Mark 14

Context and Frame Sermon

In a Sermon Series | Unfiltered Jesus| *Talk about that*

Last week | End Times | What we are told to do | Stay on Gaurd, Stay awake | Don’t Lead Astray

Theme of Endurance | That we needed two things for endurance;

Faith - to ABIDE in his love

Trust - Trust that God will get you through

Introduced “Stride” and “Pace of Grace”

“Well that’s great! but what happens Ps. Mat when the heat gets turned up”

What are we like Under Pressure? **Stretch this out** End of your rope | When storm is so strong you don’t see an ending | No way out | When you are being attacked, and attacked from the enemy | and you just feel like I…Am…Done

How do we endure…under Pressure?

Of course we all have our “pressure Persona” | The person we become when we feel a little bit of pressure

**Soccer story**

What are you like under pressure?

Dive into Mark 14 | Disciples ando ther facing Jesus inimate death | How did they deal?

Just been told to stay awake | Stay on Gaurd | I want to look at a few key people and what happened

The Woman and Alabastar Jar

Context: Within a week of his death | Priests and Scribes seeking how to arrest him and kill him | Still a crowd so had to be smart about it

we pick up our story in Bethany, in a house of Simon the Lepar

Mark 14:3–9 ESV

And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they scolded her. But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.”

A bit of apologetics - Because I think it’s important. It bugged me, so now you get to hear about it.

Is this woman Mary? Is it the same account that in John and Matthew? I do believe it’s a different account than Luke 7 - For various reasons but I don’t have e

nough time to dive in - The biggest question is between Mark, John and Matthew | Most people say…it probably is..

Two issues with the text, and I don’t think there are any errors in Bible so it’s important that we address it.

John 12:1–8 ESV

Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”

Matthew 26:2–13 ESV

“You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.” Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and plotted together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people.” Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table. And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? For this could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor.” But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial. Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”

2 issues

- Time (6 Days, vs 2 Days)

The House (Lazarus, or Simon the Lepars)

Mark Sandwich | We see it all the time | It’s thematically been put in there | We actually see this all the time, and Matthew Backs this up. Matthew makes Explicet, what mark makes Implicent.

Mark saying |This is what they are discussing, is there a meeting | and Matthew says “When they are meeting” |

What happens after this story is told Judas enters the meeting

Mark 14:10–11 ESV

Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them. And when they heard it, they were glad and promised to give him money. And he sought an opportunity to betray him.

The House | John is not commital, and i’ll show you what I mean

John 12:1–2 ESV

Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table.

So (We know it’s Mary)

This woman - Could be Mary - Broke a years worth of salary for Jesus - She is also recognising and honouring God’s Work | The people around Jesus here, what was their reaction? Rebuke but for what | Money | For the worth on the posession of the oil.

Don’t we do this when we are under pressure? We judge those that give more?

**Help yourself before others**

**Can’t afford to Tithe**

Why where they rebuking her? They lacked…perspective. They had a limited perspective. Why do we falter under pressure? Because we have a limited, perspective. Perspective of eternity, they where concerned with now |

**Going to skip last supper and go to Peter’s deniel**

Peters Deniel

Mark 14:27–31 ESV

And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” Peter said to him, “Even though they all fall away, I will not.” And Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” But he said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same.

Three things are happening here:

Peter is relying on his pride and himself, he is saying “oh me? Not me!!”

He is doubting God

God is soverign here, I believe there is pain in his purpose, and he lacks what…he lacks Perspective in the bigger picture

Denies jesus | Feels Forgiveness | Preaches Forgiveness | 3,000 come to Christ - God is soverign.

The Battle of Gethsemane

Mark 14:32–42 ESV

And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.” And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they did not know what to answer him. 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. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”

Jesus is at the end of his rope - He is done. Let’s remember he said “My soul is very sorrowful - even to death”.

It’s possible to be so sad | Heavy | Reality distorted | Future is hopeless | any action impossible - in Luke says sweating blood! | Maybe you’ve been there | Jesus must fight against this feeling.

He is asking “Please, if there is ANY OTHER WAY”

Jesus asks 2 different questions | Have to go to other Gospels to find this | It’s interesting | 1st Question we can see in Mark “Remove Cup”

Second question we can see in

Matthew 26:42 (ESV)

Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.”

It’s a different question. What happened in between these questions?

We get a hint in Luke

This was after the first prayer;

Luke 22:43 (ESV)

And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.

Strenghting for what? Drink the Cup. This is what God does: he says…this is the way but I am here…to strengthen, to carry you through.

1st Battle in Gethsemene done

2nd Battle -

Matthew 26:42 (ESV)

Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.”

If this cup can not pass, help me, strenghten me, so that I will be obedient. God answered this prayer which is why we are here.

Here is how God answers prayer:

Yes, No, or Not Yet.

Jesus asked the disciples to join him - to stay awake | he knew biggest temptation was coming as they had to watch their lord and saviour die | What happened? They slept…they couldn’t do it, but Jesus could.

We then read the betrayel and arrest of Jesus | bought toward the council | he admits to who he is | and Peter does in fact deny him.

Peter goes back to old ways

As soon as deniel | Jesus rememers it says

Mark 14:72 (ESV)

And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.

This is what happens when we fall short | We feel…Shame | We feel…broken… | We feel like…a mess…Guess what…you are.

Jesus wore that shame on cross for you |

What did Peter Do? | Went Fishing | Went back to his comfort | this is what we can do sometimes | Back to comfort |

Jesus is resurrected and meets Peter where | Where he is…I don’t know who this is for | Jesus meets us where we are at | he is our great redeemer |

** Story **

Desmond Thomas Doss - Some might remember him from movie “Haksaw Ridge” - I thought “ This is dramatised”

Summary : Man went to war WW2 without carrying a weapon | Describe Haksaw Ridge |

Could of avoided war with a difermant, chose not to - went to a front line rifle company, one man said “I’ll make sure you don’t come back alive”

Court Martialed for disobeying a direct order | Face life improsement | Went to war and one of the spots was Maeda Escarpment also known as Haksaw Ridge. The army took it, before Japan counter attacked. Everyone scaled down…but Him.

|Lord, let me save one more | He was later injured by a grenade, in pain, losing blood, and then grazed by sniper. they came for him and he said…”get that one”

Endurance why? Eyes on Jesus - and eternal Perspective

So who are we in the story?

Conclusion

You can’t do this without HIM - We can only do it with Jesus Christ.

What are you like under pressure? You have a choice

You can abandon Jesus, the only way is death You can deny Jesus, like Peter You can go back to your old ways, without him, it will not be fruitful You can go with the crowd, with the mob

Or you can be like the woman…unrecognised by the world, unknown and you can be an ordinary Christian, in an extraordinary way. You can give up everyone, for your Lord and Saviour.

One thing is Clear, Jesus wants to do this with you;

Mark 14:42 (ESV)

Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”

Come…let US go into battle. let US as a Church become a family

**Prayer** **Communion** **Alter Call**