Self-Defense//Self-Denial

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Last Week we are done in Mark – Couple of messages in Colossians 1:10-23 and Psalm 2.

Context

Two weeks ago we left off with Jesus being led off to the high priest. Right before we saw how Mary was pouring Nard on Jesus’ feet and how all of His disciples left Him. The last 2 verses we saw man fleeing his linen cloth just to get away from Jesus. He is now all alone.

Scripture Reading

Tonight I want all of us to read through this passage and we can make some comments along the way. I want you to see how Jesus acts in self-denial and how everyone else around Him acts in self-defense, trying to protect their reputations.

Introduction

There’s a temptation every time that we sin, or let someone down. Whether it’s making plans with a friend and just not showing up and ghosting them, or if its lying about why an assignment is late, or just not good.

It’s the temptation to make excuses.

We’ll see two lives in particular contrasted in this chapter. The life of Jesus and the life of Peter. One could say the same about the life of Jesus and the life of the religious leaders as well. That’s the contrast of a man who makes excuses for who he is, and the man who makes no excuse for who he is.

Peter acts in self-defense, but Jesus acts in self-denial.

Pray

Jury of Your Kin

Mark 14:53-65

Peter

Peter has snuck in. He is in the courtyard mingling with the guards by the fire.

He provides no testimony. He instead says nothing. He goes to no defense of Jesus.

Witnesses

The only witnesses they could get were false witnesses.

Even the false witnesses didn’t agree with each other.

This is a house of cards.

Jesus’ Response

Doesn’t respond to false witnesses.

Jesus affirms that He is the Messiah

Leader’s Response

Rend their garments

This is political showmanship and anger

They claim Jesus’ has blasphemed on false witnesses

Exodus 20:16 ESV

16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

By their own practice, have discredited their righteousness

Do you see the excuses here? The religious leaders go to such extremes as breaking the law to excuse their behavior. We all do that. Mark is trying to show how even in our righteousness we will seek to excuse our behavior and forsake Christ’s divinity for our own sense of righteousness based on our own merits.

Self-Defense

Mark 14:66-72

What about the disciples? What about Peter? That disciple of boundless words. He could probably talk his way out anything.

Unless He is talking with Jesus of course

Mark 8:31–33 ESV

31 And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

Peter’s Denial

Remember, Peter’s with the guards during this time. Hanging by the fire.

He’s asked 3 times if he is with Jesus.

Servant Girl

Servant Girl again

The bystanders who heard this interaction begin to confirm it.

Mark 14:30–31 ESV

30 And Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” 31 But he said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same.

Peter is no longer quiet. In the sidelines. He is straight denying Jesus. Openly.

He is trying to preserve his own life.

He’s quick to see what He’s done. He remembers those words Jesus just spoke to Him.

I imagine he remembers another set of Words from Jesus as well.

Mark 14:38 ESV

38 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Peter has no excuse. Instead of kicking against the goads, he breaks down and weeps.

This is a remarkable time for Peter. He finally sees what Jesus could only see. He is a sinner, and unable to save himself. He needs a savior.

Self-Denial

Mark 15:1-5

The leaders after much discussion (this is the next day) decide what to do. To wash their hands of Jesus’ blood, they will deliver Him to the government.

Pilate

Direct. Straightforward question to Jesus.

Jesus’ response is incredulous

“You have said so”

Jesus never defends Himself from the leader’s accusations.

Paul

Instructs us to submit to the governing authorities. Christ does the same. What defense would he give?

Jesus is not excusing his actions. He is not defending them. He is not responding to a false witness. He is fulfilling what God has called Him to do. What He came into this world to do.

Jesus is denying Himself to fulfill all righteousness. To bring about our own righteousness.

Jury of Your Government

Mark 15:6-15

Democracy is great isn’t it? We have a say in what happens in our working world where many countries don’t have the luxury of a voice.

Pilate offers the people Jesus as a good gesture.

He saw past the religious leader’s schemes.

Even the gentile saw that they were operating out of envy

Democracy at Work

They don’t want Jesus, they want a murderer named Barrabas

Bar-Abbas

Son of the Father

Jesus

They exchange THE Son of the Father for the son of the father.

What response do the people have but “crucify him”

Why say this? Even Pilate is confused

Pilate

He excuses himself. Instead of standing on the side of justice, he sides with a mob for his reputation.

Jesus is scourged, and on His way to be crucified.

The End

Mark 15:16-32

A Mockery

Jesus is now treated like a King.

He is given a battalion. A purple cloak. A crown. A coronation.

He is bled. Mocked. Stripped.

The Road

Who is Simon of Cyrene?

He’s not one of Jesus’ disciples. He’s a pseudo-disciple.

Where are Jesus’ disciples?

Mark 8:34 ESV

34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

The disciples still haven’t denied themselves. They are nowhere to be found. They aren’t bearing a cross. Someone else is.

What was Peter’s name again?

Simon Peter

Crucifixion

We’ve head so much from Jesus about the Kingdom of God. How to act as a citizen of the Kingdom of God.

Jesus was also a citizen of Rome.

Crucifixion removes that citizenship. This is true of anyone who was crucified. In Jesus’ case, now He is only a citizen of the Kingdom of God.

As a King, they mock Him, but in their mockery draw attention to what Jesus would prophecy would happen

Rebuild the temple in three days

Save yourself, get down from the cross

“He saved others, he cannot save Himself”

The leaders still want signs. What they don’t understand is that their mockery is true. The temple of Jesus’ body will be rebuilt. He will get down from the cross. He has saved others through His death on the cross.

They want signs of belief.

Left and Right

Remember when the disciples were eager to share in Jesus’ cup and baptism?

Mark 10:35–40 ESV

35 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” 36 And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” 37 And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” 38 Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” 39 And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, 40 but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”

Instead there are none of Jesus’ beside Him, but only those who would revile Him.

The Death

Mark 15:33-41

This is the end.

People are confusing Jesus for Elijah. They still have no idea who He is.

He is given His last wine, a sour bitter end.

A loud cry, a temple curtain torn.

On this curtain lies the cherubim, the angelic manifestation that held the flaming sword to stay Adam and Eve away from the garden

Exodus 36:8 ESV

8 And all the craftsmen among the workmen made the tabernacle with ten curtains. They were made of fine twined linen and blue and purple and scarlet yarns, with cherubim skillfully worked.

That which separated us from God, in the Holy of Holies and from the fellowship with Him in the garden has now been broken.

The women

The disciples are still nowhere to be found.

These women are here to see though. They ministered to Him. They are witnessing the death of their Lord.

Just like we saw with the widow with her two coins, or with the woman who poured the expensive nard at Jesus’ feet, these women are faithful to observe the one they worshiped.

Conclusion

This is a heavy passage. We’ll see Mark’s conclusion next week, but what should we take away from this?

We could not, and cannot be a substitute for sin. We sin even as we try to attempt to be righteous. Only Christ was able to do this. What He did on the cross could only be accomplished by God.

The way Mark contrasts the Religious leaders, disciples, and women is to show the brokenness of mankind. Women were looked down upon in the 1st century. Yet, they are the pinnacle of discipleship in Mark’s gospel.

Christians should not aspire for greatness in this sense, but should seek to serve others as lowly creatures who worship the living God, Jesus Christ.

Pray

Groups

How should disciples deny themselves to follow Jesus?

What does it mean to be ridiculed for your faith?