The Gospel According to Mark (Part 47)

Give Online: Tithes & Offerings

Catch up on our series HERE

The Gospel According to Mark

(Part 47)

Welcome to Jesus Church here and online

We are in part 47 of our series through the Gospel according to Mark

• Last week we looked at the Jesus being arrested
  • Story leaves off with a bunch of people running
  • Some running from Jesus out of fear for their lives
  • Others running from Jesus teachings b/c it threatened power
• And we saw the only person not running
  • Was Jesus… because he trusted God
  • And when you trust God – You don’t need to run
  • Because you know He is always with you

This week we finish Ch. 14 with Jesus trial and Peter’s denial

Mk 14:53 – 72

They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders and the teachers of the law came together. Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire. The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree. Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: We heard him say, “I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.”

Yet even then their testimony did not agree. Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked him, Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed one? I am, said Jesus “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty one and coming on the clouds of heaven.” The high priest tore his clothes. Why do we need any more witnesses? He asked. You have heard the blasphemy What do you think? They all condemned him as worthy of death. Then some began to split at him they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists and said, “Prophesy!” And the guards took him and beat him.

While Peter was below in the courtyard one of the servant girds of the high priest came by. When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him. “You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus”, she said. But he denied it. “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about” he said and went out into the entryway. When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, “This fellow is one of them. Again he denied it. After a little while, those standing hear said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.” He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know this man you are talking about.” Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice, you will disown me three times. And he broke down and wept… [PRAY]

Story

Have you ever been in an intense moment… maybe a confrontation

• Didn’t end up going exactly how you wanted it to go
  • Then after – you think of all these things you should have done
  • Like ur flooded with the best comebacks of all time
  • If I would have done this when the pushed me
• When I was 13 I was in a place called Woodby Island in Washington
  • Right on Puget Sound – 4 friends went w/ neighborhood family
    • But very little to do… one main road in the town
    • So at night people would go loopin (drive back & forth)
  • We didn’t drive so we loop walked… thought we were so cool
    • Friend mom dropped us off to loop walk (9PM)
    • And naturally kids who could drive would make fun of us
• My buddy who was a year older…14 and a solid 6’2”
  • Well he yelled back at ONE car… out of probably 15
    • That was the car with the guy who wanted to fight
    • Guy jumps out and levels my 6’2” friend with one punch
  • Turns to me and punches my right in the throat
    • His buddy had stopped the car and was running at us too
    • I’m pretty sure we were all gonna die at that point
    • Only thing I could think to say is “we’re just kids!!!”
  • A few cars I think saw and started honking and they took off
    • For months after… all I could think was what I should’ve do
    • None of which would have changed anything at all
    • But when you look back… always tons you wish you did

TAG: If I have that convo w/ my boss again… if she says that next time

Probably tons of thoughts like this after the garden

I’m sure Peter wishes he would have done a couple things different

• Basically attacking an unarmed altar boy
  • All the other people with Jesus running scared
  • One guy even is so scared his clothes fall off
• Remember Peter is probably narrating this story… Mark is writing
  • Even as Peter is recalling what happened – Sure there’s regret
  • The rest of the disciples abandoning Jesus – Sure there’s regret
  • We’ll even see Judas has more regret than anyone

Truth is… we all do things we not proud of… wish we did it different

• But regret turns to redemption based on how we pick ourselves up
  • Will we identify with defeat…
  • Or do we use what happened to become better…
    • To have more perspective…
    • To have a greater understanding of God’s grace/forgiveness

Everything starts with this very shady trial

If u think we’ve seen some fixed trials in the last decade… that’s nothing

Mk 14:53-56

The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree. Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: We heard him say, “I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.” Yet even then their testimony did not agree.

• A little history just so we are all a little bit nerdier
  • This trial happens at the Chief Priest Caiaphas’ house
  • And in his house was a holding cell that they threw Jesus in
• In Israel… actually go down where Jesus spent last night
  • Pic 1 – This is the church that was built over the house
  • Pic 2 – This is the location to garden… temple… upper room
  • Pic 3 – This was fav place… Jesus was in this room b4 he died
  • Pic 4 – And would have looked up through that hole to the stars

Now this trial they put Jesus on was actually had very strict rules > law

• 1: Trial was supposed to happen by temple at hall of hewn stones
  • It was not allowed to be at the home of the high priest
• 2: In capital punishment cases like this one
  • There had to be arguments for both conviction and acquittal
  • For every reason to kill… there had to be an argument for mercy
• 3: If they still believed he should die… one more meeting required
  • It had to happen one day later so Sanhedrin could sleep on it
  • Try and find one last chance to have mercy
• 4: Also none of these hearings could be held at night
  • None could be held on the eve of the sabbath or a festival
  • If charge was blasphemy – Only for cursing name of God himself
  • And no testimony could be 3^rd party or hearsay

So the trial is already violating every law laid out in their holy books

• Which shows us justice is not the goal of this assembly
  • And Peter knows this… he’s sorta hiding in the background
  • Close to Jesus but not with Jesus
  • And Mark is just keeping him in the story for what comes next
• But even with all this… trial isn’t really going the way they want
  • They can’t nail anyone down… no smoking gun
  • They are even fabricating evidence and can’t make him guilty

So Caiaphas goes for the more direct approach

Mark 14:60-61

Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked him, Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed one?

• Notice he never asks anything of Jesus being divine or being God
  • He only asks if Jesus claims to be the Messiah (reason)
    • Jews didn’t have a concept of the Messiah being God
    • Just that there would be a “sonship” like that of all Israel
    • Just more focused on this one special leader
  • So claiming to be Messiah… wasn’t blasphemy to the Jews
    • So why are they trying to get Jesus to claim he is Messiah
    • Wouldn’t get u in trouble with Jews… it would with Rome
  • And that’s the goal… Caiaphas can’t sentence Jesus 2 death
    • If the Romans think he’s a rebel leader claiming Messiah
    • They kill people like that VERY quickly

So Jesus answers… and the leaders lose it

Mark 14:62

I am, said Jesus “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty one and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

That’s a quote of Dan. 7 – Vision of the Son of Man judging the nations

• But more than that… it says the Son of Man will be worshiped
  • Worship is only designated for God – Worship no gods b4 men
  • Jesus is saying everyone… even you Caiaphas will worship me
  • And the reaction is Caiaphas goes crazy with rage
• So trial over – Time to start beating Jesus…

Mark 14:64b-65

They all condemned him as worthy of death. Then some began to split at him they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists and said, “Prophesy!” And the guards took him and beat him.

• All which lines up perfectly w/ prophecy

Is 50:6

I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard, I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting.

Is 53:7-8

He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth, he was led like a lamb to the slaughter and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living, for the transgression of my people he was punished.

Then the story turns to Peter – Waiting in courtyard

Again remember Peter is most likely recounting lowest point of his life

• Three times we read Peter is given a chance to stand for Jesus
  • Not even die for Jesus… just be associated with him
  • Peter can’t even say his name just… “I don’t know the man”
  • And in this moment – Peter really doesn’t know Jesus
    • Peter is denying his relationship with his messiah
• And I think we can see Peter’s regret in moments in our own lives
  • Who can say that at some point… don’t relate to Peter’s denial
  • Whether in word or deed – Where we too have rejected Jesus

And here is the rub… Peter was probably in the right place

• Outside of being in the house with Jesus… he’s right outside
  • He’s watching…
  • He’s listening…
  • And probably trying to convince himself that its enough
    • Convince himself that its ok to deny Jesus at this point
• A lot of time we do the same (I’m all about serving in Jesus name)
  • We as the church should be kind, caring, generous, helpful
    • But there are times H.S. doesn’t just want you to just help
    • (You’ve felt it) – You were supposed to pray… or testify
  • We make the excuse that we’re in the right place… doing good
    • But there are times God is calling us to confess our faith
    • Which can be far more uncomfortable than acts of service

Scholar

Peter has forsaken a discipleship of costly following for one of safe observation.

And we can all relate to that… Obeying Jesus is really hard

• And we are really good at finding reasons why not to obey
  • Peter had a million
    • I’ve gotta stay alive to break Jesus out
    • I can’t go to jail because I need to share Jesus message
    • I’ve gotta lead the disciples is Jesus is gone
  • But Peter knew… and so do we

But thankfully… that’s not where Peter’s story ends

B/C the greater truth of the story… I think what the gospel is showing us

• Is Gods ability to consume all our failures with his relentless love
  • Even when we deny him
  • John’s Gospel records this beautiful redemption arc with Peter
  • Where after resurrection Peter/disciples are reunited with Jesus
• And Jesus forgives Peter… asks him 3 times “Peter do u love me”
  • Redeeming the 3 times Peter denied him
  • And Peter goes on to live his life for Jesus… even dies for him

And its easy for us to accept that – Jesus forgave Peter’s betrayal

• But its much harder 2 accept that Jesus would forgive our betrayal
  • So we allow the enemy to invalidate our relationship w/ Jesus
  • Because we can believe in forgiveness for others… not ourselves
  • We think our betrayal… our denial is too much for Jesus
• And I’m here to tell you – This story shows us the power of grace
  • Grace that not only deals with past failures… but future ones
  • And God will never use your failures against you
  • In fact he can use them for good in your life

Mark tells this story through the personal experience of Peter

• And Peter includes all of these devastating details
  • Remember when this is written – Peter is a pillar of the church
  • Most of the new Christian world is looking to Peter for direction
• But he includes it to say… Even someone in a position like me
  • 1 – I failed in the worst of ways
    • After everything I knew & everything Jesus had done
    • I rejected my savior when he needed me most
  • 2 – Even in that God never hesitated to redeem me
    • To Love me
    • To Use me

[PRAY]