Unjust and Wrong Rejections

Jacob Winters

Easter 2024 • Sermon • Submitted 9 months ago • Presented 9 months ago

Mark 14:53–72

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Introduction

Scripture

Father God, we thank You for Who You are. A great Big God who sees each and every one of us here and cares deeply about us. We ask this day, as we are continuing in this time of worship to You, reading Your Word and hearing Your Word, that You refine us with it. Mold us, make us, shape us, rearrange us so that we can more like You, and more made into the image of Christ. Help us be a people who love You and love others so much, that we are moved into action by whatever it is You are going to show us about Yourself today and what that means in our lives. Help us do this, because all to often our selfish and sinless flesh war against our will to follow Yours. As we are doing this, and as we are coming into Your Word today, we ask that You take away any distraction that we may have, and make it go as far away as it possible can, because we want to see and we want to know You better. It’s in these things that I ask and in Jesus Christ’s Holy and precious name that I pray, Amen.

53 They led Jesus away to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes assembled. 54 Peter followed him at a distance, right into the high priest’s courtyard. He was sitting with the servants,, warming himself by the fire.

55 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they could not find any. 56 For many were giving false testimony against him, and the testimonies did not agree. 57 Some stood up and gave false testimony against him, stating, 58 “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands, and in three days I will build another not made by hands.’ ” 59 Yet their testimony did not agree even on this.

60 Then the high priest stood up before them all and questioned Jesus, “Don’t you have an answer to what these men are testifying against you?” 61 But he kept silent and did not answer. Again the high priest questioned him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”

62 “I am,” said Jesus, “and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.”,

63 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “Why do we still need witnesses? 64 You have heard the blasphemy. What is your decision?” They all condemned him as deserving death.

65 Then some began to spit on him, to blindfold him, and to beat him, saying, “Prophesy!” The temple servants also took him and slapped him.

66 While Peter was in the courtyard below, one of the high priest’s maidservants came. 67 When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with Jesus, the man from Nazareth.”

68 But he denied it: “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about.” Then he went out to the entryway, and a rooster crowed.

69 When the maidservant saw him again, she began to tell those standing nearby, “This man is one of them.”

70 But again he denied it. After a little while those standing there said to Peter again, “You certainly are one of them, since you’re also a Galilean.”,

71 Then he started to curse and swear, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about!”

72 Immediately a rooster crowed a second time, and Peter remembered when Jesus had spoken the word to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.

Context

This week, we start off with what is happening to Jesus just after His being seized by the mob that was led by the religious leaders. Jesus of course, was betrayed by one of His disciples, one of His students Judas, who showed the mob where to find Jesus. Remember, Jesus had just ended a time of extreme and trying prayer, where His flesh did not want to go forward with what was about to Happen, non-the-less Jesus in His Spirit wanted to fulfill God The Father’s Will so that ultimately, all who would turn towards God would be forgiven of their sins and able to stand before God guiltless because of Jesus’ loving and quite brutal sacrifice. As Jesus was betrayed by Judas with a kiss to show the mob who Jesus was, notice what happened. All of Jesus’ disciples, the people who had been with Him for years, everyone, ran away from Him and the mob for fear. Mark even shares the shame in this, as one individual had their clothes ripped off and didn’t even return for his clothes. Truly this was a complete abandonment, but it was necessary and part of the prophecy, that the Christ would be abandoned and would be a man of sorrow on His way to the cross.

This abandonment and rejection of Jesus both in this and in Peter’s denial was of course terrible and sinful. But we, you, me, I, cannot be to harsh on them for several reasons, first we must consider how we would fair in this situation; seeing a violent mob grab your teacher with the clear intent of killing him with great implication that you too have the same thing coming for you. Would you stand with Christ? We all hope so, but the truth remains that none of us in this room will probably ever encounter this level of extreme and imminent danger of being a Christ follower. Secondly, and more importantly, we have to recognize, that any time we sin, we intentionally separate ourselves from God. What does that mean? It means that when you sin, you are abandoning Christ and denying Christ in exactly the same way as they had. Fortunately for us, our God’s Grace and Love for us is very deep and very forgiving and will be forgiven if we repent from that sin. Much like the teenage child that rolls their eyes at you or doesn’t claim you as their parent in front of their friends, you still love that child and are willing and will forgive them if they apologize. What we all must know and take away here is that As a Follower of Christ you must understand that your sins are a rejection of Jesus. As I said earlier, God through the intercession of Jesus will forgive you if you turn away from those sins, none the less, that action in your sin and continuation in it is an unfair, wrong, and unjust rejection of a very Good, scratch that Perfect God. Let’s take some time looking at the goodness of Christ, His innocence, and our denial of Him this week and jump in where From today’s text, I want you to observe and reflect on these truths about Jesus during this time of Unjust and wrong rejection.

Message

The first truth to observe and reflect on is that: Jesus is guiltless (53-59)

Jesus was led away to His first of several sham trials He would go through before going to the cross. This first one, was a sort of preliminary one at the high priest’s house. Peter, from a distance and as discreetly as possible is the only one to follow Jesus here. For now, Peter warns Himself at a fire, not knowing what was really happening. What’s really interesting in the next few verses, is that this trial was a sham and such a farce, that they couldn’t even bring together 2 witnesses that could share the same story and testimony about why Jesus should be executed. This was a requirement for the Jewish people to have someone put to death, a requirement that God instituted in Deut 17:6, that no one could be put to death without two or three witnesses. Also notice, how in verse 58, some of the people shared testimony about some of Jesus’ teaching, but clearly they did not understand what Jesus was talking about, as the temple He was referring to was His own body and not the great stone temple in the city. Noone could say or do anything to show that Jesus was guilty, because he had no guilt. Jesus was guiltless.

Whether we realize it or not, we all are often guilty of trying to pronounce God as guilty, showing that we do not recognize or understand where are in the pecking order. We are quick to blame God for tragedy or hardship in our lives, but not quick to see or recognize not only the particular sin you have that has brought you there, but also it is common to not understand that we live in a sin filled world where the influence of Satan as sin is at every corner. I’m sure every one of us has in hardship blamed God for what happened, you know what I’m talking about, that difficulty that you can’t make sense of in your head. In these moments it is so easy to blame the unseen God and not the seeable you. You see, God is not capable of doing any wrong in any way whatsoever. This is one of His attributes, that He is Good, that He is guiltless, in fact He sets and is the standard for goodness. Mankind on the other hand, is one not capable of true goodness or guiltlessness if God is not in the mix, and even then it is only His goodness or guiltlessness that is given to us. Friends, Jesus is guiltless, don’t get it wrong. Man is often guilty, to the point that we choose betrayal and condemnation because we fancy whatever that lie that Satan has told you more than the truth of God. A truth that is better than any other possibility because Jesus is guiltless, which brings us to our next point: Jesus is guiltless

Yet Jesus is Condemned (60-65)

62 “I am,” said Jesus, “and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.”,

63 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “Why do we still need witnesses? 64 You have heard the blasphemy. What is your decision?” They all condemned him as deserving death.

65 Then some began to spit on him, to blindfold him, and to beat him, saying, “Prophesy!” The temple servants also took him and slapped him.

One very important piece of scripture to understand what was going on here, why Jesus had remained silent for so long; is found in the book of the prophet Isaiah where in chapter 53 verse 7 it reads about the messiah, who we know to be Jesus, that; He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth. Like a lamb led to the slaughter and like a sheep silent before her shearers, he did not open his mouth. This is what he was doing, then in calculated frustration; the high priest asked Him, are you the messiah? To which, Jesus said, Yes. And you will see me (as all people will one day) seated at the right hand of Power and coming down from heaven on clouds. Jesus submitted to the Father, knowing what was to follow; a sentence of death. As it was the custom and requirement of the time, the chief priest tour close when he pronounced that he heard a blaspheme, meaning words or speaking or teaching that was against the truth of God. The High Priest here, interestingly, esteemed Himself even higher than God the Son standing right in front of Him. He tore His robes, but if everything was right here, Jesus should have been tearing His robes in anguish and anger over these people rejecting Him. Despite Jesus clearly being God the Son, the Messiah in front of them; they condemned Him and humiliated and beat Him.

It's not hard to see the unjustness and evil here. Anyone who has either read their bible or who Has been listening about Jesus with opened ears, knew that He was no ordinary man; but rather God incarninate who came to the Earth to Serve us. This past Thursday at Good News club at the Elementary School, our story had a gospel presentation towards the end, in this presentation their was a slide with picture (and it wasn’t violent or gross or anything) that showed Jesus on the cross. This moved one little girl, who I would guess to be 8 or 9 years old who seems to be saved but her parents don’t think she is ready for baptism, this thought that Jesus died for us, moved her tears that she couldn’t be comforted from.

As I saw this, it struck me; just how appropriate and right her reaction was. Even a child knows can tell that Jesus was condemned to death and died and was undeserving of this, and what’s more; He did it as an act of love for you, for me, for all mankind that would take His sacrifice to pay for sin, which separates us from God. Keep in mind, some of the people at this trial, if not many of them; had seen at least one of Jesus’ miracles and the proof in the pudding so to say that He was messiah, as He was very well known and famous in His ministry, people came from many miles around to hear His teachings and see what He could do. Though we don’t get to see Him in the flesh as they did, today we get see Him in our inner self through the revealing actions of the Holy Spirit. Today, you, yes you, can honestly say that you that your are part of the reason Jesus had to go the cross, and you too unjustly condemn Him over and over again. As terrible as this is, that our sin nature not only rules our world around and often the parts of heart and mind we haven’t turned over and surrendered to Jesus yet, still Jesus goes forward for you, for them, for us; so that you can be forgiven. Despite your unfair and unjust rejection and condemnation of Jesus, still He calls you tenderly and lovingly, come to me and I will give you rest. Which brings us to our next point, Our next truth to observe and reflect on which is:

Sorrowful is the denial of Jesus. (66-72)

68 But he denied it: “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about.” Then he went out to the entryway, and a rooster crowed.

69 When the maidservant saw him again, she began to tell those standing nearby, “This man is one of them.”

70 But again he denied it. After a little while those standing there said to Peter again, “You certainly are one of them, since you’re also a Galilean.”,

71 Then he started to curse and swear, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about!”

The narrative here goes back to what was going on with Peter during Jesus’ trial. Peter, is still warming himself by the fire. While doing this, one of the maidservants came up to him, and realizes that he was one of the people with Jesus. He denies this, and retreats a little ways away to not bring attention to himself. A rooster crows, his first denial of Jesus is done. Remember, just before Jesus being taken by the mob, he told Peter He would deny Jesus three times before the rooster crowed twice. Not long after, that same maidservant saw him again, and begins pointing out to people that this man was one of them with Jesus. Again He denied it; his second time. As everyone was looking at him, they realized, “Hey, you’re a Galilean (meaning you live far away, it would be odd for you to be here) just like Jesus, you MUST be one of His followers. Then, look what Peter does, He got frustrated and made untrue swears, not meaning those words that we call the bad words today, but that he would say something like, “I swear upon God and my mothers Grave, that I don’t know this man you’re talking about.” I don’t know Him! Then, the rooster crowed twice, Peter’s third denial is done, and he realizes what he has done, which leads him to bitter and hard tears, realizing that he had denied His God so many times in such short amount of time.

We can be so quick to condemn Peter and talk down about Him. But, here Peter is a such a good example of what each Christian is often like and yes, believer that includes you and even your saintly and perfect grandmama. Remember, Jesus named Peter (formerly Simon) Peter, meaning the rock on who’s faith The Church will be built on. You see, we all deny Jesus often. Any time you sin, any time you don’t follow God’s will in your life to the perfect T that He has laid out before You, every time You don’t seek fellowship with Him in a day, every time you lie/cheat/steal, every time you bend the truth, every time you are more concerned about yourself than others, every time you don’t share The Gospel when you know you should (I could keep going on for days and days) then you too have denied Jesus. Just like Peter here, you are more concerned with yourself and what you want or even self-preservation than glorifying God, which is always what Jesus wants.

The believer, when he or she comes to realize what they have done; should be sorrowful for this. Why is this, it’s because You have God the Holy Spirit inside of you, who is of course God Himself as well and who is leading you and directing You to glorify and honor God. When you choose the path that your flesh want, that your fear wants, that your sin wants, then you should feel sorrowful about your denial; just as Peter did. That sorrowfulness, is because you know you have wronged God. However, thank God for His Love and Mercy for sending someone to intercede for us, to speak for you. This person is God the Son, Jesus Christ the righteous, who died for you so that you can be restored from the separation from God that sin causes. Jesus died for you, died for all who would turn to Him, despite our frequent and sorrowful denial of Him. Don’t fool yourself believer, your faith is not complete and will never be complete until you leave this earth. Just look at all the disciples, they all fled in terror when Jesus was arrested, they denied Him. What makes you think you can do better. I’m telling you right now, you aren’t any better. So let this be a lesson for all of us, we are all growing in our faith, we will make mistakes, and that’s ok, but it does mean that we have to repent, to turn away from those mistakes and work to never to them again, to learn from them and let those lessons make our faith stronger. Yes, our rejections and denial are unjust; but don’t let them go to waste.

Conclusion

A shared Poem

I am Peter I was a deceiver But I met the Redeemer Now I’m a believer I fell but I was restored to be a leader Yes I am Peter It was that Thursday Me and Jesus up in Gethsemane He said, “Peter, you will deny me three times” I said, “What? That’s crazy! You’re telling me lies” He said, “I tell you the truth, so listen to Me” I said, Lord, I swear my loyalty” I am Peter I was a deceiver But I met the Redeemer Now I’m a believer I fell but I was restored to be a leader Yes I am Peter Yeah, and a lady came up to me the very next day Asked me if I knew Jesus, I said “no way” This was my strategy, just playin’ along I got caught up in fear, didn’t know it was wrong But then the rooster crowed as Jesus said I realized my mistake and then I bitterly wept I am Peter I was a deceiver But I met the Redeemer Now I’m a believer I fell but I was restored to be a leader Yes I am Peter I broke an oath and stood the trial Faced the consequence of my three denials Learned from my mistake and got back up again Was able to learn wisdom from my sin Hey but look at that chap Judas Iscariot He gave up the burden, he just couldn’t carry it I am Peter I was a deceiver But I met the Redeemer Now I’m a believer I fell but I was restored to be a leader Yes I am Peter And myself I was able to retrieve Got redeemed, learned and was able to believe Yet the truth wasn’t at all far Just never deny who you really are So don’t be like Judas, but be like me Follow my example and you will see You are Peter You were a deceiver But you met the redeemer Now you’re a believer You fell but you were restored to be a leader Yes you are Peter

With all of that being said, I would be remised if I didn’t share the Gospel (or the Good News) of Jesus Christ with you today, for the benefit of both believer and non-believer in the room. This begins all the way back at the beginning, God created everything, and he created all things good. He gave His most treasured creation (us, mankind) the ability of free will, the ability to choose Him or rebellion. Man was deceived by Satan and desired to be like God and sinned (or rebelled against God). This brought the curse of sin and death into the world and it remains with us to this day; which separates us from God. God though, loved His creation (mankind) so much that He worked through history to redeem all mankind that would turn to Him from sin so that we can experience a full and perfect relationship with Him again. This was through the perfect and final sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the pay for sins. Accepting this free gift from God, makes you new and forgiven. All you have to do accept this free gift by repenting and believing in the Lord Jesus and you will get to experience the good side of God’s justice forever. So, now that you know this, you can no longer plead ignorance. I invite and urge you to respond today non-believer and apply this to every part of your life believers in the audience today.

With that, Let’s conclude. Brothers and Sisters, I love you all. During our last song together, if you need prayer, or want to talk more about Jesus, or have something you want to talk about, I’ll be here, don’t be afraid to come on down. Let’s pray. Father God, we thank You for who You are and what You are doing to us here in this place. May whatever it is that You are doing in each of heart here, continue as we leave go out into the world this week. Change us, mold us, make us, re-arrange us, that we can be both better lovers of You and better showers of You. It’s in these things that I ask and in Jesus Christ’s Holy and precious name that I pray, Amen.