The Trial of All History - Theme: Jesus changes everything by His faithfulness to God's plan of salvation.
Notes
Transcript
Intro: There are many words and phrases that repeat in Chapter 15 of Mark’s gospel. It is easy to find lots of different ways to preach this passage based on those reoccurring words.
It is no accident that the word “King” is used through this chapter. It is a deliberate statement that a King who has done nothing wrong should not be treated this way! He was faithful and those who should have been His subjects were evil and sinful.
Review:
Review:
We Have seen His life and teachings. Jesus changed people!
We Have seen His life and teachings. Jesus changed people!
We have seen His arrest and last week saw the beginning of the sham trial.
We have seen His arrest and last week saw the beginning of the sham trial.
1. King Jesus on trial before sinful men. 15.1-15
1. King Jesus on trial before sinful men. 15.1-15
A. Sinful people treat Jesus despicably, but Jesus remains pure.
A. Sinful people treat Jesus despicably, but Jesus remains pure.
And as soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. And they bound Jesus and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate.
And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.”
And the chief priests accused him of many things.
Morning, so they kept Him up all night.
“They bound Jesus” Why?
They drag Him before Pilate and begin accusing Him of ”many things.”
B. Pilate is amazed. 4-15
B. Pilate is amazed. 4-15
also 44
By Jesus’s answer and unwillingness to try to talk Himself out of a possible death sentence.
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.
As the defender of the rights of the people, Pilate should have examined the facts and made a decision based on truth. But he was more interested in peace than truth, so he offered the crowd an attractive compromise:
By the Jewish leaders desire to have Barabbas free.
A person who had taken life when Jesus had restored and even given back life.
A person who wanted to overthrow Rome over a man who had taught people to pray for the governing officials and pay taxes yet stood accused of claiming Kingship apart from Rome.
2. King Jesus mocked by sinful men. 15.16-20; 29-32
2. King Jesus mocked by sinful men. 15.16-20; 29-32
A. Jesus had prophesied that this would happen.
A. Jesus had prophesied that this would happen.
And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.”
B. He was mocked by the Roman soldiers. 16-20
B. He was mocked by the Roman soldiers. 16-20
They were not doing their job. They are sinfully mocking a righteous man.
Then they struck Him on the head with a reed and spat on Him; and bowing the knee, they worshiped Him.
They are fulfilling OT Scriptures without knowing it.
Adrian Rogers claims there are 33 prophecies fulfilled in this chapter alone.
Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.
They are creating a double picture without knowing it.
so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
C. The sinful Jewish leaders also mock.
C. The sinful Jewish leaders also mock.
It is never godly or righteous to act like this!
And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days,
save yourself, and come down from the cross!”
So also the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself.
Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also reviled him.
3. King Jesus crucified with sinful men. 15.21-41
3. King Jesus crucified with sinful men. 15.21-41
A. His body was crushed leaving Him so weak that He can relate to any weakness we could ever have. 21
A. His body was crushed leaving Him so weak that He can relate to any weakness we could ever have. 21
The Psalm we read earlier in the service expresses this.
B. Note the repetition of the word “crucified”. The repetition is to make clear it really happened.
B. Note the repetition of the word “crucified”. The repetition is to make clear it really happened.
An inscription (think label) was even given in 3 languages to say He is King!
This was to mock the Jewish leaders, but it was still true!
C. Other events during those fateful moments also fulfilled Scripture as Jesus remained faithful to God’s plan.
C. Other events during those fateful moments also fulfilled Scripture as Jesus remained faithful to God’s plan.
the casting lots for his clothing - Ps 22.18
The thieves who were also dying at the same time. Isaiah 53.12
The giving of His life rather than it being taken.
All these and more prove that this was God’s chosen Christ - King of all who believe.
And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last.
Ironically, it took the death of King to have the centurion believe.
And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”
When man was doing his worst, God was still in control and accomplishing His purposes.
4. King Jesus buried all alone. 15.42-47
4. King Jesus buried all alone. 15.42-47
A. It was Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus (Mark 15.43; John 19:38–42) that God had prepared to protect and bury the body of Jesus. (Isa. 53:9; Matt. 27:57)
A. It was Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus (Mark 15.43; John 19:38–42) that God had prepared to protect and bury the body of Jesus. (Isa. 53:9; Matt. 27:57)
These men stepped up when others had scattered!
Compassion in the hard times of life - when God’s plans do not make sense to us.
B. Some faithful women were there to the bitter end and have eternal acknowledgment for their faithfulness.
B. Some faithful women were there to the bitter end and have eternal acknowledgment for their faithfulness.
English Standard Version Chapter 15
Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.
C. It is important to the authenticity of the Gospel message that the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ be authenticated as historic facts.
C. It is important to the authenticity of the Gospel message that the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ be authenticated as historic facts.
Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand,
and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,
that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
Conclusion: Jesus changes everything by His faithfulness to God's plan of salvation.
Conclusion: Jesus changes everything by His faithfulness to God's plan of salvation.
He became obedient even to death on a cross (Phil 2.8)
The Lord’s prayer has a line that says “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done.”
While we love that thought we struggle to live that reality. Jesus is God’s chosen King - He is the Christ! People have repeatedly struggled to live in that reality.
As a church, we want to strive to walk together in faithfulness to God’s plan and help others in our lives to do the same.
1. Does the faithfulness to death of King Jesus inspire you today?
1. Does the faithfulness to death of King Jesus inspire you today?
2. How are we treating others? Are we known for our mocking?
2. How are we treating others? Are we known for our mocking?
3. How well do we know God’s plan?
3. How well do we know God’s plan?