BELIEVE IT OR NOT!

 Do you remember how Mark’s Gospel first opened?                                                

‘The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God’                                

What did Jesus then say about himself? 10:45                                                  

“The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many”  

Finally in Mark 16 we see at least two women who have witnessed Jesus’ death and His burial, and who now venture into the streets before dawn to somehow enter the tomb, hoping to lovingly embalm His body.                                

What courage while the disciples hide in fear!

They are met with the greatest news:                                                                                   

“You seek Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified: he is risen...”

Soon they will see Jesus received up into heaven to sit on the right hand of God!

It’s now crunch-time!                                                                                              

Will you and I believe?

THE BODY of JESUS

 

At what time did Jesus ‘give up the ghost’?       

At the ninth hour (from sunrise) – 3pm

What day is this on? (Mark 15:40-47)                                                                                        
After Passover the night before, this is Preparation Day when everyone is madly rushing around buying supplies and cooking meals for the High Sabbath tomorrow that commences the week-long Feast of Unleavened Bread. The city is packed with thousands of pilgrims from afar, eagerly expecting the long awaited Messiah, promised to appear right now by Daniel the prophet.

So where is the Son of God?                                                                                

Crucified as a common criminal, His bloodied naked body remains hanging just outside the city gates for all to gawk at until after sunset.

The women following Jesus have faithfully watched from a distance and now Joseph shows amazing courage by fronting Pontius Pilate who is surprised.                                          

“Jesus is dead already?”  Yes Pilate, Jesus has been in control – not you.                                                                                                             

He deserves a rich man’s burial... and gets it. Isaiah 53: 9

THEY CRUCIFIED HIM

The Roman Army has flogged this Man so mercilessly he is unable to carry his own cross beam. After refusing a stupefying concoction they strip him naked then crucify him between two thieves. (Mark 15) The chief priests mock Him as ‘Christ the King of Israel’.

Who is He really?

Suddenly at midday – darkness!...for 3 hours!

Who really is it that they have crucified and the Jewish priests have mocked in derision? They are about to find out as this crucified Man cries out with a loud voice - twice - then gives up the ghost.            

The Roman centurion is forced to admit: “Truly this man was Son of God” – exactly how Mark presented Him to us in the very beginning!

What is the undeniable witness to those Priests??                           
The thick veil in the temple rips in half from top to bottom.

Jew and Gentile are now forced to see they have crucified the Son of God.  Why did he come?                                                                                       

“To give his life a ransom for many” 10:45

JUSTICE ON TRIAL

Who really is on trial here in Mark 15:1-20?...Jesus as ‘King of the Jews’... or the Jewish leadership and the Roman Empire? 

Remember that Mark introduced Jesus as Christ, the Son of God, and He has been tirelessly serving humanity.                                                  

• 2 illegal trials have been held overnight
• Guards have been allowed to deal out ‘rough justice’ with punching and spitting
• Jesus answers nothing to the false charges
• They have called an illegal meeting of the full council on the holy Preparation Day
• They beg for the release of a murderer in exchange for innocent Jesus

The Jewish leaders are supposed to be keepers of religious law, with the duty before God to uphold justice in the eyes of the world!

What about the Romans, proud upholders of justice throughout the civilised world?....

"So Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged Him, to be crucified."

• Governor Pontius Pilate tries to placate the Jews by...
• Releasing a murderer guilty of insurrection against the Empire
• Condemning a man innocent under law
• Personally flogging a man already sentenced to crucifixion
• Allows whole regiment of Roman soldiers to abuse a prisoner

How does Jesus answer?... Nothing!

So who really is guilty here?

TOO HOT!

 Do you remember what Simon Peter proudly claimed?                       

“Even if everyone else is offended, I won’t...                                                                         If I have to die with you, no way will I deny you”

Thru Mark, Peter tells us how he shaped up...                              

While his Master, Jesus, is upstairs telling the truth, Peter is warming himself nicely and repeatedly lying, even cursing and swearing to save his own skin: 

“I don’t know this Man!”                                                              

Even the high priest’s maid knows how to confidently speak the truth!             (Mark 14:66-72)

Mmm...now it’s getting a bit hot for Peter so he decides to leave but oh...the rooster is ready to cock-a-doodle yet again - IMMEDIATELY after the 3^rd denial, exactly as Jesus predicted!

No wonder Peter wails loudly as he realizes God is in control here after all, not some lying fisherman.

What about me?                                                                                       
Have I ever been ashamed of my Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ?

CALL THIS JUSTICE?

Passover is the most important Jewish festival – without Passover there would be no Israel; this one in Mark 14 is the highlight of their history, with Messiah expected to show up and untold thousands have arrived in Jerusalem for this momentous event!                                              

Hang on...                                   

What are these 71 Sanhedrin elders doing?...trying this man Jesus late at night with no reliable witness and the sentence of death already decided!

What sort of justice is this? Moses told Israel that the nations will marvel: “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people”. 

He continued: “For what nation is there so great, who has God so near to them...that has statutes and judgments so righteous?”

God manifest in Jesus is right in front of them, while they break their own rules...

• A trial at night
• False witnesses
• Intimidation to force defendant to incriminate himself
• The High Priest rends his garment
• Violent abuse and spitting

How does Jesus respond?                                                            

The Man of Isaiah 53 remains silent until agreeing with the truth:

Jesus is the Christ, the Son of ‘the Blessed’...                                

“I AM and you shall see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power and coming in the clouds of heaven”

...just as Daniel saw Him by vision over 500 years before!

CRUNCH TIME!

Suddenly it’s ‘crunch time’: the betrayal of Jesus in Mark 14:43-54.

Run for it guys!

Notice the detail given by John Mark’s account: the Lord’s disappointment, His agony and His sorrow in prayer. Mark will soon discreetly reveal himself in this picture - fleeing naked in panic!

Let’s try to immerse ourselves in the tension here...                       

All of these Jews - yes, every single one of them - have just enjoyed the intimacy of this profound Passover feast, foundational to the Jewish faith. Later in the evening it is now an ugly scene of threatening violence with swords and staves!

Why oh why??                                                                                                 

“The scriptures must be fulfilled”             

Yes, God is in control – not religious thugs, even if it might look like it!

Can you recall how Simon Peter has just contradicted his Master?... “Although all shall be offended, yet will not I... If I should die with you , I will not deny you in any way” ...and his mates all said the same.

So what happened?    ‘All forsook Him and fled’.                                                                                                           

Peter follows at a very safe distance and makes himself comfortable at the palace fireside.                                        

Those were brave words Peter but... can you deliver on that?

"LET'S GO!"

Jesus has been reclining for a meal in Bethany, even having His head anointed.  Two days later it’s no longer time for reclining  – Passover MUST be celebrated tonight!  (Mark 14:12-42)                        

The question is: WHERE?   There is no need for Jesus to lead His disciples back into Jerusalem just for Passover but that is what He orders...    “Go into the city...”           

Why?...for His betrayal!  Notice how absolutely certain Jesus is...

• “One of you... shall betray me...it is one of the twelve”
• “The Son of Man indeed goes...”
• “This my body....this is my blood”
• “After I am risen...” (always Jesus’ outlook!)
• “The sheep shall be scattered”
• “Before the cock crow twice, you (Peter) shall deny me three times”

Jesus is so like His friends in appearance and none of them seem to know who would betray Him: “Is it I?”                                                                   Peter even proudly vows his allegiance, along with all the others.    

Finally it’s time: “Get up, let’s go, the betrayer is here!”

This is the decisive moment of testing for all - surely they will prove loyal?   .