Mark 15.1-20

Title: Who Killed Jesus?

Text: Mark 15.1-20

Introduction: Who killed Jesus? Don’t answer too quickly and don’t give me a Sunday School answer! You probably have some ideas, but it isn’t as easy as just blurting out an answer. You blame one person or group and there are answers to clear them and shift the blame to another group. So, who killed Jesus?

This question has caused many throughout the last couple of millennia to cast accusations and stir up hate. Certain people rise to power and use that power to persecute and discriminate against others. People have gone to war over such things. Even before the holocaust in the ’30s and ’40s, which I’m sure you’re familiar with…

In our text this morning, there are four different groups who have power – at least to some degree in one way or another. Let’s look to see who these folks are and how they wield their power. Let’s observe if we can see how they play a part in killing Jesus:

1. The Jews
2. The Romans
3. The People
4. The Soldiers

Let’s begin with this first group.

I. The Jewish Authorities (1)

exp.: rd v1;

1. As soon as it was morning; Their work was done in during the night hours; from this text, we actually get a timeline;
   1. 15.1: as soon as it was morning
   1. 15.25: it was now the 3rd hour
   1. 15.33: the 6th hour to the 9th hour
   1. 15.34: the 9th hour
   1. 15.42: and when evening had come;
2. …the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole counsel (Gk: Sanhedrin);
   1. Many have argued that these are responsible for putting Jesus to death and that has caused anti-Semitism to spread down through the centuries. As early as 66 AD; massacres occurred in the Nile Delta in Egypt; in 113-115 AD another report of massacres. Repeated ad nauseam to the Holocaust of the early 1900s; This has led others to rise up in their defense of the Jews. Genesis 12.3
   1. Many other scholars have reported that the Council couldn’t put Jesus to death, so you can’t blame them. They say it would have been illegal for the Jews to put anyone to death. Carl Walls presented this argument to us last Wednesday night as we walked through each of the three mock trials (cf.: Jn 18.31). And he makes a great point, but if that is truly the case, explain why they could put Stephen to death in Acts 8; They put Stephen to death by stoning him and Saul was there holding the coats of those who cast their stones and giving approval. One guess is that they couldn’t put him to death for the charge they laid against him.
   1. No, I think they held their consultation with the whole counsel for the purpose of determining a specific charge of Jesus being “King of the Jews” (rd v2). If Jesus claims to be King, well, then that’s high treason, punishable by death. I think that is why they didn’t kill him themselves. They could get someone else to do that – and that’s just what they did. Besides, a Roman death would be so much more public and humiliating. With the holidays upon them, they wouldn’t have to break their own laws by executing someone during the festival. And, they wouldn’t risk upsetting the crowds who loved Christ. There were just too many good reasons against their putting him to death and getting someone else to do it.
3. Two words stick out in our text and guide our study, and these words are repetitive as we continue reading v1. And they bound Jesus and led him away and delivered him; (14.53, 15.1, 10, 15, 16, 20); these two words direct us through the timeline and the process;  

app.: these two words will help us identify that none of these folks wanted Jesus – so they led him away and delivered him over to someone else.

t.s.: So, Did the Jews kill Jesus? To be sure, these religious leaders started all this, but they didn’t actually execute the charge. Instead, they delivered Jesus over to Pilate; we see that in v2ff

II. The Roman Authorities (2-5)

exp.: rd v2a; King of the Jews; I think Mark is giving us some direction here; this term King of the Jews is another repetition we see; after not appearing in Mark at all, it now appears 6x’s in this chapter; here in v 2, 9, 12, 18, 26, and as King of Israel in v 32; So, this is probably the charge the religious authorities present to Pilate; rd v 2b; now in English, we cringe! Did he just condemn himself? Well, in the Greek it is so ambiguous that you’re just not sure what he said; The English translation try to convey that, but it just doesn’t work: you say

• ESV: You have said so…
• NASB: It is as you say… this is so far from a literal translation I don’t know where to begin. If you have a NASB, you’ll note the first three words are in italics, meaning those words have been supplied.
• NIV: gets even further away… Yes, it is as you say.
• CSB: You say so… closer than the others, but still not correct.
• KJV: Even the King James Version adds words to make a sentence. Thou sayest it.

Why? Because Jesus is ambiguous in his reply: Subject: You; Verb: say, It’s like an incomplete sentence – an incomplete thought.

Now the Religious Leaders throw accusation after accusation, but Jesus doesn’t respond – to Pilate’s amazement; rd v 3-5.  

There is something else I’d like to note: the other Gospels tell us of how Jesus was sent to Herod, but Herod didn’t want him either; Mark doesn’t tell us this part. I guess for him, it wasn’t necessary to tell us this story. But something I think, that is important about that detail is that it shows Pilate really didn’t want to deal with this. Pilate didn’t want Jesus either.

app.: And, with the help of the other gospels, we know that Pilate found no guilt in this man. So he sought to pass this problem on to Herod; and then, he sought to release him;

t.s.: We find out something very interesting by the way that Mark presents this release and it’s found in this third section…

III. The Crowds (6-15)

exp.: I think the way this works actually begins in v 8, but Mark fills us in on the details in 6-7, so v 8 will make sense; they initiate a release, not Pilate; A question you might have is: who is the ‘crowd’? v 11 tells us the religious leaders have worked the crowds, but who made the request?

• Was it followers and supporters of Barabbas? We often think of him as a criminal and a murderer, but there are those who love that he was zealous and rising up against the Romans.
• Did Pilate offer Barabbas to the crowd, thinking to himself that they would never vote to release such a horrible criminal?
• The ‘crowd’ could have been the high priest’s henchmen who started this up. It might have just been circumstantial or situational as the religious leaders see it – you know, an auspicious occasion in their eyes. So, in v 11, they begin working the crowds for Barabbas’ release.

Now, v 10 lets us in on Pilate’s thinking – that he perceived this whole circus was orchestrated by the religious leaders and they did all that they were doing because of envy or sometimes translated jealousy. I love the Gk word, its’ spelling beings phth – φθόνος; Isn’t it funny, I mean ‘odd’ or ‘peculiar’ what jealousy can lead us to do to others?

t.s.: There is one last group here… you could add them to the list of those we might accuse of killing Jesus.

IV. The Soldiers mock and persecute Him (16-20)

exp.: they’re the ones who would drive the nails; they’re the ones who weave a crown of thorns; at this stage of our story, Jesus is mocked, beaten, and ridiculed by those entrusted with his execution; they humiliate him repeatedly.

*We’ll pick up here next week… I just want to add them to this section to say, many actually blame the soldiers for killing Jesus.

t.s.: So, who killed Jesus and why did they kill Jesus ?

Review:

1. The Jewish leadership pushed for Christ’s death at the hands of the Romans. It was their plan from as early as Mark 3.6 to destroy him. They may have instigated it all, but they didn’t pull the trigger.
2. Pilate clearly found no fault in him and wanted to release him. When he found a way, the crowds rejected his proposal and asked for Barabbas’ release. You could add Herod here to the list of Roman Authorities. Although Mark doesn’t add that part of the story, the other Gospels let us in on it. Herod was interested as far as observing Jesus as a sideshow, but nothing more.
3. The crowds may have been worked up into a frenzy; however, their call for his crucifixion wasn’t as if they pulled the trigger either.
4. The Battalion cruelly mistreated Christ, but only a few will actually carry out the orders to crucify Christ. And I’m not so sure these guys are all on board, even though they’re obedient, for we will see next week the Centurion standing at the foot of the cross proclaiming, Truly this man was the son of God (v39).

So, which one of these killed Jesus?

• I think they all did. Not one is more responsible than the others. No one is less guilty than any of the others. Furthermore, the Bible teaches us that it was God’s Will to accomplish this. Let that sink in – these people all acted within their own free will to exercise their jealousies, their hate, their power, but God was in charge the whole time. And, I guess added to this you and I killed him. It was because it was for your sin and my sin that Jesus died.

Transition: I think it is interesting how each one wielded what power they had to do their deeds. And that brings me to the application for this morning.

Application: Power is a scary force.

1. The Religious Leaders use their power to bring Jesus before Pilate. They use their power as influence over the crowd.
   1. Pilate uses his power as authority to execute Jesus.
   1. The crowd uses its power as a vote to release Barabbas and vote to crucify Jesus.
   1. The soldiers use their power to humiliate and mistreat Jesus.

So, let me ask you:

1. Where is your power and how do you use it?
2. With your family? – over your wife or husband, over your kids, or your adult parents. Sometimes one of the spouses holds the purse strings and lords it over the other. Spouses us their power to withhold favor – sexual favor, getting their husband or wife to behave or do or act or… Sometimes, the oldest in the family use their power to get what they want. Maybe it is money they have and they use their money to get their grown up kids to do and act and (story of young woman whose grandparents told her that they would pay for her medical school if she lost weight… I’ve even seen little children run a family – using their power over their parents.
3. In your work or business? – over other employees or coworkers? Do people have to come to you to get things done? Do they need your permission and you hold it over them until they perform or do or act or behave…
4. What about at church? Elders, Deacons, Teachers, Pastor and staff…we all have power through position and influence. Where do you use your power and how do you use it?

Here is the point: you do have power. I think of little children at school, even, who use their power as influence over other children.

Ill.: years ago I was taken a group of children to Children’s Camp. There were a group of three boys in the group of children. One of these boys would play the other two against each other, wielding his power like a mob boss. On the trip, he pulled out a bag of candy. He then proceeded to give one of the boys some of his stash. The 3^rd boy asked for some and was refused. This little boy who had been refused began to offer money for a piece of candy. Eventually, the little boy offered all the money he had brought for the week for just one piece of candy. That little mob boss refused to sell his candy to the other boy at that inflated rate.

Pause: This sinful nature never seems to leave us does it? It will rule over us, unless of course, there is a change.

You see, the one person in this story who doesn’t execute the power he has – and he has the ultimate power – is Jesus. I think of Phil 2: although Jesus had the right of heaven, he let go of his rights to the throne of heaven and became a man – a simple man, a humble man. Through his obedience to his father, he humble himself and became obedient to death. That’s what we see going on here.

In that passage in Philippians, Paul urges his readers to become more like Jesus – to take his attitude in all things. And his plea to take on the mind of Christ comes from his plea in v1-4; 2. ¹ So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, ² complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Paul’s talking about relationships within the church. ³ Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. ⁴ Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Let’s pray…

Mark 14.53-72

Title: A Tale of Two Stories

Text: Mark 14.53-72

Introduction: Mark 14.53; Psalm 88; Daniel 7; I’d like to begin by looking at an outline of the overall story we’re following in Mark and where we’re headed over the next few weeks leading up to Easter:

His Arrest leads to the following events:

1. He is brought before Caiaphas, the High Priest
2. The Inquisition before The Sanhedrin
   1. Lack of Witnesses
   1. Lack of agreement between Witnesses
   1. Before the frustrated High Priest once again
   1. His testimony condemns him
3. The Trial before the Sanhedrin the next morning where he is found guilty and sentenced to death
4. Sent to Pilate
   1. Found not guilty
   1. Pilate brings him before the Crowd who find him guilty
5. He is Delivered to the Battalion to be Crucified
6. He is Crucified between two thieves
7. His Death
8. His Burial
9. His Resurrection

In our text this morning, two events are occurring simultaneously: Jesus remains silent while he is being falsely accused by the religious leaders and Peter is blatantly denying any connection to Christ while being accurately identified as one of his followers by a servant girl.

We see this in the form of writing Mark employs. His introduction is in v 53-54 – first Jesus, then Peter; then the two stories are told in 55-65 and 66-72. This is how we’ll divide up the message this morning, into these three parts: The Contrast between the Two Stories, The Integrity of Christ throughout his Inquisition, and the Failure of Peter during his.

You might remember that Mark likes his stories in threes. Here, in our simultaneous two stories, each has three parts. Jesus before the Religious leaders in some fashion three times. Peter was questioned three times and he denied Jesus three times.

Transition: Let’s begin with verses 53 and 54…

I. A Contrast of Two Responses (53-54)

exp.: rd v 53f; v 53 tells us two events; He is brought before the High Priest. The High Priest summons the Council. The events we’ll be looking at took place over many hours in the dark of night. In the time in between his trials, Jesus was probably held in a cell – something more like a dungeon. When I went to Israel in 2014, we went to the place where Jesus would have been held. He would have been brought out before the High Priest and then again, with the Council. And each time they wanted to deliberate, they would have sent him back to the dungeon. The group I was with went down into this dungeon, this holding pit, and we read Psalm 88.

I believe there is so much more that goes on between these sentences. I’m sure, the religious leaders are scrambling – but what to do with a prisoner waiting to stand before them. He would have been held here while the members of the Sanhedrin are summoned. According to their rules, they only need 23 of the 70 members to form a quorum. So, they don’t have to get every member – just the ones they want.

In the times between, Jesus would have been lowered into this holding pit. He would have been alone. It would have been absolute darkness. Maybe they hung a torch above, but why waste that resource? He might hear other prisoners crying out in agony. But, other than that, he would have only his own heartbeat and breathing. I wonder if Psalm 88 crossed his mind.

Take yourself there in your mind. It is damp, the silence is deafening. Read Psalm 88.

exp.: at the same time, Jesus was going through his struggles, Peter was outside waiting and watching. Rd v 54a; I’m having a moment here because I can picture this; Jesus is in the pit and Peter is right outside – waiting and watching. I’m guessing as Jesus is brought in and out and back and forth, Peter saw him. rd v 54b;

app.: So, Mark has set us up using a form of writing that indicates for us that these two stories are to be understood in light of each other: Two different responses to each situation – Jesus, before the religious leaders and Peter outside by the fire.

t.s.: Let’s look first, as Mark has outlined it for us, at Jesus …

II. The Integrity of Christ (55-65)

exp.: rd v 55; 1^st, I don’t think whole indicates all 70 were there; I think it indicates that there was enough to have a full quorum. Enough is there to conduct business as it were. Their business is focused – to fulfill the goal they’ve set way before – killing Jesus.

It’s interesting how they do this – how they skirt their own laws and rules. You see, it was against their own law to meet at night like this. This is why they repeat the whole thing in Chapter 15.1; rd 15.1; So, it is after they’ve done all this work that they ‘make it all legal’ as it were.

So, according to Scripture, the only way to do this is with enough witnesses who can verify that he is guilty. But they found none!

1. First of all, they were lying. Rd 56; So they found some other liars; rd 57-59;
2. 2^ndly, they couldn’t get their testimonies to agree. Remember this is all taking place during the night hours.

So it all ends in frustration. They are unable to find 3 witnesses who have the same story. So, the high priest stands up and takes over; rd v 60-61a; silence; rd 61b; Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” That’s a loaded question!

• Christ: the anointed one; the messiah; this is something only God can confer upon someone. We’ve seen it in the book of Mark already (this is my beloved son…);
• Son of the Blessed: The Blessed One is God. i.e.: are you God’s Son.

And Jesus answered quite simply: “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”

The High Priest tore his garments; that means he probably isn’t wearing his priestly garments; these guys finally have what they’ve wanted; you see, Jesus says some pretty bold statements here:

I kind of picture the High Priest responding like Tom Cruise at Jack Nicholson’s confession to issuing the Code Red. But instead of stepping aside and saying; if it pleases the court, I suggest the members be dismissed so that we can move to an immediate Article 39a session. The witness has rights. This high priest tears his clothes and cries Blasphemy. Why? There are two verses of Scripture Jesus alludes to when he speaks. The 1^st is Psalm 110.1: The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” Which is a clear reference to the Messiah. Probably, the most quoted verse in the OT! I don’t know that for sure, but it has to be in the top 10. 2ndly, he quotes from Daniel 7. Turn there and let’s read that together.

Rd 7.9-14; Jesus isn’t claiming to be an earthly king – he’s claiming to be part of the Godhead. When he says, sitting at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven, He’s making a definitive statement about who he is and, the High Priest gets it – as does everyone else in the room. Rd 63b: “What further witnesses do we need? Rd 64; ⁶⁴ You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?” And they all condemned him as deserving death.

Now it gets ugly. It’s one thing to despise a man because you think him an idiot or you hate his politics or theology. It is another to physically abuse him because you don’t like him. Rd v 65: so these godly, humble men…spit on him! They cover his face and hit him! They deliver him over to the Temple guards and they beat on him, too.

t.s.: I’m guessing some of this is even seen by Peter. Remember he’s right there.

III. The Failure of Peter (66-72)

exp.: rd 66-68; Jesus is peppered with questions and accusations that are false. Peter is hit with questions and accusations that are totally true. But, Peter denies it. In v 70 the same girl speaks up.

1. The 1^st time it was to him alone.
2. The 2^nd time she speaks to the bystanders
3. The 3^rd time one of the bystanders speaks up – according to another Gospel, it is his accent that sticks out.

ill.: note the contrast between these two men:

• Peter is accused by a servant girl; Jesus, by a mob.
• Peter is faced with true accusations; The accusations against Jesus are all false
• Peter lies to his crowd but is left alone; Jesus tells the truth and is condemned for it

Rd v 72; Luke’s narrative has always intrigued me. If you’ll indulge me, I’d like to read what Luke writes:

⁶⁰ But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. ⁶¹ And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” ⁶² And he went out and wept bitterly.

This verse moves me because I can only imagine what the eyes of Jesus communicated to Peter. Were his eyes blackened? Swollen? Bloodied? Here is a man who has been more than a friend. The look; the rooster crows; the remembrance of the prediction – all of these culminate in a moment of realization for Peter. And in that moment and in those eyes were the compassion of a messiah whose heart is filled with forgiveness for those who reject and deny him, even this fallen apostle.

Conclusion: Oh, the countless times I’ve failed or denied my savior. And Oh, the gravity of his forgiveness that haunts my mind, as I understand I am so undeserving of his mercy.  

Application: Well, what do I want you to remember from this message? Jesus is the promised Messiah, the Son of God. He rules and reigns in power. He alone will stand as judge over the earth. In light of this, I want you to know:

1. The actions of his life demonstrate perfect faithfulness and truth.
2. The promises in his words are perfectly sure and trustworthy. ‘then Peter remembered how Jesus had said’…What he has said will come to pass.
3. Because of these two truths:
   1. Restoration is now our hope.

Oh sure, we can live in failure, but why would we want to? It is interesting that Mark records neither Peter’s restoration nor Judas’ suicide. If we were left with, ‘And he broke down and wept’ But never heard anything of Peter again, those would be sad words indeed. But we have been left with more… the hope of restoration!

Mark 14.27-50

Title: The Abused Shepherd-King

Text: Mark 14.27-50

Introduction: We’ll be here in three different texts this morning: Mark 14, Zechariah some; Psalm 118. Bookmark Mark 14 & Zechariah. Psalm 118 is a handout and we’ll read that together as Responsive Reading. As for Mark 14 and Zechariah, go ahead and bookmark these places for convenience.

My outline this morning will follow the movements of these men geographically across the map:

1. As they move out to the Mt. of Olives (v26), Jesus offers The Prediction: They will all fall away
2. Then, Jesus & the 3 move to Gethsemane (v32), The Garden Prayer: Alone, because the others are sleeping
3. Finally, Jesus and the 3 move back to the Mt. O w/ the disciples and are joined by Judas and the Mob (v42), The Prediction: It is fulfilled as they all flee!  

rd v 26; I wish I knew the hymn; we can safely assume it was one of the hymns of the Hallel; at this stage of the Passover celebration, they were probably at Psalm 118 – which would be sung antiphonally; (Read it together); then the mood changes as Jesus tells them plainly in v 27;

I. The Prediction: Fall Away (27-31)

exp.: As they walk and sing, the mood changes when Jesus, and the reality of this night and tomorrow, hit him hard in v 27: You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ Now you might expect Peter to pull Jesus aside and tell him once again not to be so negative – but that didn’t work out so well the last time that happened! Maybe, with the song, they’ve just sung, and the teaching they’ve experienced, maybe, just maybe, they’re starting to get it.

This verse Jesus quotes from the Old Testament, specifically, from Zechariah; Zechariah is filled with prophecies about the Messiah; we learn a lot about the Messiah from Zechariah. One characteristic, in particular, is Zechariah’s emphasis on the Messiah as the Temple Builder. In this regard, Jesus is like the shepherd-kings:

• Moses, who as the shepherd-king built the 1^st Tabernacle which traveled with the children of Israel.
• David and/or Son of David: I say ‘David’s son’ because he is the Son of David. David, the shepherd-king was not allowed to build the Temple, but instead that task was given to his son. (Song: these are the days of Elijah)
• Zerubabbel: He, too is a pattern, a type of Christ; he, too is a Temple builder; he came and rebuilt Solomon’s Temple after the devastation of the exile. The sheep were scattered abroad and he served as a ‘shepherd-king’ re-building the Temple. The Word of the Lord came in Zechariah 4.6-10;

Mark seems to be very familiar with Zechariah, taking from the 2^nd half of Zechariah some of his prophecies and adding them to the storyline for us to follow. For example, in Zechariah we see:

• The Messiah’s Character – we see this future figure filled with righteousness and yet displaying deep humility (9.9); His Reign is Universal (9.10); In 9.11, you see his willingness to sacrifice himself – to die for his people. This unique combination of humility and sovereignty is seen in the imagery of an abused shepherd-king;
• The Shepherd-king Pattern: When I say, “Shepherd-King”, Can you see Moses? Can you see David? Zechariah continues to build on this imagery of this shepherd-king who is one who is abused; rd Zech 12.10; 13.7; the Lord speaks to the sword: Strike the shepherd;

Jesus is quoting from this text where Yahweh says to the Sword: Strike the Shepherd. This is the Lord’s doing; Isaiah: Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him. But Jesus doesn’t end with this statement: you’ll all fall away. Look at what he says next: rd v 28; I’m going to die, you’ll be scattered, but I will be raised up and we will be brought back together. And, I’ll meet you in Galilee.

But Peter doesn’t catch all of what Jesus is saying. He only hears the negative statement of their falling away.

ill.: Do you ever do that? Listen to the 1^st part of what is being said, but not the whole thing? It seems that Peter has done that constantly, starting back in 8.31; here, Peter has missed it again. Jesus is going to die and rise again. If Peter dies defending Jesus, he’ll miss that part!

app.: Well, Jesus leaves the sound of their voices resonating in the air. Me, too!

t.s.: So, they arrive at wherever it is they’re staying at Gethsemane.

II. The Garden: Gethsemane (32-42)

exp.: rd v 32; this word ‘sit’ has different meanings and from the situation at the end of this passage, it seems to mean ‘set up camp’ here. This word is used in the OT by God to tell David that he will set a descendant of his on the throne. So, these guys set up camp – maybe it already kind of was. Rd 33a; Jesus then takes the three others with him: Peter, James, and John.

Think about these three:

• Peter has just declared that he would never abandon Christ. He will go to prison or even fight to the death for him. Keep that in mind.
• These other two were the ones that asked him previously that one of them might sit on his right and the other on his left. They declared that they were able to be baptized with the baptism of Jesus and drink from the cup that he will drink from. They said so ignorantly. ‘Cup’ often times has the idea of wrath with it. It is ‘poured’ out. They just don’t get it.

And here they have an opportunity to step up. For what they don’t see – and honestly, what I’m not sure we grasp – is Christ’s moment of…. Fear? Uncertainty?

I know, I know, you’re like: what a minute Fred! This is God in the flesh. He ain’t scarit of nuthin’!

Bear with me….

Rd v 33b-34; note those three words:

• Distressed
• Troubled
• Sorrowful (even unto death)

Have you ever said something like: “Man, this is killing me!” I’m not sure we’ve ever been to the state of distress and sorrow like Jesus! So, in this state of distress, trouble, and sorrow (even unto death!) he asks the three to remain here and watch. The idea is to stay awake and be alert, keep watch with me.

Then, what does Jesus do? He walks a little distance away and cries out to the Father. Rd v 36; “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

Here is Jesus asking the Father for another way, stating, “you can do anything… anything is possible for you.” And here’s his request: Remove this cup from me.

Doesn’t this just really catch you off guard? It does me. I have a tough time reconciling the sovereignty of God over the free will of man. You can see this tension here. We can talk about that at WEBS if you’d like. For now, let’s look at something unique that Mark is doing.

This is big, for a couple of reasons:

1. Chiasm: the structure of this passage…

A. The Prediction: Fall Away (27-28)

                        B. Reply: Peter’s Denial (29-31)

                                    C. Disciples: Sit here (32)

                                                D. The Three: Watch and Pray (33-34)

                                                            E. Climax: Distress, Troubled, and Sorrowful (33-36)

                                                D. The Three: Sleeping times 3

                                    C. Disciples: joined with Judas and the Mob

                        B. Response: Peter’s Defense

A. The Prediction: Fulfilled

So, with this information, let’s take a deeper look at this passage. If, this is correct – Mark’s focus then would be this moment – Christ’s suffering emotionally, spiritually.

• This is so… Un-Christ-like. Mark has presented to us someone who is unflappable in the Messiah. The Religious Leaders have tried to trip him up many times. Through all the healings, feedings, struggles, storms – never once does the Messiah show weakness. But take his reaction to this now and compare it with many who’ve died for the faith.

Ill.: I am always amazed at the strength and courage of martyrs for Christ. Consider the story of seven brothers and their mother, who praised God and mocked the arrogance of Antiochus the king even as they are one by one gruesomely tortured and executed. After six have died, the youngest refuses to recant and even taunts the king:

But you, unholy wretch, you most defiled of all mortals, do not be elated in vain and puffed up by uncertain hopes, when you raise your hand against the children of heaven. You have not yet escaped the judgment of the almighty, all-seeing God. For our brothers after enduring a brief suffering have drunk of ever-flowing life, under God’s covenant; but you, by the judgment of God, will receive just punishment for your arrogance (Strauss, p. 637).

Or consider Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, when brought before a magistrate and told he would be burned at the stake if he did not recant. Tim Keller records it this way:

The magistrate said in effect, “I will give you one more chance: You can reject Christianity, you can recant, and avoid execution.” Some witnesses wrote down Polycarp’s reply: “The fire you threaten burns but an hour and is quenched after a little… You do not know the fire of the coming judgment… But why do you delay? Come, do what you will.

Keller, in his book on Mark, also tells of Nicholas Ridley and Hugh Latimer, who were burned at the stake for their faith in Oxford in 1555. They were tied side by side, and when the fire was lit, it is said that Latimer said to Ridley: Be of good comfort Master Ridley, and play the man: we shall this day light such a candle by God’s grace in England, as I trust shall never be put out (Keller, p. 191).

But Christ is struggling at this moment. You know the story already, don’t you? He returns and pleads with them to stay awake and pray. Do they? No, these men who in their arrogance tried to instruct Christ – wimp out.

app.: Isn’t that so like most of us as humans? We speak boldly of a faith in Christ and if called on to die, we’d march right up to the stake and volunteer our hands to be tied. Die for Christ? Yes, and we’d sing praises to God as we burned at the stake. But ask us to watch and pray for one hour and what is our response?

We are wimps when it comes to praying. You and I are not willing to give up sleep.

As a church, I hear you say – we should be praying – we need a time of prayer about this matter. We have one: every Wednesday night.

So what is it about this struggle that is different than these Martyrs? Well, Christ isn’t being martyred. He is going through something quite different. He is about to bear the sins of humanity. He is standing on a precipice that overlooks the flames of hell. He is standing before the open gates of hell and he feels the rush of heat blow past his soul. He is about to bear the penalty for your sin and my sin.

t.s.: The wages of sin is death…but the free gift of eternal life would not be a possibility today if he hadn’t paid this price. He returns a third time to find them sleeping in v 41, but it is too late to prepare in prayer now – rd v 42:  Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”

III. The Prediction: Fulfilled (43-50)

exp.: display the chiasm; Jesus returns to the place where he left the disciples earlier in time to meet up with Judas and a mob that has come to arrest him. Judas betrays Jesus with a greeting and a kiss.

This event, which occurs in all four Gospels, is the shortest version in our Bibles. Mark mentions only that some individual struck with a sword, cutting off the ear of the high priest’s servant. But here’s what we know from the other gospels:

• John identifies for us the attacker, who he says is Peter.
• And John says the servant’s name was Malchus (John 18:10).
• Both Luke and John identify the severed ear as the “right ear” (Luke 22:50; John 18:10).
• Mark does not mention any response by Jesus to the man (He does, however, rebuke his opponents; see vv. 48–49).
• In the other three gospels, Jesus calls for the men to stop,
  • While Matthew adds the proverb that “all who draw the sword will die by the sword”
  • And that if he wished, he could call twelve legions of angels to his defense (Matt 26:52–53).
• Luke alone lets us in on the miracle of Jesus healing Malchus’ ear (Luke 22:51).

So, taking from the other gospels, These men lay hands on Jesus and Peter decides now to act in defense. He cuts off the ear of Malchus, but Jesus stops it all. Rd v 48-49; and the prophecy comes true in v 50 – they all left him and fled. So quick to get away, one young man who had stripped down to his towel, probably cleaning himself up for the night, when someone grabbed him….rd 51-52;

t.s.: And the prophecy is fulfilled.

Conclusion: I wouldn’t say that Christ was depressed in our story. But, he sure was hurting, struggling with all that he was going through.

Application: Christ was distressed and troubled as his soul became very sorrowful, even unto death. While at his lowest point, entering into the suffering and persecution he would face, all of his friends – and enemies, would abandon him.

Many scholars, authors, and composers believe that God abandoned his Son, as well. That is why they say he cries out: My God, My God, why has thou forsaken me! Eloi, Eloi, Lema Sabachthani. They say that is why the sun did not shine, etc.

We sing: How great the pain of searing loss; The Father turns His face away; As wounds which mar the Chosen One; Bring many sons to glory.

I’m not so sure that this is true, though. In spite of the fact that so many teach this. I know, I know, who am I to question what has been taught throughout the ages. But this one verse caught my attention once: Ps 22 – the whole Psalm is contextually aligned with the Scripture: in v²⁴ For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him.

It appears, in spite of Christ’s struggle and the Father’s will to crush him, The father did not turn away and hide his face from his son.

Therefore, in light of this:

1. When we endure the hardest of times, there is one who understands far better than we know! Tim Keller writes: “there’s a gap between the desires of your heart and the circumstances of your life, and the bigger the gap, the greater the suffering.” I think the trick then is to close the gap between our desires and our circumstances. I know that’s not easy. I’m not saying it is. Maybe I’m saying just try to be more realistic and genuine in where you are. And Remember, as the writer of Hebrews reminds us that God has promised us that he will never leave or forsake us. Let us then hold on to the promise of God.
2. Let us be cautious and not so glib in our commitment to Christ. Sure, we stand and say, I’ll not abandon you, I’ll go to prison for you, I’ll even die for you! But, what are we like when he asks us to watch and pray for just one hour with him? Is the commitment of your faith displayed mostly in your activity with others? Or, can you honestly say you fight and defend the faith on your knees before the Father in prayer.
3. Let us be cautious when we handle the Word of God – not to take part or even some, but the whole counsel of God. Peter heard the part about Jesus going to die, but he missed the wonderful part about their planned reunion.
4. As you consider Christ facing Hell in all of its horror and terror, do you know that without Christ, that penalty is still yours? Won’t you trust him this morning as your Passover Lamb?

Mark 14.12-26

Title: The Lord’s Supper: Celebrate and Remember!

Text: Mark 14.12-26

Introduction: We’ll be in two different passages this morning: Mark 12 and Exodus 12. Take time now to bookmark them, so that you can move back and forth between them if you’d like.

Can you remember special Christmas mornings growing up? Maybe you’ve got some memories as an adult with your own kids. Maybe some of those special memories go back to when you were a kid. I grew up opening presents on Christmas Eve. Christmas morning was reserved for presents from Santa Claus. Others grew up opening just one present on Christmas Eve and then diving in early Christmas morning for all the rest of the presents.

Christmas is special for us all in some way. Traditions have been established and you love them. Lisa and I have some friends, the Baker’s, who open a present on Christmas Eve, and every year, it’s the same thing: a new set of PJs! They wear them that night and avoid the world the next day – staying in their pajamas all day long on Christmas day. That’s sweet!

Hopefully, as I’ve just mentioned Christmas and Christmas Traditions, you’ve been taken back to a time or place and your heart rejoices at what you remember – and who you remember.

Our topic today is that way for many Jewish people who celebrate Passover. It is a very special holiday – a holy day. For them, it was the very 1^st one established by God. To understand it, we’d have to go back to Exodus 12 and see what they did and when they did it. In many ways, the Passover celebration is no different today for our Jewish friends and Messianic Jewish brothers than it was for Jesus and his disciples.

Sure, there are some differences, but as to the basics – those traditions have been around for … well, thousands of years!

Rd Mark 14.12; what is Mark talking about? Let’s turn to Exodus 12 and see if we can gain some insight into their celebration.

You know the story: Abraham; Isaac; Jacob; 12 sons; Egypt; 400 years and enslaved; God has yet to reveal who he is to them; Moses; to lead them out of slavery and Egypt to freedom and to become a nation – a people; There have been 9 plagues – all a part of what God has been doing to show the people his power. Now, the time to lead them out has arrived – and it will come when the 10^th plague hits – the death of the 1^st born.

We pick up in v 1 of Exodus 12 where we see God establishing the Institution of The Passover.

I. The Passover: An Established Institution (12.1-16)

exp.: rd Ex 12.1-2; Wow! A new beginning! You have right here the establishment of a new calendar! According to the Jewish Calendar, we are currently in the year 5782!

So the calendar is created, and what is a calendar without holidays? Rd v 3-6; So dates are given: the 10^th and the 14^th; get a lamb; kill the lamb; rd 7; sacrifice this lamb and take its blood and put it on the doorposts and the lintel. Rd v 8-10; Roasted Lamb; unleavened bread and bitter herbs; rd v 11; So there you have it: the Lord’s Passover; 12-13;

So, this Passover is to be:

• Celebrated: starting in v 14, we learn that this is also to be
• Commemorated: rd v 14-15; This is a fun time for the family as the women clean the house from top to bottom to ensure that no leaven is found in the house.  However, the wife will usually leave a small bit on the counter. The father walks through the house and finds the leaven on the counter and sweeps it away into the dustpan. A reminder to the children of what they’re doing. Rd v 16-17; So this week long celebration is instituted here, as a part of the Passover Celebration basically going from the 10^th-21^st.

app.: So, this is what is going on with Jesus and his disciples. In Mk 14.12 they basically say to Jesus: its time for the Passover Celebration. Tell us what to do to get it all ready. Rd 13-16;

• A man carrying a jar (13): that’s pretty unusual.
• Wherever he enters, say to the Master of the house (14). Now, 1^st off, it is a holiday, Jesus could have very easily have made plans with a follower for this occasion. Or, this could be supernatural, and I think it has supernatural flavors about it. The point here is that a place is already prepared for these men to set up shop for the night. There are still chores to be done, food to be purchased, wine to be bought.

They prepared the Passover (16). This celebration commanded by God was about to be kept and commemorated.

t.s.: And v 17 tells us he came with the rest of the disciples to celebrate. This brings us to the 2^nd part of our passage this morning:

II. Passover: An Event to be Remembered (17-21)

exp.: rd 18a; While they are eating; Jesus would be the one presiding over the celebration. It would be during this festive time while eating this wonderful meal that the mood in the room changed: rd v 18-19; from v 10-11, we know this is Judas;

app.: Something incredible takes place here. There has been all of this symbolism during the course of the meal. And all of it has been purposeful. As we read in Mark, we get the sense that Judas is dismissed to go work his evil in v20-21.

t.s.: But Jesus, the presenter, then ties the Passover Celebration together with a new institution to be recognized and remembered by those who believe. And, he gives to us, his followers…

III. The Lord’s Supper: An Institution to Celebrate and Commemorate (22-26)

exp.: As they were eating, he took the bread, and he broke it and he blessed it and he gave it to his disciples. This he said, is my body. In the Aramaic, there would be no verb. We supply it here so that it makes sense grammatically. But to the eyes and ears, Jesus would have taken the Unleavened Bread and tore it down the middle and said: this…my body.

The Passover Meal was consumed. It was a Lamb that had been sacrificed on their behalf. They knew that God had said when the 10^th plague came upon Egypt: The firstborn of every household will die tonight; however if you’ll trust me, do this: sacrifice a lamb which shall die in your place. Put the blood on the door as a sign of this faith. And your actions demonstrating that faith in me will save that life.

Jesus says: this is my body which is broken for you. Like the Passover Lamb, you place your faith in me with your actions and my death will save you.

Rd v 23-24; There are 4 cups of wine that are used during the Seder dinner. Each cup represents 4 promises God made to his people:

1. For rescuing them from Egypt,
2. For releasing them from slavery,
3. For redeeming them by his awesome power, and
4. For a new relationship with Him.

Now, I’m no expert in the Seder dinner, but from what I’ve read, the third glass of wine is the glass Jesus would be holding when he came to this part of our passage. I’m standing here wondering what it would be like for these guys who know what is supposed to be said and done. They’ve heard this many times over and yet, they must be caught off guard as Jesus leaves the script with which they’re so familiar.

Rd v 24 – “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. The shedding of his blood is what will redeem them by his awesome power. And then, Jesus says something very interesting: ²⁵ Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

I’m reminded of the guys in Acts 23 who wanted Paul dead. More than 40 men said something like what Jesus said here in reference to destroying Paul. They said they would eat no food until Paul was dead. Well, they had to break their vow or die! And that’s the point. A vow like this is like saying: I’m going to get this done if it’s the last thing I do. Or something like Even if it kills me, I’m going to….

Jesus is telling them here that he will give himself to die. He is going to become our Passover Lamb. His body will be beaten and whipped to shreds. His blood will be poured out as a payment for our sins.

Therefore, the one who looks to this Lamb for salvation, a new exodus will come, a new Passover will occur. And from this moment forward, he will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until it is accomplished.

t.s.: Maybe that is why he said on the cross when he was done: It is finished.

Conclusion: When we lived in Wyoming we heard a lot about the Yellowstone fire of 1988. Ashes from that fire fell down and covered our little town. Cars, houses, streets… all covered in ash.

It is interesting how life comes from death. When a tree dies, the seed is spawned and there is rebirth. You can survey a hillside of ashes just a couple of months after a devastating fire and see the seedlings of many trees rising up out of the ashes.

Tim Keller tells the story of how he read in National Geographic years ago of just such life coming out of the ashes. It seems that there were some Park Rangers tasked with surveying the damage. And as they made their way up a hill, they came to the charred remains of a bird, sitting there perfectly still. The sight of this bird bothered the ranger – it seemed so eerie and out of place. So, he grabbed a stick and pushed the dead bird over – when to his surprise, three tiny chicks came out from under the shadow of her wings.

She could have flown away, but instead faced the hell that burned around her and sheltered her chicks from the raging fire.

We’re going to participate in observing the Lord’s Supper and remembering Christ’s great sacrifice. If you’ve never trusted in the saving work of Christ, I want to give you a chance to do that this morning. Your prayer should be something like Psalm 57.1: Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by.

Let’s pray.

In a worship service, we have two sacraments, two ordinances given to us by Christ. One is baptism. That is the command given to us to publicly profess Christ as Savior. This is the 2^nd, to do so in remembrance of his Sacrifice or our sins.

You don’t have to be a member of Tarpley, but you do have to be a member of the body of Christ! Also, I’d like to warn you not to enter this time lightly. My caution has been that the Lord’s Supper is so often times entered into with a ho-hum attitude. My goal isn’t to be the Lord’s Supper Police, this is a deeply personal time. My goal is to just remind you of the sacredness involved.   Observance of the Lord’s Supper