes worried about what the people thought.
   1. The Disciples worried too much about this woman’s wastefulness.
   1. Judas appears to be concerned with how he thinks things should be going.
   1. As I view my own life in retrospect, I think I’m more like the religious leaders than the disciples: I’m worried about what people will think. What about you…
   1. Jesus doesn’t appear to be worried about any of it.
3. What are you searching for? Our story is bookended with this one word: They were seeking and he was seeking. So, let me ask you again? What are you searching for?
   1. For the religious leaders, they were seeking to save their power over the people.
   1. For those listed in v 3-9, they were seeking financial gain, upset over this lavish waste poured out on Christ.
   1. Is it money or is it power, or is it more like what Judas appears to be going through? Can I encourage you to focus in on this ‘sinful’ woman? She is seeking to be with Christ. She takes what would be considered her future and destroys it – pouring it out on Christ.
   1. So, I’ll ask you one more time. Think deeply now: What are you searching for?

Let’s pray:

Mark 13

Title: Lord, When?

Text: Mark 13

Introduction: Where in Mark 13 this morning. We’ll be working our way through the entire chapter. Do me a favor and bookmark Revelation 6, as well. You’ll want to follow along in the book of Revelation later in the message.

The context for our understanding within the greater purview of our passage is the Temple. Since Jesus got to Jerusalem, the stories have revolved around the Temple and around the religious leaders’ failure and abuse in their responsibilities concerning the Temple and God’s people. Jesus has established that what had been given to the priests would be taken away. They had failed to serve as mediators and instead, had used and abused the people for their own personal gain. His message was clear: The Temple would be destroyed, and a new system would be put into place, with the chief cornerstone being Jesus, himself, who will now serve as that mediator between God and man.

We begin in 13.1-2; So the context for chapter 13 is the destruction of the Temple; lit.: every stone being thrown down; rd 13.3a; Mount of Olives; as they looked over at the massive, beautiful Temple, it was hard for them to imagine just what that would be like. Something cataclysmic would have to happen. It must be the end of the world. These men could not imagine what Jesus had just said without it being the end of the world.

Read 13.3-4; Two Questions: When and What? Keywords: these things; If we go to Matthew 24, we’ll find the question outlined in such a way that it helps us organize the rest of the chapter. Rd 24.1-3; ³ As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

So, with this question by the disciples, they’ve outlined what they want to know in three parts:

1. The Destruction of the Temple
2. The Son’s Return
3. The end of the age

But Jesus, knows they don’t really understand, I suppose by the way they ask their question, but of course, he knows all things. So, we outline our message today as with the restructuring Jesus does in answering their question:

1. The end of the age
2. The Destruction of the Temple
3. The Son’s Return

t.s.: So, let’s put these together under the title of “A multifaceted question”

I. A Multifaceted Question

Exp.: Jesus answers their question in a specific order. Why? To be fair, as these guys heard Jesus speak about the destruction of the Temple, they know about the destruction of the 1^st Temple, Solomon’s Temple in 586 BC. And they knew of Jeremiah 9 and 11 and Micah 3, which foretold Solomon’s Temple’s Destruction. If that was the case, and this Temple, as magnificent as it was, was to be destroyed, then this must be the end of time.

Do you get this? You and I know the difference. Well, because of this teaching and 2,000 years of clarity. But these guys, they would have associated all the events together (the temple being destroyed, the fall of Jerusalem, the end of the world). It would have to be. Stones in the Temple would measure, 35’L x 11’H x 17’W. What cataclysmic event could remove those stones and cast them off of the mountain top? It must be the end of the world! So, Jesus clarifies for them. These events are not one and the same. That is to say: the destruction of the temple isn’t the end of the world. That will come later.

         1a. A Multifaced Question answered: What and When and About  

Exp.: So, to clarify, Jesus answers in an order that will help us understand the difference. So, what we see in our text is an answer for these three events:

First, The End Times – Jesus outlines the end times for them (rd v 5f):

1. They say: I am he and lead many astray; the ‘anti-christ’ or evil men; military leaders; political leaders, religious leaders who will claim to be the anticipated Christ (rd 7,8a)
   1. Wars, rumor of wars; nation against nation, kingdom, etc. (rd 8b)
   2. Earthquakes, famine; I see this as natural disasters leading to famine; (rd 8c)
   3. These ‘things’ (a combination of all, i.e., Military Leaders, Wars, Famines, natural disasters) are the birthing pains. (8c) Really, in v 8, you see a combination of them all. But this combination isn’t the end, it is merely birthing pains. Read 9-13;
   4. Persecution arising from their witness and the Gospel; we haven’t seen this yet, but they’ll be commissioned to take the gospel to the nations, and when they do, they’ll suffer for it. If you recall, he’s been telling them this all along. They’ve been thinking of fame and fortune. Christ will ascend to the throne and they’ll all reap the benefits of having been faithful to follow him. But Christ has taught them that their faithfulness to follow him will not lead to fame and fortune, but rather to suffering. Think martyrdom; rd v 12 “to death”;  verse 13 is a call to persevere;

Jesus now moves to the 2^nd part of their question…

Second, When will ‘these things’ be? Rd v 14-20;

• Great Tribulation and the Destruction of the Temple: (14-23); you could call this ‘The Fall of Jerusalem and the Destruction of the Temple’. Consider this: Mark’s Gospel was written sometime between 55AD and 64AD (Evidence Peter was in Rome; cf.: 1 Cor); Mark was written sometime of up to 15 years before the Fall of Jerusalem and the Destruction of the Temple;  if you take the latest possible date for this book and the earliest possible date for the Fall of Jerusalem, you’re talking about 3 years.

History has recorded for us that this information was used by the early church in Jerusalem and they took it seriously. When Jerusalem was attacked, the Christians were ready. Many of them fled as Jesus had warned and they were saved. The Fall of Jerusalem happened about 67AD and it was completed by 70AD when the Temple was utterly destroyed and tossed down the mountain. It was indeed horrible, as Jesus had warned.

This is why it is titled the Great Tribulation; Rd 20-22; (usage of the past tense is a prophetic way of declaring certainty); it seems to have come full circle from the beginning when we looked at evil, wicked leaders who lead people astray; BTW: it is during such suffering and tribulation that false messiahs arise. Think Hitler!

When will you return?

• The Return of the Son of Man (24-27); v 24 gives us the timing (those meaning the last days); rd 24-25; here is some sort of celestial event; we’re told in Genesis 1.14 that the heavens are for signs; rd 26-27;

So, what are they to do with this information? What are we to do with this information? Well, he gives us the lesson of the fig tree and the Man on a Journey.

• The lesson of the fig tree and a caution to be watchful (28-37); this last section could be divided into two sections.

         2a. A Comparison of Mark 13 and Revelation 6&7

Exp.: before we leave this section, I think it is good to visit a time-honored tool for understanding a passage. We interpret Scripture with Scripture; What Jesus has done here is that he’s given us a template for understanding what is before us – and it matches what we find in Revelation. Keep your spot in Mark, and turn to Revelation 6.

Note: I was unable to insert the Table here. WordPress doesn’t transfer tables…

Summary: As we look at these things and we see that Mark 13.14-23 and we see the Fall of Jerusalem and The Destruction of the Temple. And, we call it The Great Tribulation; really, though, I think it has a double meaning – a double prophecy (for the Fall of Jerusalem and the end times, too).

Transition: We looked at the question posed by the disciples and the answers Jesus gave for clarification that the destruction of the Temple was not the end of time. That must mean that time would continue and that there would be an age between his first coming and his 2^nd coming. We can look at more comparisons on Wednesday night, especially what the perspective, eschatological views are out there. And, how the seals and bowls match as well.

But, as we look at the future, how do we conduct ourselves and how are we to consider the future?

1. A Caution against End Times Predictions (13.5, 32)

exp.: rd v5-6, 32; I find it interesting that some non-signs are: earthquakes, famines, wars, false messiahs, persecution. These things will happen leading up to the end, but they are not the end! The 1^st thing Jesus does in Chapter 13 is to say you’ll see these things, but don’t be alarmed. This is not the end! These are events and tribulation that occurs in that ‘in between’ time.

ill.: Rd v 5; Caution:

1. William Miller, October 22^nd, 1844
2. When I was in Tyler, there was this fellow named Harold Camping; he chose May 21^st, 2011 And again, October 21^st, 2011; However, that wasn’t his first false prophecy. He actually wrote and published a book entitled 1994,  where he predicted Christ would return in mid-September 1994. As you know, Christ didn’t. But that didn’t stop Harold. He re-caculated the date for March 1995.

Rd v 6; there have been many who claimed to be Jesus and have led people astray. Do you guys know who David Koresh was? In a sect called the Branch Davidians, he claimed to be the final prophet. He led many astray and was responsible for the deaths of 76 people: including 25 children, two unborn children and Koresh, himself. In Tyler, TX, at the Memorial Cemetery off Hwy 64, there is a small memorial where he is buried. The cemetery doesn’t publicize it because it has been desecrated so many times. After a funeral service one day, I stopped into the main office and asked if I could see it. They know me there and led me right to it.

ill.: There was a stir back in the week of September 17^th-23^rd, 2017. A pastor in Tyler, of a very large church, cited the alignment of some big stars and planets. I have to say, I was intrigued! Was God doing something? It all started with a major Solar Eclipse on the 21^st of August 2017. Stephen and I were up in Colorado climbing 14ers and decided to take a side trip up to Wyoming to the center of the eclipse. It was awesome!

But, as far as I know, nothing happened from all of that. Guess what? There is going to be two more: an annular (ring of fire) in October 2023 and a total eclipse in April (8^th) 2024, just 6 months later. And you know what is even cooler. You won’t have to travel to Wyoming! Our church is in the path of both eclipses!

app.: Does that mean Jesus is coming back on those dates? No! Read v 32  

t.s.: So, here is our concern: when will Christ return… let me close with this.

1. A Call for Watchfulness (13.28-37)

exp.: with two lessons: The Lesson we learn from the fig tree And, the Man going on a journey. Jesus is calling on us to keep alert. I find it hilarious even, that Jesus says that not only does no human know the day or the time, not even he himself knows the day or the time (32).

Herein is the lesson: live your life – get married, have a family, work hard and be productive, and still, fulfill the mandate to share the gospel. There is supposed to be a suddenness to his return. And we’re not supposed to know when that is – it is designed to keep us on our toes, so to speak.

app.: I wonder if we knew the day and the time, would that keep us on our toes? Or would that cause us to be as we are – apathetic because we think we’ve got so much time? Hear the words of our Lord: Stay Awake! Be alert!

t.s.: So, what will we take home with us, today?

Conclusion: As I stand here today thinking of what I hope you’ll take with you as you walk away from these facilities today, I want you to know the following:

Application:

1. People get ready! Jesus is coming! Soon we’ll be going home.
   1. If you’ve never surrendered you life to Christ, I urge you to do that right now. You have no idea if your life will end or if Jesus will return. Either way, when that happens, it will be too late! So, get that right today.
2. Here’s what you can be sure of: Christ will return victorious. And for those of you who think I’m standing here a fool. That’s ok. Christ will come and vindicate his people. And I don’t look at that like: ha-ha, I told you. It breaks my heart to think of those who will miss out because of pride or selfishness. The Scripture teaches that one day – every knee will bow before him and confess that he is Lord. Why not do that in victory? I’m pleading with you not to do that in defeat – for then, it will be too late.

Brothers and Sisters in Christ. Let’s not grow weary in well-doing. Oh, I know you’re tired. I know the time seems to get long. Hang in there, my friend. The joy that awaits you is beyond what words can possibly describe.