Mark 14

 

1 After two days was the feast of the passover and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by stealth, and put him to death. 2 But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar of the people.

 

  • The irony of this is great.
  • The death angel passed over anyone the passover night in Egypt who had the blood of the lamb on the doorposts of their house.
  • Here, centuries later, as the Israelites are celebrating this picture of God’s deliverance from evil through the death of His Son, the leaders of the people plot to kill the One sent to save them.
  • They plot to kill the one the passover lamb portrayed.
  • Crucifying Jesus was the most hideous act of mankind in history.

 

3 And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat to eat, a woman came having an alabaster box of ointment of very precious spikenard; she broke the box, and poured it on his head. 4 And some were indignant within themselves, and said, Why was ointment wasted? 5 It could have been sold for more than three hundred denarri, and been given to the poor. And they murmured against her. 6 And Jesus said, Let her alone; why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for me. 7 You always have the poor with you and whenever you want you can do them good: but you do not always have me. 8 She has done what she could: she is come beforehand to anoint my body for burial. 9 Truthfully I say to you, Wherever this good news is preached throughout the whole world, this also that she has done will be spoken of for a memorial of her.

 

  • God created us and sustained our life and breath.
  • He gives us each day and all that we have.
  • His Son died for our sins. No one else has done so much for us.
  • This woman expressed her love. She honored Him first with her love and He memorialized it forever.
  • Matthew 22:37-38 Jesus said to him, You will love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment.

 

10 And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests, to betray him to them. 11 And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him.

 

  • Beginning with Adam in Eden, our Maker has been the most betrayed person ever.
  • Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

 

12 And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said to him, Where do you want us to go and prepare that you may eat the passover? 13 And he sent out two of his disciples and said to them, Go into the city, and there, you will meet a man carrying a pitcher of water: follow him. 14 And wherever he goes in, say to the owner of the house, The Master says, Where is the guest chamber, where I will eat the passover with my disciples? 15 And he will show you a large upper room furnished and prepared: prepare for us there. 16 And his disciples went out, and came into the city, and found it as he had said to them: and they prepared the passover. 17 And in the evening he came with the twelve. 18 And as they sat and ate, Jesus said, Truthfully I say to you, One of you who eats with me will betray me. 19 And they became sorrowful, and said to him one by one, Is it I? And another said, Is it I? 20 And he answered and said to them, It is one of the twelve, that dips with me in the dish. 21 The Son of man indeed goes, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! It would be good for that man if he had never been born.

 

  • The meal they were eating foreshadowed what Jesus was about to do.
  • He was about to defeat evil and reverse the curse of death on the human race.
  • His heel was about to be bruised for us.
  • Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; it will bruise your head, and you will bruise his heel.
  • Genesis 22:8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering.

 

The Lord gave man a new worship service

 

22 And as they ate, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body. 23 And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it. 24 And he said to them, This is my blood of the new testament/contract, which is shed for many. 25 Truthfully I say to you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God. 26 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.

 

  • The bread represents all that Jesus is; the blood represents God’s love poured out through Him to save us.
  • John 6:35 And Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life: he that comes to me will never hunger; and he that believes on me will never thirst.
  • 2 Corinthians 5:21 For he has made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

 

27 And Jesus said to them, All of you will be offended because of me tonight: for it is written, I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered. 28 But after I am raised, I will go before you into Galilee. 29 But Peter said to him, Although all are offended, yet I will not deny you. 30 And Jesus said to him, Truthfully I say to you, That today, even in this night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times. 31 But he spoke the more vehemently, If I should die with you, I will not deny you in any way. They all said the same thing. 32 And they came to a place called Gethsemane: and he said to his disciples, Sit here, while I pray. 33 And he took with him Peter, James, and John, and began to be greatly amazed, and to be very heavy; 34 And said to them, My soul is exceedingly sorrowful unto death: wait here, and watch. 35 And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36 And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto you; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what you will.

 

  • Being God in human flesh, Jesus knew all the sins of all the people, past, present, and future.
  • He had come to bear the punishment for them all.
  • It wasn’t the physical pain that Jesus dreaded so much but the displeasure, the full wrath of His beloved Father against our sins that He was going to experience in our place.
  • Abba is the word a small child calls their father, like Daddy.
  • Because Jesus bore God’s full displeasure in our place we can experience utter joy of the pure love of the Father toward us.

 

37 And he came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, Simon, Do you sleep? Could you not watch one hour? 38 Watch and pray, so that you not enter into temptation. The spirit is truly ready but the flesh is weak. 39 And again he went away, and prayed, and spoke the same words. 40 And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither did they know what to answer him. 41 And he came the third time, and said to them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour has come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Get up, let’s go; look, he that betrays me is here. 43 And immediately, while he still spoke, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. 44 And he that betrayed him had given them a sign, saying, Whoever I kiss, that’s the one; seize him, and lead him away securely. 45 And as soon as he came, he went straight to him and said, Master, master; and kissed him. 46 And they laid their hands on him, and arrested him. 47 And one of them that stood by drew a sword, struck a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.

 

  • Luke 22:50-51 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. 51 And Jesus answered and said, allow you thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.
  • This act shouted louder than words, look who you are doing this to!

 

48 And Jesus answered and said to them, Have you come out, as against a thief, with swords and with clubs to take me? 49 I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me: but the scriptures must be fulfilled. 50 And they all forsook him, and fled. 51 And a certain young man followed him, having a linen cloth thrown about his naked body; and when the young men grabbed him: 52 he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked. 53 And they led Jesus away to the high priest: and with him were assembled all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes. 54 And Peter followed him from far off to the palace of the high priest: and he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire. 55 And the chief priests, and all the council searched for witnesses against Jesus to put him to death; and found none. 56 For many bare false witness against him, but their testimonies did not agree. 57 And one rose up and bare false witness against him, saying, 58 We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.

 

  • Revelation 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, says the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
  • Romans 11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

 

59 But these testimonies did not agree. 60 And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, saying, You answer nothing? What is it that these witness against you? 61 But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him and said to him, Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?

 

  • Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government will be on his shoulder: and his name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

 

He is the Son of the Blessed who sits at the right hand of the Almighty God

 

62 And Jesus said, I AM: and you will see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. 63 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, What further need do we have of witnesses? 64 You have heard the blasphemy: what do you think? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death. 65 And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to beat him with their fists, and to say to him, Prophesy: and the servants struck him with the palms of their hands. 66 And as Peter was beneath in the palace, one of the maids of the high priest came: 67 And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked on him and said, You also were with Jesus of Nazareth. 68 But he denied saying, I do not know or understand what you say. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crowed. 69 And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them. 70 And he denied it again. And a little after, those that stood by said again to Peter, Surely you are one of them: for you are a Galilaean, and your speech agrees. 71 But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I do not know this man of whom you speak. 72 And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said to him, Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times. And when he thought about it, he wept.

 

  • Revelation 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13 And he was clothed with a garment dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies that were in heaven followed him on white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 And out of his mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it he should strike the nations: and he will rule them with a rod of iron: and he treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And he has on his clothing and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

 

                                                  Mark 15

 

The eternal God, the King of Kings, died in our place

 

1 Immediately, in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. They bound Jesus, carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate. 2 And Pilate asked him, Are you the King of the Jews? And answering he said to him, You said it. 3 The chief priests accused him of many things: but he answered nothing. 4 And Pilate asked him again, saying, Do you answer nothing? Look how many things they witness against you. 5 But Jesus still answered nothing; so that Pilate marveled.

 

  • Revelation 17:14 These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

 

6 Now at that feast he released to them one prisoner, whoever they desired. 7 And there was one named Barabbas, who lay bound with thoze that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection. 8 And the multitude, crying aloud, began to ask him to do as he had always done to them. 9 But Pilate answered them saying, Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews? 10 For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him because of envy. 11 But the chief priests incited the people to have him release Barabbas to them instead. 12 And Pilate answered again and said to them, What do you want me to do to him whom you call the King of the Jews? 13 And they cried out again, Crucify him. 14 Then Pilate said to them, Why, what evil has he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him.

 

  • He had done no evil.
  • He had created, sustained them, and was about to die for their sins.
  • Isaiah 53:9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

 

15 And so Pilate, deciding to do the easiest to the crowd, released Barabbas to them, and when he had scourged him delivered Jesus to be crucified. 16 And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they called together the whole band. 17 And they clothed him with purple, braided a crown of thorns, and put it about his head, 18 and began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews! 19 And they struck him on the head with a reed, spit on him, and bowing their knees worshipped him.

 

  • Thorns and thistles were part of God’s curse at man’s fall in Genesis 3.
  • This crown of thorns identifies the act of Christ on the cross to that first sin.
  • Jesus paid for all the sin of all time as he hung between heaven on earth.
  • He wore a crown of thorns that He might once again crown us with His glory.
  • Romans 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
  • 1 Peter 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of glory that does not fade away.
  • Romans 14:11 As I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow to me, and every tongue will confess to God.

 

He conquered death

 

20 And when they had mocked him, they took the purple robe off of him, put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him. 21 And they compelled one Simon, a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus, who passed by, coming out of the country, to carry his cross. 23 And they gave him wine to drink mingled with myrrh: but he did not receive it. 24 And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments and gambled for them, what every man would take. 25 And it was the third hour, and they crucified him. 26 And the title of his accusation was written above, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

 

  • Myrrh was used for embalming.
  • Jesus died that all might live forever.
  • Every second, every act of this crucifixion was horrible.
  • When they took off the purple robe, the wounds from the whipping were reopened.
  • God’s love knows no bounds. This act of God’s love conquered death forever.
  • John 10:28 And I give to them eternal life; and they will never perish, neither will any man pluck them out of my hand.
  • Revelation 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he will reign forever and ever.

 

27 They crucified two thieves with him, one on his right hand and the other on his left. 28 And the scripture was fulfilled which said, He was numbered with the transgressors. 29 And those that passed by blasphemed him, wagging their heads and saying, Ah, you that destroy the temple, and build it in three days, 30 save yourself, and come down from the cross. 31 Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; he cannot save himself. 32 Let Christ, the King of Israel, come down from the cross now, that we may see and believe. And those that were crucified with him insulted him. 33 And when the sixth hour came, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? Which is interpreted, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

 

  • God is too pure to look upon evil. He could not look at His Holy Son while that Son was bearing the sins of the world.
  • He was crucified the third hour, nine o’clock. The darkness lasted from noon until three in the afternoon.
  • Habakkuk 1:13 You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, and can not look on iniquity.

 

35 And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Look, he calls Elijah. 36 And one ran and filled a sponge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down. 37 And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and gave up the spirit. 38 And the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom.

 

  • The temple veil was woven 18 inches thick and sixty feet high.
  • God tore the veil. God has removed all barriers between Himself and man.
  • Romans 8:38 I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

He truly is the Son of God

 

39 And when the centurion who stood opposite him, saw that he cried out like that and expired, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God. 40 There were also women watching from far away: among whom was Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome; 41 (Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered to him;) and many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem. 42 Now when the evening came, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, 43 Joseph of Arimathaea, an honorable counselor, who also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and gathered up courage and went in to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. 44 And Pilate marveled that he was already dead: and calling the centurion to him, he asked him how long he had been dead. 45 And when he knew it from the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph. 46 And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a tomb which was cut out of a rock, and rolled a stone to the door of the tomb. 47 And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.

 

  • Jesus completed the hardest job in history in just a few hours.
  • The body of the Lord went into the grave and His soul went into the underworld to proclaim the victory.
  • Criminals and evil men received poor burials, sometimes their dead bodies were just tossed out into a field to rot or be eaten by wild animals.
  • Matthew 12:40 as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so will the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
  • 1Peter 3:18 For Christ also has suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive by the Spirit: 19 By which also he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison; 20 who were once disobedient, when the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. 21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ
  • Psalm 16:10 you will not leave my soul in hell; neither will you allow your Holy One to see corruption.

 

                                                Mark 16

 

He is risen from death

 

1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome, had bought sweet spices to come and anoint him. 2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came to the tomb at sunrise. 3 And they said among themselves, Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us? 4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. 5 And entering into the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were utterly astonished. 6 And he said to them, Do not be astonished: You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: see the place where they laid him.

 

  • God never intended death, but due to man’s choice, for 40 centuries the tide of death swept ceaselessly around the earth. From the fall of Adam in the garden until this moment, death claimed all life.
  • The people of the Old Testament who were raised from the dead had been resuscitated rather than resurrected. They died again later.
  • 4033 years of Biblically recorded history passed before this moment.
  • When Jesus rose from the dead, He was the first of the human race to rise from death to never die again, but rather live eternally.
  • Romans 5:17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.

 

7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goes before you into Galilee: there you will see him, as he said to you. 8 And they went out quickly, and fled from the tomb; for they trembled and were amazed: they said nothing to anyone because they were afraid. 9 Now when Jesus was raised early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. 10 And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. 11 And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen by her, did not believe it. 12 After that he appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country. 13 And they went and told it to the rest: but they did not believe them either.

 

  • John 6:35 And Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life: he that comes to me will never hunger; and he that believes on me will never thirst.

 

He now sits at the right hand of God

 

14 Afterward he appeared to the eleven as they sat eating, and reproached their unbelief and hardness of heart because they did not believe those who had seen him after he was raised. 15 And he said to them, You go into all the world, and preach the good news to every creature. 16 He that believes and is baptized will be saved; but he that does not believe will be damned. 17 And these signs will follow those that believe; In my name/person they will cast out devils; they will speak with new tongues; 18 They will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover. 19 Then after the Lord had spoken to them, he was received up into heaven, and sat at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

 

  • Simon Greenleaf, former head of Harvard Law School, said that the resurrection of Jesus was one of the best-attested facts in history. 500 attested to seeing Him alive. Eleven of His closest disciples testified that they had eaten with Him after the resurrection.
  • Ezekiel 1:26 And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and on the throne was the likeness of a man above upon it. 27 And I saw as the color of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from his loins upward, and from his loins downward, I saw the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about. 28 As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it I fell on my face and heard the voice of one that spoke.
  • Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.


 

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SUMMARY: Mark 14-16

 

The Lord gave man a new worship service

He is the Son of the Blessed who sits at the right hand of the Almighty God

The eternal God, the King of Kings, died in our place

He conquered death

He truly is the Son of God

He is risen from death

He now sits at the right hand of God