When Falsehood Reigns
Notes
Transcript
Hello
Baby Traenor
Aidan and Georgie
Nora Mitchell’s First Birthday
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.
We dont grow up out of the gospel, we don’t mature beyond the grace of God given to us in the full counsel of God that is centred upon the person, work, suffering, death, resurrection and asension of Christ the King.
So what I want to urge us to do, today, and as we make our way through the final events that lead to the cross… is consider the one who endured … that our faith might be strengthened
Read Text
Intro/Hook
Jesus having celebrated the passover, goes into the garden of gethsemene to pray, and there he is betrayed by judas and deserted by his dicsiples.
This mob that comes to take him, brings him, before the Sandhedrin, the Jewish leaders, in the High Preists house.
Now Peter, though he fled and was not taken with Jesus, seems to circle back and follows at a distance. Entering into the courtyard of the high preists house.
So, here is the scene:
Jesus is up in the house, put on a psuedo trial before the jewish leaders.
Peter, is down in the courtyard, put on a trial of sorts as to his relationship with Jesus.
As we will see, in both scenes, falsehood reigns, yet in the midst of —such sin and lies, and darkness, only the light of the truth of Christ shines unhindered.
—-
I think it is fair to say that culturally for us today, falsehood is the flavour of the age.
Afteral - the philosophers and political commentators would say that we are living in a post truth culture.
which is, a culture that values personal opinions and emotions more than objective facts and evidence.
as a result, objective truths are downplayed, and relegated to being inferior to the feelings of the autonomous individual.
therefore, no one trusts the facts anymore, there are always 25 loud voices on any given topic and no one checks thier source material and even lies can now be strategically relabelled as ‘my truths’
Yet, even though culturally we may be tending in this direction, the world isnt post truth.
Becuase this is God’s world!!!
And he is still ruling and reigning
- Christ is still king, and he is the way the truth and the life, and his word is still objectively true.
So as the people of Jesus who live in a culture where falsehood reigns, we must look to Jesus who is he author and the perfector of our faith, and hold fast to our confession of the truth irrespective of the pressure to let go.
He must be our guiding star, because he doesnt change!
As Lothlorians - Lady wisdom said,
May [He] be a light for you in dark places, when all other lights go out.". - Galadriel
Pray
Jesus on Trial
Jesus on Trial
Falsely Accused
Falsely Accused
they were seeking testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they found none. 55
Here we see the climax of the conflict between Jesus and the Jewish leaders.
We have seen the Pharisees and scribes and the sadducees and the elders all come to test Christ.
We have seen Jesus himself speak of the Jewish rejection of the Messiah and now we see in stark reality thier desire to be rid of this galillean nuiscance.
They come together, and they seek to put him to death.
This is the intent of the psuedo trial. It isnt to test the testimonies and hear Jesus’s defense, from the outset they are determined to condemn Jesus to death.
SO it says,
Many Bore false witness, though thier testimonies did not agree 56 so they were unable to satisfy the requirement for 2 witnesses as Duet 19:15 demands
Even when they did bring something Jesus had said ‘58’ still thier testimonies did not agree.
Before we go on Let us first,
Hebrews 12:3 (ESV)
3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.
As with last week, I don’t think we can fully grasp the impact that these false accusations would have had on Jesus, considering the stakes for him were so high.
But I wonder if you have ever experienced the injustice of being falsely accused.
As some of you know, about 7,8 years ago, Tessa and I, and some others, left a church becuase we felt it’s leadership was not submitted to God’s word as authoritative.
Now, we certainly weren’t blameless in how we left and there are things I would do differently. Although, for about 18 months afterwards, it felt like just about every week there was something new that was being passed around and got back to us, an accusation about something we had done, or were doing, or said or were saying, and they just weren’t true.
And I wish i could say… you know, like water of a ducks back… and it was like that for some of it, although beucase of the injustice there were times of real anger and frustration where we just wanted to shout and set the record straight.
The pain that those false accusations caused. knowing that other beleived something about your that just wasnt true.
And thats for me, someone who can be rightly accused of a great many things.
Think about these false accusations flung upon the one who had done no wrong.
Let us not think that this is no insignificant suffering.
‘To be seized unjustly as a malefactor, and put on trial as a criminal when innocent, it is a severe affliction. But to hear men inventing false charges against us and coining slanders, to listen to all the malignant violence of unscrupulous tongues let loose against our character, and know that it is all untrue– this is Cross indeed.’ - JC Ryle 259
Bearing False witness Along with Christ
May we never be surprised when we are hated, or unjustly accused becuase of our faith. Becuase in a world where falsehood reigns, people hate the truth.
And if they hate Christ, they will hate those who follow Christ.
In our day and our culture, If we stand on the truth of God’s word, and conduct our lives and shape our words accordingly, we will be slandered, labelled as promoting:
bigotry
homophobia
inequality
hate and restriction of women… becuase we don’t fancy infanticide
Afterall, it is the enemy, Satan who is the father of lies. And if he is unable to deter us from following Jesus he will do all he can to make that path as uncomfortable as possible.
in such situations, may we be reminded, of Christ’s own words.
“Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
Christ’s Response
Christ’s Response
How does Jesus respond?
a. Silent.
Jesus does not entertain falsehood.
He does not wrestle with the swine in thier muck.
Like the lamb before the slaughter he bears the brunt of wicked accusation in silence.
and then
b. Proclaims the truth unashamedely.
But it is only when he is asked directly
Mark 14:61–62 (ESV)
61 Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?”
62 And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”
Look at the bold affirmation of the truth.
i am = the Christ. The son of the Blessed, the Son of God. By the way, All of Mark gospel has been showing us this.
- Jesus is the one who comes in teh name of the Lord and proclaims the kingdom of God, He arrives to save God’s people and bring forgiveness for sin.
- he is the one who defeats satan and rules all spiritual forces.
- he heals the sick, raises the dead, gives sight to the blind, a voice to the mute
- and even the wind and the waves bow before him as king.
- he prepares a messianic feast for the hungry in the wilderness, that both jews and gentiles receive
- all of Mark’s gospel has been leading us to this question and Answer…
are you… ?? I am!
But he doesnt stop there… he affirms that they will see, him seated at the right hand of Power (God).
and it is this answer that cuases the Chrief Preist to tear is robes and proclaim blasphemy.
Becuase in this response, Jesus proclaims who is really in charge.
Think about the setting. The whole council of Jewish leaders have gathered. The power, of the leaders of Israel has come together, and before them, is this galilean preacher, seemingly at thier mercy.
And Christ, tells them, that he is the ruler and judge over them. That he, will be seated at the right hand of power. in the seat of authority.
Yet When something truthful is finally proclaimed at this council hearing again, falsehood reigns, as the Jewish leaders reject thier messiah, and come to the verdict that he is deserving of death.
and when falsehood reigns, what is produced in humanity???…
ignorant and obstinate wickedness.
Look how the psuedo trial ends:
Mark 14:65 (ESV)
65 And some began to spit on him and to cover his face and to strike him, saying to him, “Prophesy!” And the guards received him with blows.
Here is the Christ, the Son of God… who willingly subjects himself to the injustice of sinful men. Who endured such hostility against himself.
Here is the founder and perfector of our faith… treated as a filth and a peasent without dignity.
Here is the king, the lion, who lays down as a lamb to be slaughtered.
Freinds don’t miss the beauty of Jesus in stark contrast to the wickedness of man here.
Every sinner who has ever lived, you and I included, in rejecting God… are amongst those who spit on the Son, who mock him, and recieve him… not with faith and worship, but we blows. This is wickedness on display
And it is the righteouss one who recieved the shame and suffering.
Yet he who is the way the truth and the the life, in the face of falshood and injustice, for the glory that was set before him… … he despised the shame.
For the glory… [both in the seat of authority his would receive, but also the sinners, that he would save and make his own] The sinners he would forgive becuase of his great love.
Speaking of which
Peter on trial
Peter on trial
Meanwhile, as Jesus is put up to this trial where falsehood reigns…
Out in the courtyard… Peter is on trial as well.
He has followed Jesus, though not with him, he has remained at a distance.
And whilst he is warming himself by the fire in the courtyard, he is questioned.
First by a servant girl
then a second time by the same girl along with the group of bystanders,
and then a third time by the bystanders
and each time, unlike Jesus on trial who only speaks the truth, even when it leads to his condemnation, Peter speaks falsely, with increasing vehemence.
The Foretelling
Back in Mark 14:29–31 (ESV), after Jesus promises that all his disciples will fall away…
29 Peter said to him, “Even though they all fall away, I will not.” 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.
See his emphatic response!!! I would never deny you.
I will go with you to death.
Prefigured
Mark 14:37–41 (ESV)
37 And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? 38 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 39 And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. 40 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they did not know what to answer him. 41 And he came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
Another 2 times Jesus comes and finds peter sleeping
Peter is like the doorkeeper from Jesus’ parable about the returning master in Mark 13, who rather than staying awake, is found sleeping.
And in the slumber of the flesh Peter denies Christ 3 times.
Look at this story…
Peter went from great confidence in his own faithfulness to shouting with with equal confidence - falsehood, as he denies his Lord.
There is much for us as followers of Jesus to learn in this.
Firstly, let us question whether our confidence is in the Flesh or in the Spirit!
Peter is the sort of guy that speaks what he thinks but often without the thinking part.
and here he speaks with great confidence in himself. In his courage, in his faith, in his competence.
And he learns very quickly that the flesh is weak.
Truly,
Pride goes before destruction,
and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Where is your confidence?
is it in your ability or competence to live a fruitful life
your track record… years of faithfulness
is it in disciplines or your consisteny
your marriage, your family, you independence
If it is, don’t be fooled, the flesh is weak.
And there will come a time when you are under some great pressure and you go to lean on that crutch that has always supported you… and you will find that it is cracked all through the middle and you will fall.
Our only sure confidence is found in the Spirit’s seal upon us through faith in Jesus.
Christ is holding onto us.
If we have anything to boast about, it is Jesus. and only Jesus.
2. Second, would we consider our witness when under pressure.
Jesus under pressure, spoke the truth, even though it would lead to his condemnation.
Peter under pressure, denied his freind, he teacher, his Lord, out of fear.
In a culture that ridicules the Christian, will we bend to the pressure and live on in silence, or worse, deny our saviour.
Or will we imitate our Lord, who proclaimed the truth so that he might rescue us from sin and make us his own, despite the consequences.
I was chatting with a beleiver who is a nurse a couple of weeks ago, and talking about the restrictions upon what he is and isnt allowed to say as a christian to a patient.
and he confessed that in the past, that led him to silence.
but now…(in his words) he ‘goes to work praying for opportunities to break the law.’ To share the good news with those who need it.
3. Finally, let us be comforted by the grace of God for the repentant.
Verse 72… again, though falsehood reigns… it is the words of Jesus that are fulfilled as the rooster crows after Peter denies him 3 times.
Our text almost leaves us hanging… what happens to Peter?
Although Mark leaves in one detail that leads us to a gracefilled conclusion.
‘and he broke down and wept’ - it seems ironic that this would be gracefilled.
He wept.
Here we have a contrast, incase you missed it.
Who didnt weep. Judas. judas was settled in his betrayal of Jesus.
But Peter is not.
2 Corinthians 7:10 “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.”
Worldy greif is regret of wrongdoing. regret of hurt or loss. it is utlimately selfish. I made life harder for myself.
But godly grief, is cuased by a conviction of God’s Character and his word.
and it leads, to repentance - and therefore to forgiveness.
What happens to Peter? In chapter 16, when the women find the tomb of Jesus empty, and the angel proclaims that Jesus has risen - he then tells them to go and tell the disciples that he has gone before them to meet them in galilee.
in and Mark 16:7 - there is only one disciple who is named. It’s Peter.
well in John’s gospel we see that Jesus goes to Peter explicitly, and reinstates him, shows him the grace of forgiveness. see John 22:15-19
Mark though, shows us in the simplest of forms… that in Christ there is forgiveness for the sinner, who greives thier sin, their wrongdoing before a holy God, a righteouss saviour, and repents.
At the time that Marks gospel is written and therefore initially circulated. Peter, is the apostle, serving in the church in Rome.
and, do you remember who the primary eye witness for the book of Mark is? It’s Peter.
if there is something that the prideful man would leave out, it would be this.
But who is in the courtyard to give the account of peter’s trial and denial to Mark… Peter is.
so why does he give it, beucase he is a man, who has learnt the hard, that the flesh is weak… but the grace of God is poured for the chief of sinners.
What is the gospel of Mark pointing us to as we look at Peter’s denial of Christ… it is pointing us to the glory of God in the grace he shows to sinners like Peter.
Like you. and Me.
