Sermon Tone Analysis

Intro

Can you think back to a time where you saw a strong person you knew crying?

It can be a little unsettling.

My father was in the great generation, serving in World War II, never really talking much about it, and not often showing his softer emotions.

We saw strength, determination, and sometimes anger, but few tears or worry.

It was probably after the arrival of grandchildren that I can remember Pop crying more often - even if they were tears of joy.

When we told him our first born was named Joseph after him, there were definitely tears - and then I cried too.

Pop’s tears stood out all the more because they were so uncommon, because he was so strong.

In today’s sermon from the Gospel of Mark, we will see the strongest of the disciples, the one the others looked to, the one quickest to speak out, and the first out of the boat - Simon who was renamed Peter, the Rock, broken to tears.

Series

We are returning to our series The Crown & The Cross.

Mark has shown us Jesus as a man with a clear message and mission, and the reader is called to actively response to the message.

Jesus’ life on earth helped us all better understand God’s heart and what His kingdom is like.

In the first half of Mark the emphasis was on seeing Jesus revealed as Messiah - the King who deserved the crown.

The second half’s focus is on Jesus in Jerusalem fulfilling His life’s mission to suffer and die on the cross - and to rise from the dead.

The last time we were in Mark it was the week before Thanksgiving, Jesus prayed in the garden and the disciples faced temptation yet all promised to stay by his side, but they all abandoned him.

Every last one.

Peter was the most vocal in pledging his dying allegiance - but Jesus warned Peter he would deny Jesus three times before morning came with the rooster’s third crow.

Our parallel passages are in Matthew 26, Luke 22, and John 18.

You can find notes and watch the rest of this series on our website or YouTube page.

As I read this passage, notice the descriptions of two trials, two men, and two very different outcomes.

Mark relates this narrative with Peter’s denial after Jesus’ hearing to show the clear contrast between their reactions.

Both were under pressure, Jesus did not defend himself, Peter swears none of it is true, Peter escapes but crumbles and loses his integrity, Jesus stands firm and goes to his death without caving in.

PRAY

READ Mark 14:53-72

Jesus before the Council

When we were last in Mark 14, Judas, one of the twelve disciples, had betrayed Jesus in the Garden, where he was arrested by the Jewish religious leaders.

And they brought along a small army as if Jesus was going to fight back.

The Sanhedrin - a group of seventy chief priests, scribes, and elders gathered together with the high priest to put Jesus on trial.

V. 55 tells us they already determined the outcome - they wanted to put him to death.

How’s that for a fair trial: judged guilty even before the trial.

Matthew 26:57 tells us they led Jesus to Caiphas, the high priest.

The religious leaders arrested Jesus under the cover of darkness in a garden with no crowds around.

They rushed to a hearing at night which was illegal.

They were not allowed to have a serious trial during a festival like Passover, their witnesses were unreliable.

False accusations

v. 56 tells us they couldn’t find any clear testimony that would condemn Jesus.

In fact those that did provide false testimony or lies couldn’t even agree with each other.

The worst thing they could come up with was saying Jesus claimed he would destroy the temple and build another in three days.

But even this they couldn’t agree.

Jesus did not actually say he would destroy the temple.

They misquoted him.

He said “destroy the temple and in three days I will raise it up.”

He was referring to his death and resurrection.

The Greek word “μαρτυρία (martyria) - means testimony or witness.

This is the root of our word martyr which is someone who is killed because of their faith.

Jesus' response

Jesus remained silent in the face of these ridiculous accusations.

He didn’t correct them or defend himself.

This was a fulfillment of Isaiah 53:7, where it says he was oppressed and afflicted yet he did not open this mouth - just like a lamb led to the slaughter.

One of God’s character traits is “just.”

And as image bearers, He created us with that same desire for justice.

Can you remember getting in trouble for something you didn’t do?

How much that bothered you?

Or seeing someone else wrongly accused and punished?

That really riles us up doesn’t it?

Jesus stood silent while lies were told about him.

And worse yet, the people around him were totally fine with making up more false stories – maybe they were paid to do it, but it goes against our nature for justice.

Out of desperation to find something they can charge Jesus with in v. 61, the high priest challenges Jesus with the ultimate accusation: Are the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?

He was asking are the promised Messiah?

Are you the Son of God? Out of extreme reverence the Jews would not say or even right the name of God.

v. 62 Jesus finally responds “I am.”

This is the very name of God from Exodus 3:14.

When Moses asked the burning bush who should I say sent me, God responded “I am.” Jesus clearly put himself in a place of equality with God.

Jesus went a step further saying “you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power (another name for God) and coming with the clouds of heaven.

This is another OT prophecy fulfillment - Dan 7:13 says “I saw in the night visions and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.

Jesus was not only claiming to be God, but he made it clear that his messianic rule was spiritual and not earthly.

He would be reigning in authority at the right hand of the father.

The high priest and this Sanhedrin council would all bow their knees to Jesus and be judged ultimately by him.

Caiaphas tore his robe as a sign of extreme grief.

In his eyes, Jesus had just committed blasphemy by calling himself God.

This was a sin punishable by death.

Jesus condemned to death

V. 64 The high priest says “You have heard his blasphemy.

What is your decision?

They all condemned him as deserving death.

Some spit on his, covering his face, striking him and mockingly called for him to prophesy who had just hit him.

The guards beat him.

This fulfills more of Isaiah’s prophesies about the messiah being beaten and whipped for our sins.

Jesus stood firm through all of this, taking on all of this injustice, these false accusations, just as he would soon die on the cross for our sin - innocent of any sin himself.

Peter watching from a distance

John’s gospel ch 18:15 tells us that Peter was not alone; another disciple possible John himself was there too.

They were able to watch from a distance, but likely could not here all that was going on.

Peter pledged to stay with Jesus, even to death and he was trying to keep that promise.

It was the middle of the night.

It was dark and they were in the outer court of the high priest’s home.

There were probably soldiers with torches and grates with fire to warm people.

True accusations

Peter is accused three times over the course of the evening.

First, one of the high priests’s servant girls sees him warming himself by a fire and she said “You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus.”

Next the servant girl followed him to the gateway or courtyard and started telling other people “This man is one of them.”

Finally, another bystander recognized him and said “Certainly you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.”

Unlike the accusations against Jesus which were all false, these were true.

Different people even agreed about Peter’s identity, where no to testimonies against Jesus could back each other’s up.

Peter's response

The first accusation he denied saying “I don’t know or understand what you mean.”

He pleaded total ignorance.

The second time he denied again.

And the third time, he invoked a curse and swore “I do not know this man of whom you speak.”

He said something like “may God strike me dead if I’m lying.”