Mark: God's Servant: Suffering Servant

September 28, 2014

Mark: God’s Servant

Suffering Servant

Mark 14-15:20

(Advance Slide #1)

Introduction

Someone asked C.S. Lewis, "Why do the righteous suffer?"

• "Why not?" he replied. "They're the only ones who can take it."

(Advance Slide #2)

During the Passover Week the pilgrims to Jerusalem were preparing themselves for the joy and excitement of the weeks events.

• However, amid the excitement Jesus was preparing for a great ordeal.
• He was committed to do the will of the Father.

(Advance Slide #3)

• “...he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Phil. 2:8

(Advance Slide #4)

Text

“It was now two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to arrest him by stealth and kill him, 2 for they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar from the people.” Mark 14:1-2

As far as the Jewish authorities were concerned that the Passover would not be a good time to arrest Jesus.

• They were, understandably, afraid of a riot.
• That’s why they were looking for a way to make off with him by stealth.
• In a city whose every corner was crowded with it would be difficult to find Jesus and lay their hand on Him.
• That is what Judas undertook to do.

Lesson

As we go through this text we can follow Jesus’ footsteps during the days and hours of the last week

• We will be amazed to see the responses of various people to the Lord Jesus Christ.

**REMEMBER - the reception that Jesus received upon entering Jerusalem.

(Advance Slide #5)

ADORED - vs. 1-11

The placement of this part of the story is interesting.

• You find a contrast between the deceit of Judas and the loyalty of Mary.
• While Mark does not name the woman John does...she is the sister of Lazarus.
• Mary is mentioned 3 times in the gospel stories and each time she is sitting at the feet of Jesus...LISTENING!

(Advance Slide #6)

Mary’s offering was an expensive one.

• The cost was the equivalent of a common labors annual pay.
• She was not ashamed to give to Jesus lavishly and lovingly.
• We find 3 consequences of her actions:

1. Filled the house with a beautiful fragrance.

• There is always a ‘spiritual fragrance’ when Jesus is worshipped and praised.
• 2 Cor. 2:15-16

2. The disciples criticized her for wasting money.

• Isn’t it interesting that Judas was the one leading this.
• He accused her of wasting money...he wasted his life.

3. Jesus commended her and accepted her gift.

• Jesus knew her heart and defended her.
• She loved Jesus and gave Him her best!

(Advance Slide #7)

BETRAYED - vs. 12-26

For the Jews, the Passover feast was a memorial of a past victory.

• In the midst of this Jesus would institute a memorial to commemorate His death.
• This was Jesus’ last Passover and He would fulfill the Passover by dying on the cross...the perfect spotless Lamb of God.

Jesus was greatly troubled and announced that there was a traitor in their midst.

• This stunned them all except Judas who knew what Jesus was talking about.
• Must remember that Judas was not a martyr or a robot.
• He was a responsible person who made his own decisions and fulfilled the Word of God.
• Judas was just as lost as million are still today.

The disciples go from debating who is the greatest to who is the vilest among them.

• Judas was sitting at the place of honor.
• Jesus dipped some bread in some herbs and gave it to Judas.
• At this point Satan fully possessed him...and he left to make final arrangements.

(Advance Slide #8)

After Judas left Jesus instituted the ‘Lord’s Supper’

• The bread and wine were common elements in practically every meal.
• But Jesus is giving them a new meaning.
• His body and His blood.
• The last thing Jesus and His disciples did in the upper room was to sing a hymn.

(Advance Slide #9)

FORSAKEN - vs. 27-52

On the way to the garden Jesus warned the disciples that they would all turn from Him.

• He also assured them that they would meet up again in Galilee following the resurrection.
• Jesus quotes Zech. 13:7...this told the disciples what they would do when He was arrested...scatter!
• The other will scatter, but Peter (never good at following instruction) followed.

(Advance Slide #10)

Jesus’ struggle in the Garden can be understood only in the light of what would happen to Him on the cross:

• He would be made sin for us...He would bear the curse of the law.
• It would not be the ‘anguish and sorrow’ that Jesus wanted to relieved from but rather being forsaken by the Father.
• He didn’t tell God what to do...He had perfect confidence in the Will of Father.
• The disciples slept.
• Gently Jesus rebuked the disciples and warned them.
• “Watch and pray” is an admonition that is often repeated in Scripture.

(Advance Slide #11)

After the third time Jesus announced, “It is time...the hour has come!”

• Judas and the temple guards arrived...Judas betrayed Jesus with a prearranged kiss.
• Why the large crowd?
• They thought that Jesus would try to escape, or that His followers would put up a fight, or that perhaps He might do a miracle.
• Peter’s actions were foolish.
• Had Jesus not helped Malchus would he have been on a cross next to Jesus?
• Jesus is taken and the disciples scatter!

(Advance Slide #12)

REJECTED - vs. 53-72

(Advance Slide #13)

Jesus trial can be confusing:

• Was opened by Annas the former high priest.
• It then moved to the full council to hear witnesses.
• Jesus was then sent to Pilate who sent Him to Herod.
• Herod sent Him back to Pilate.
• Pilate yielded to the angry mob and delivered Jesus to be crucified.

(Advance Slide #14)

By the time they arrived at the high priest’s Peter was in the courtyard (perhaps even John Mark).

• While the Lord was being mocked and abused, Peter was in the courtyard below, trying to escape detection.
• 3 times Peter was questioned about Jesus and denied Him.
• Was it the crow of the roster or Peter remembering the words of Jesus.
• It is always the Word that penetrates the heart and brings about true repentance.
• Jesus, on His way to Pilate’s hall, turned and looked at Peter.
• It was a look of love, to be sure, but injured love

(Advance Slide #15)

CONDEMNED - vs. 15:1-20

(Advance Slide #16)

The Jewish council had convinced Pilate that Jesus was guilty of a capital crime and therefore worthy of death.

• They were not interested in seeing justice fulfilled...they were seeking vengeance!
• Jesus had claimed to be king and stirred up the people.
• He was viewed a dangerous revolutionary who undermined the authority of Rome.

(Advance Slide #17)

The governor had Jesus scourged.

• Then followed the disgraceful mockery by the soldiers, they beat Him, spat on Him, and bowed in mock homage.
• Jesus suffered and did not fight back.
• This is a lesson that Mark’s readers would need to learn as they faced persecution too.

21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. 1 Peter 2:21-24

Conclusion

(Advance Slide #18)

The men had not done the worst to God’s Son...the Suffering Servant!

• He will be lead outside of the city...nailed to a cross…and die.
• Why?
• For the sins of the very people who were crucifying Him!

Mark’s story, we find also the deeply personal meaning.

• The story of Barabbas invites us to see Jesus’ crucifixion in terms of a stark personal exchange.
• Barabbas deserves to die; Jesus dies instead, and he goes free.

"Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.” - Helen Keller

(Advance Slide #19)

• While Jesus suffers...HE will be VICTORIOUS over death!