The Ultimate Chess Match-Mark 11:27–12:12

As we begin this morning, please turn in your copies of God’s Word to Mark 11:27. We will read from 27-33 shortly, so have it marked and ready.

I trust you all were blessed by my Dad’s message last Sunday “The Good Hand of My God Was Upon Me”. For any that are interested in viewing or listening to it again, it is available on the church’s FaceBook and YouTube pages, as well as the church website and the audio is available at sermon.net.

Our last Sunday in the Gospel of Mark, we looked at Jesus cursing of the fig tree, which was representative of the Nation of Israel and the religious system of the day, a system and Nation who’s faith had never moved from the head to the heart, never brought about a transformation of the Nation as a whole. While they were good at following the rules and regulations as they had been established by the religious leaders, their hearts were far from God. To further His attack on the heartless religious system, Jesus then went into the Temple in Jerusalem and cast out those that were using the Court of the Gentiles as a market place, those who had turned the House of God, which was to be a “house of prayer” into a “den of thief's”. In doing these things, Jesus was showing, once again, His authority over all things.

Authority was a “key word throughout the first half of Mark’s Gospel. Everything Jesus (did), He (did) with authority. Claims to authority are continually seen as Jesus begins His public ministry. He calls four fishermen to be His disciples and they drop everything to follow Him (Mark 1:16–20). Jesus’ authoritative command inspires them to leave behind family, homes, and occupations. Jesus then enters the synagogue in Capernaum and begins to teach. The people are amazed because He teaches with authority, not like the teachers of the law (Mark 1:22). A demon-possessed man suddenly shows up in the synagogue. The demon quakes with fear at Jesus’ authority, ‘What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know Who You are—the Holy One of God!’ (Mark 1:24). Whenever Jesus encounters demons, they recognize His identity and are terrified (Mark 1:24, 1:34, 3:11-12, 5:7). He is the mighty Messiah and Son of God!

Acts of authority continue throughout Jesus’ ministry in Galilee. By healing a lame man, Jesus confirms that ‘the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins’ (Mark 2:10). As “Lord… of the Sabbath” He exercises authority over the Old Testament law (Mark 2:27). By appointing twelve apostles, representing the restored tribes of Israel (Mark 3:13-19), Jesus acts with the authority of God Himself, Who first called Israel into existence. Divine authority is also evident as Jesus controls the forces of nature, calming a storm with a command, ‘(Peace)! Be still!’ The terrified disciples respond, ‘Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey Him!’ (Mark 4:39, 41). This question, 'Who is this?’ nicely summarizes the theme of th(e first) half of the Gospel. The question will be answered with Peter’s confession in Mark 8:30. More and even greater miracles follow. Jesus casts out not one, but a ‘legion’ of demons (Mark 5:1–20); He heals chronic disease that no one has been able to help (Mark 5:25–34); He raises a young girl from the dead (Mark 5:35-43). Twice He feeds thousands of people with a few loaves of bread and fish (Mark 6:30-44, 8:1–13). He walks on water (Mark 6:45-56), a divine act, since (we learn in Job that) “God alone… treads on the waves of the sea” (Job 9:8).

Mark’s Gospel reaches its initial climax and center point in the confession of Peter. Jesus takes his disciples north of Galilee to Caesarea Philippi for a time away from the crowds. On the way, He asks them, ‘Who do people say I am?’ Their answers are varied: ‘Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.’ Jesus then turns to them: ‘But what about you?... Who do you say I am?’ Peter answers for the others: ‘You are the Messiah!’ Jesus’ authoritative words and actions have convinced Peter that Jesus is indeed the Messiah, the Savior of Israel.” (Taken from a Mark Strauss of the Bible Project blog titled “The Once Neglected Gospel” https://bibleproject.com/blog/mark-gospel-servant-messiah/#!)

As we look at this mornings passage, we witness The Ultimate Chess Match between the religious leaders of the day, and Jesus. Would you please stand in honor of the reading of God’s Word. Next Slide

Mark 11:27–33 ESV

27 And they came again to Jerusalem. And as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to him, 28 and they said to him, “By what authority are you doing these things, or who gave you this authority to do them?” 29 Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 30 Was the baptism of John from heaven or from man? Answer me.” 31 And they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 32 But shall we say, ‘From man’?”—they were afraid of the people, for they all held that John really was a prophet. 33 So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

Most believe that what is taking place in this morning’s passage is taking place on Tuesday of Holy week. If the Triumphal Entry was on Sunday, then the cursing of the fig tree as well as the cleansing of the Temple took place on Monday. It would have been this morning, Tuesday morning that they would have noticed the withered fig tree as they made their way to the Temple while Jesus delivered the message that the task before them was an impossible task that could not possibly be accomplished without prayer and faith in the Hand of God working through them. As they walked into the Temple, most believe that the Temple was still empty of the buyers, sellers and money changers. Jesus had free reign of His Fathers House as He made His way through the Temple, teaching as He walked. Before much time, some of the leadership of the Sanhedrin, the most powerful political and religious leaders among the Israelites, walked up to Jesus.

In my mind, I picture these leaders challenging Jesus to a Chess Match of sorts. They walk up to Jesus, chess board and pieces in hand, set it up and issue a challenge to Him. By now, He would have been surrounded by a huge crowd that was hanging on His every word. These men were quickly loosing any grip they had on the people. Something had to be done, and the sooner the better. With the cleansing of the Temple fresh on their mind, they came up with a plan that they hoped would put Jesus at odds with the huge crowd. The stage was now set for: Next Slide

The Confrontation. Vs. 28; Mt. 21:23; Lk. 20:2

The Temple was streaming with many that had come from far away lands that were not as familiar with all that Jesus had done in the past 3 years. Perhaps, if they could just get Him to claim equality with God, they could entice a riot that would lead to His stoning. In all of their religious garb, heads held high, chests thrust forward, they approached Jesus with, what they believed to be the ultimate trap question.

“By what authority are You doing these things” then, to add more fuel to the fire; they added, and “who gave You this authority?”

In their eyes it was check and mate. They had had enough encounters with Jesus to know that He didn’t shy away from claiming to be God in the flesh. Surely that is exactly how they expected Him to answer. Instead, like a chess Master, He anticipated their trap and: Next Slide

Countered Their Question With A Question. Vs. 29-30; Mt. 21:24-25; Lk. 20:3-4

A common practice among the educated Rabbi’s was to answer a question with a question. But they knew Jesus was not raised with rabbinical training, surely He knew nothing of this practice. Oh how wrong they were! Jesus replied:

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Mark 11:29–30 ESV

29 Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 30 Was the baptism of John from heaven or from man? Answer me.”

With this one question, Jesus made His move on the chess board, putting the religious leaders in check.

Keep in mind, this had nothing to do with Jesus wanting to avoid dying. His death was a forgone conclusion and was all a part of God’s plan from before He ever came to earth. But His death had to take place according to the perfect plan of God and in His perfect timing. It had to take place at the moment the lambs were being sacrificed in the temple and that wasn’t for another 3 days.

When Jesus asked them about “the baptism of John”, The question didn’t stop with his baptism, it was a reference to the entire ministry of John the Baptist. And the sole purpose for John’s ministry was to prepare the way for the long awaited Messiah. The One Whom John said “must increase while I decrease”. The One John said he was “not fit to untie the strap of His sandal.” The One of Whom John said; “Behold the Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world.”

Jesus question put these political and religious leaders: Next Slide

Between A Rock And A Hard Place. Vs. 31-33; Mt. 21:25-27; Lk. 20:5-7

In looking at the end of verse 30, I get the impression that after Jesus asked them this questions, their jaws dropped and they had a dumbfounded look on their faces. After a moment or two of silence, Jesus responds “Answer Me!”

They then huddled together, not a holy huddle, but a hypocritical huddle. They reasoned among themselves;

Next Slide

Mark 11:31–33 ESV

31 And they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 32 But shall we say, ‘From man’?”—they were afraid of the people, for they all held that John really was a prophet. 33 So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

They understood that believing John meant acknowledging that Jesus was, indeed, the Messiah. Which meant their days as leaders were over, the great wealth they had attained through the corrupt religious system they had established, would fade with the setting of the sun.

But if they answered that it was from men, their popularity among the people would be over, which also included their roles as leaders and again, the great wealth they had attained. In Lukes account of this event, we learn that they were afraid the people would not just reject them, but stone them to death, if they didn’t acknowledge Johns teaching was from God. There was no good answer to Jesus question, so they replied;

“We do not know.” This had to be a bitter pill for these arrogant egotistical men to swallow. They viewed themselves as the premiere experts on all things religious. They prided themselves in their intellectual ability, pleading ignorance was painful.

Notice Jesus reply; “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.” His response leads me to believe that He knew full well they knew how to answer His question, it’s like He is saying, “Alright guys, since you refuse to answer My questions, then I refuse to answer yours.”

The door for these leaders to repent and follow Jesus was quickly closing. The patience of God is quite amazing, but when it comes to an end, which was happening then and there for these leaders, and the Nation as a whole, destruction was soon to come.

This led to what we see taking place in the first 12 verses of chapter 12 of Mark. The parable Jesus tells in these verses, is also in Matthew and Luke. I’d like to read to you from Matthews account. Go ahead and turn to Matthew 21:33 and follow along with me. And as I read, you will notice these:

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Religious Leaders Don’t Recognize Their Own Reflection In The Mirror. Vs. 1-12; Mt. 21:33-44; Lk. 20:9-18; Is. 5:1-6

“33 Hear another parable. There was a master of a house who planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a winepress in it and built a tower and leased it to tenants, and went into another country. 34 When the season for fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to get his fruit. 35 And the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. 36 Again he sent other servants, more than the first. And they did the same to them. 37 Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.’ 39 And they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. 40 When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” 41 They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.”

42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:

“‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?

43 Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits.44 And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.’”

Having read these verses, let me spend the next few minutes explaining what is taking place here. The majority of those present there that day would have immediately recognized the beginning of this parable. It came from the Book of Isaiah chapter 5:1-2 and it is specifically referring to the Nation of Israel. In other words, as He told this parable, they immediately should have known He was speaking of them.

Isaiah wrote this prophecy 800 years before the birth of Jesus. When Isaiah wrote, he was letting the Nation know that God had given them everything they needed to produce a fertile crop for Him, but they turned their collective backs on Him and as a result, He was about to deliver them over into captivity. Isaiah was so overcome with the prophecy God gave him, that the prophecy, combined with the death of King Uzziah, a good and godly king, brought him to the depths of dispair. So much so that he was beginning to think that God was somehow no longer on the throne. Then, along comes Isaiah’s vision in Isaiah 6, a vision given that Isaiah would know, that despite what he saw taking place, God was still enthroned on high.

Listen to what Isaiah saw in his vision; “6 In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of His robe filled the temple. 2 Above Him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called to another and said:

‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!’”

God was still on His throne. So, on this day, those present in the Temple with Jesus should have realized Jesus was addressing the Nation.

But somehow, the religious leaders were oblivious to Jesus Masterful move on the chess board before them. We see in 41, right after Jesus asks them “When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do with those tenants?” We see He had led them into a trap with no way of escape. Their response, which Luke, in his account of this event, leads us to believe was a very emotional response, was emphatic; “He will put those wretches to a miserable death”.

On the chess board before them, Jesus now had their king surrounded on all sides. Look at His reply in verses 42-44;

Next Slide

Matthew 21:42–44 ESV

42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “ ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? 43 Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits. 44 And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.”

Check mate!

Their roles as the religious leaders of the Nation of Israel was drawing to a quick and fatal close. They were soon to be replaced by 12, virtually uneducated men, who will be infused with power from on High and lead, not just the Nation of Israel, but all nations in the establishment of a New Covenant, bought with His blood. Next Slide

What kind of Fruit am I personally producing as the Bride of Christ?

So, what is the lesson for us this morning? I believe our lesson is seen in Isaiah 5. As the church, we are Jesus beloved bride, and as His bride, like the Nation of Israel in Isaiah’s day, He has given us everything we need to produce a fruit of righteousness. Listen to what Isaiah writes, and as you do, picture yourself as the vineyard;

“Let me sing for my beloved my love song concerning his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill. 2 He dug it and cleared it of stones, and planted it with choice vines; he built a watchtower in the midst of it, and hewed out a wine vat in it; and he looked for it to yield grapes, but it yielded wild grapes. 3 And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard. 4 What more was there to do for my vineyard, that I have not done in it? When I looked for it to yield grapes, why did it yield wild grapes? 5 And now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard. I will remove its hedge, and it shall be devoured; I will break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down.”

As the church in America, the bride of Christ, we have succumbed to the pressures of this world. We have turned our backs on the things of God and embraced a worldly view point, that calls evil-good and good-evil. But rather than taking ownership of our failure, we point our fingers at the world of politics and whatever political party we disagree with, or the news media, or maybe the educational system. And while our Nation may have gone beyond the point of no return, it is not too late for you and me.

If we go back to the Book of Isaiah, at the end of chapter 6, after God has made it clear to Isaiah, that it was too late for the Nation of Israel in his day, God closes by telling Isaiah that despite the ruin of the Nation, a remnant will remain that will be faithful to God.

The lesson for us today, is that we would move to the point of complete surrender to God, that He might transform us. That we, as individuals members of the Bride of Christ, would be His faithful remnant.

Let’s close in prayer.

Father God, my heart is heavy at what I see taking place in our world today. At what I see taking place in our Nation today, at what I see taking place in your church today. You have given us everything we need to produce good fruit that is pleasing to You, but far too much of the time, like the Nation of Israel in the days of Isaiah the prophet, the fruit we produce is wild and anything but pleasing in Your eyes. Father I pray that You will open our eyes to the things in our life we have not fully surrendered to You, that we might repent of our lukewarm lives and be transformed through the power of Your Holy Spirit, so that Your light would shine brightly in us, To God be the glory, great things He hath done. We pray these things , In Jesus Name, Amen.