Mark - A New Covenant

The Gospel of Mark

The Gospel of Mark, generally held to be the first gospel recorded, and is the shortest Gospel in our bible.

John Mark, the writer of the gospel and cousin to Barnabas and missionary companion to Paul.

The Gospel of Mark was likely written to persuade Gentile readers in Rome that Jesus’ death on the cross did not invalidate his claims to messiahship or his proclamation of the kingdom of God, but rather that his resurrection, miracles, and prediction of his death justified his claims.

A New Covenant

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Intro:

3 sermons left in this series

Which miracle has been your favorite?

Tonight, this is the first time that we are not going to talk about a specific miracle but one of a most pivotal part in the gospels.

The Last Super

Recorded in all 4 gospels

What can y’all tell me about the last super?

Sermon

Mark 14:17–26 ESV

17 And when it was evening, he came with the twelve. 18 And as they were reclining at table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.” 19 They began to be sorrowful and to say to him one after another, “Is it I?” 20 He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the dish with me. 21 For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” 22 And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” 23 And he took a 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 covenant, which is poured out for many. 25 Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again 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 to the Mount of Olives.

Sit on the floor around a table with food.

Pick certain people to sit around with you, vrs. 18, “they were reclining”

Here you can get an idea of what it would have looked like, then Jesus says...

Mark 14:18 ESV

18 And as they were reclining at table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.”

Reenact as if you are Jesus, read His words.

Have the students sitting with you, act as the disciples may have. “what!? is is I!?”

Mark 14:20–21 ESV

20 He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the dish with me. 21 For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”

The Passover Meal

Jesus and His disciples were celebrating the passover, Mark 14:14

Mark 14:14 ESV

14 and wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’

This is the celebration of Israels deliverance from death and slavery, in Exodus they had to sacrifice a lamb and paint its blood above the door to show their dedication to God, and the angle of the death passed over their house.

Passover & Jesus’s Death

This celebration and meal is significant in the Jewish culture, but it was not a coincidence that Jesus chose this meal to break bread with his disciples.

Around this table, Jesus is going to explain to his disciples an eternal sacrifice and new covenant for all people.

Communion

Mark 14:22 ESV

22 And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.”

With this bread Jesus is saying, I am the sheep that was slaughtered that night of the passover. My body is going to be sacrificed.

Mark 14:23–24 (ESV)

23 And he took a 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 covenant, which is poured out for many.

With this wine Jesus is saying, Just like the sheep's blood that was painted over the door delivered Israel from death and slavery. My blood will be spilt on a cross to deliver all people from eternal death and slavery.

So as a church, and born again believers, we take communion just as Jesus and his disciples did to remember and recognize Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice for us.

Resurrection

Mark 14:25 ESV

25 Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

Here Jesus is prophesying His own resurrection and ascension into heaven.

Jesus is saying how there will be no Lords supper in Heaven.

He is referencing what John will later write in Rev. 19:9. The marriage festival of the Lamb.

Conclusion

I said at the beginning, “this is a pivotal moment”

It is not a pivotal part for Jesus, but for a conflicted man named Judas.

This was Judas’ last chance to truly believe in Jesus and follow Him to the end, but overcome with conflict and selfishness He chose to betray whom He loved.